2025 Silversword Reunion
Mahalo to everyone who joined us for Silversword Reunion Weekend 2025! More than 250 of our alumni, representing the classes of 1959 to 2024, returned back to campus for three fun-filled days of connection and celebration. From the Pacific Island Review to the Reunion Dinner and Sunday Mass, the weekend was filled with laughter, memories and Silversword pride.
Campus Tour and Pacific Island Review
Silversword Reunion Dinner
Sunday Mass
2025 Alumni Awards
We are proud to honor three outstanding alumni who have made significant contributions to their fields and our Silversword community. Congratulations to:
Angela Riccardi Maroun ‘76, as a leader in the field of outpatient and home care physical therapy, has helped thousands of patients regain their mobility and independence. She credits her success to her many professors at Chaminade University.
In her own words, Professor Ron Iwamoto (a biology professor emeritus at Chaminade) changed her life. “He saw my potential and encouraged my intellectual curiosity,” said Maroun.“ I came to college with no idea what I wanted to study and thanks to him, the late Dr. Harry Chun-Hoon, the late Nora Chee, Dr. Art Mori, Professors Melba Kop and Patti Lee-Robinson, I found a love of learning and science.”
Maroun came to Chaminade from Syracuse, New York, with a Presidential Scholarship and work as a biology lab assistant providing her with crucial financial aid. After graduating with a degree in biology, she continued her physical therapy studies at the University of California at San Francisco.
From there, her career began at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse, and she subsequently worked as a home care therapist and consultant before opening her own outpatient clinic in 1988.
Maroun also taught at a local college and specialized her practice to work with outpatient orthopedics. She started one of the first women’s health physical therapy programs in central New York.
After selling her practice in 2000, Maroun pursued her interest in textile arts. She continues to create and exhibit her work on her website, angelamaroun.com.
While building her career, Maroun juggled a busy life at home. She has been married to her husband, Don, for 32 years and has a son, daughter, stepdaughter and six grandchildren.
In accepting her award, Maroun called Chaminade a very special place that provided her with a “wider world view and lasting friendships.” Maroun added, “How many people can say they still visit and text with their professors 50 years later? That is the Chaminade experience.”
Always on the cutting edge, Dr. Rylan Chong ’10, co-developed Hawaii’s first Data Science undergraduate program at Chaminade in 2019, with a focus on community building and providing students access to in-demand skills and career opportunities. Under his leadership, Silversword Data Science students have won national competitions, clinched prestigious local and national internships, pursued graduate degrees, and attained positions with leading institutions. Importantly, they have also used their skills to give back in innovative new ways.
In addition to directing Chaminade’s Data Science program, which offers a major, minor, certificates and online proficiency courses, Chong redesigned and now leads Computer Science at the University in addition to managing an impressive portfolio of grants from the National Science Foundation, National Institutes of Health and the Alaka‘ina Foundation, among others
Notably, Chong was co-principal investigator for a $10 million NSF INCLUDES Alliance grant aimed at building the data science community, capacity, research and education in the Pacific. After graduating from Chaminade with his undergraduate degree, Chong went on to earn a master’s and doctoral degree in information security from Purdue University of West Lafayette. In reflecting on his selection for this award, Chong thanked his mentors and said the honor was his to share.
Joshua Orimoto ‘20 was officially commissioned as an officer in the Air Force five years ago, with his grandfather administering the oath of office. He called the moment “once in a lifetime” and said it started him on a pathway of service and personal growth that he continues to build on today.
Orimoto, who serves as an Air Force cyberspace operations officer, said that his computer information systems courses at Chaminade helped him immensely as he completed Air Force cyber training on computer networking, programming, ethical hacking and cybersecurity. “CUH gave me the confidence to face the challenge and make it to the end of the course,” he said.
Orimoto’s impressive skills and work ethic has already gotten noticed. He was promoted to captain in August 2024, while stationed at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona. That same month, he was selected to serve as a diplomatic security service special agent for the U.S. Department of State. The year-long application process was rigorous, but Orimoto is glad he stuck with it.
Orimoto also recently got some more good news: This year, he received word that he would be stationed at Camp Smith on O‘ahu, which affords him the opportunity to return home with his wife, Alicia, and start a new life together while being reunited with family and friends. Orimoto, who studied criminal justice at Chaminade, is grateful to Chaminade for inspiring him to serve.
“I particularly remember taking Criminology courses from the late Dr. Joseph Allen. He always found a way to make even the most boring sociology concepts memorable and enjoyable,” he said. “Campus does not feel the same without him. I dedicate this award win to you as a testament to your skills in instruction and mentorship. Thank you, Joe, for your dedication to teaching.”