Chaminade University of Honolulu

University Communications & Marketing

Students Clinch Design Excellence Awards

Industry leaders lauded the students for their innovation

A group of Environmental + Interior Design students at Chaminade were recognized for their innovative design of a “beer spa” at the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) Hawaii Chapter’s Design Excellence Awards this month, clinching an Award of Merit in the student commercial category.

Judges praised their Da Crater Spa’t design as “exemplary of vernacular architecture.”

Dr. Junghwa Suh with her E+ID students at the ASAID Award Ceremony at DECK at Queen Kapiolani Hotel.
Dr. Junghwa Suh with her E+ID students at the ASAID Award Ceremony at DECK at Queen Kapiolani Hotel.

Developed by Environmental + Interior Design (E+ID) students Katherine Liu ’26, Farrah Dinh ’25, Jazlynne Williamson ’25 and Soraya Ortiz ’25, the class project was entered in the Iceland Beer Spa International Architecture Competition.

“We entered the contest late so we only had one month to work on the project, while others had a year,” Williamson said. “I think we still did a great job, but I think with more time—even a month longer—we would have had a more cohesive design.”

Liu, a student representative with the American Society of Interior Designers, was especially proud of the teamwork that went into the design.

“This award marks a milestone in my undergraduate design journey,” said Liu, who also won an individual competition award for her proposed design of a renovated gymnasium at Sacred Hearts Academy.

Liu said the project was the most comprehensive project she has ever taken on.

“It was quite a heavy project, but I learned so much from the experience and felt that it was a great practicum assignment since it truly encompassed all stages of interior design,” Liu added.

Attending the ASID Award Ceremony on October 12 with associate professor of Arts and Design Junghwa Suh, D.Arch, the four awardees also had the full support and congratulatory cheers of 10 of their interior design undergraduate peers.

“They had the opportunity to meet the designers behind award-winning projects they had previously visited,” Suh said. “Students also mentioned that it was great to see that many of the interior designers at the awards were graduates of Chaminade’s E+ID program.”

Suh said it was rewarding to see her students’ hard work recognized by the professional community.

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Katherine Liu ’26, Farrah Dinh ’25, Jazlynne Williamson ’25, Soraya Ortiz ’25 and Dr. Junghwa Suh take a selfie before submitting their final design concept to the Iceland Beer Spa International Architecture Competition.
Katherine Liu ’26, Farrah Dinh ’25, Jazlynne Williamson ’25, Soraya Ortiz ’25 and Dr. Junghwa Suh take a selfie before submitting their final design concept to the Iceland Beer Spa International Architecture Competition.

Suh added the event served as a great model for other students to participate in design competitions and awards. It also provided invaluable experience for students to measure their design projects against a larger community beyond school, while simultaneously offering an excellent platform to showcase their work and make professional connections.

“I encourage our students to engage with other designers in the community,” Suh said. “My goal is to help students become versatile designers who can connect the theory they learn with innovative practice.”

MBA Grad Sees Future in Sustainable Farming

He says environmental stewardship is everyone’s concern

Jon Watase MBA ’24 is an entrepreneur, an environmentalist and an educator.

But his nickname speaks to his humble, personable approach: He’s known as Farmer Jon.

And if he can bend your ear, he’ll tell you about his big dreams for sustainable agriculture in the islands and his lifelong passion for teaching environmental stewardship to the next generation of Hawai’i leaders.

Watase, director of ‘āina-based learning at Saint Louis School, was recently invited to deliver a presentation on his curriculum at the Marianist Encounters Conference in Dayton, Ohio. His talk detailed how he’s worked with both Chaminade and Saint Louis School students to clean up Palolo Stream.

The impact of his “Water Connects Us All” effort has been measurable.

From October 2023 to April 2024, students disposed of 4,830 pounds of trash.

Partnering with Chaminade Environmental Science Assistant Professor Dr. Lupita Ruiz-Jones and Senior Lecturer Sr. Malia Wong, Watase has long been a vocal advocate for environmental stewardship.

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  • Dr. Lupita Ruiz-Jones and her ENV 100 students help with the cleanup of Palolo Stream.
    Dr. Lupita Ruiz-Jones and her ENV 100 students help with the cleanup of Palolo Stream.
  • Bro. Jesse O’Neill. S.M., Marianist Province of the United States’s Assistant for Education, visited the Kalaepohaku campus after hearing about Jon Watase’s ʻĀina-based Learning curriculum.
    Bro. Jesse O’Neill. S.M., Marianist Province of the United States’s Assistant for Education, visited the Kalaepohaku campus after hearing about Jon Watase’s ʻĀina-based Learning curriculum.
  • Jon Watase educates St. Louis School's students about environmental issues in his outdoor pavilion classroom.
    Jon Watase educates St. Louis School’s students about environmental issues in his outdoor pavilion classroom.
  • Jon Watase holds up a large mamaki tea leaf that he grows on his farm.
    Jon Watase holds up a large mamaki tea leaf that he grows on his farm.
  • Gary, Christine and Glenn Hogan, from left, congratulate the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership graduates, including Jon Watase (center), with Drs. Lynn Babington and Roy Panzarella.
    Gary, Christine and Glenn Hogan, from left, congratulate the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership graduates, including Jon Watase (center), with Drs. Lynn Babington and Roy Panzarella.

He has propagated plants all over the Kalaepohaku campus and educated students about the importance of cleaning Palolo Stream, a key urban waterway. He has also discussed best practices for permaculture, vermicomposting, and taught students about sustainable agriculture.

“I have a unique opportunity to pave the way for our youth,” said Watase, who can often be seen on the slopes of Kalaepohaku wearing work boots, cargo paints and a straw hat.

“My success will help determine others’ sucess.”

On his off days, Watase runs a solar-powered farm—Oahu Grown Mamaki in Mililani.

He was recently able to expand the farm’s reach with the help of his MBA education.

“My marketing class helped grow my business,” Watase said. “With the help of our instructor Cort (Isernhagen, co-founder of Diamond Head Research), I was able to really build out my website.”

Watase also participated in and won a “Shark Tank”-like competition with his MBA peers.

His sustainable business ventures wowed the judges.

And he says he’s not done yet.

He plans to seek a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology at Chaminade to further his knowledge and pursue a long-term goal: To buy a piece of property in Waimea and turn it into a farm and retreat.

He says a counseling master’s degree is key to ensuring the retreat is therapeutic.

“I’ve grown so much at Chaminade,” he said. “The University truly nurtures who I am and what I value.”

Read the latest issue of Chaminade Magazine

The latest issue of the Chaminade Magazine is available now.

And you don’t have to wait for it to arrive in your mailbox: Read it now online!

The magazine is chock full of new features and alumni profiles. You can explore how Chaminade is helping to address the mental health crisis in Hawai’i, read about the University’s efforts to expand Data Science programming, and meet current students and graduates who are changing the world.

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Blessing Hands That Heal

The annual ceremony is a reminder of the power of compassionate care

Students pursuing careers in nursing and other healthcare professions gathered October 18 for a beloved tradition at Chaminade: the St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands ceremony. The observance honors those pursuing lives of service and serves as a poignant reminder of the power of compassionate care.

Rooted in the Christian tradition, the ceremony is observed every year on the Feast Day of St. Luke.

“Luke was an evangelist and a physician,” said Fr. Chris Wittmann, who presided over the blessing ceremony. “If you’re looking for God’s compassion, the Gospel of Luke is a good place to start.

He added, “So it is apt to celebrate this today.”

The blessing of the hands is a time-honored tradition that seeks to acknowledge the emotional and spiritual dimensions of patient care, and honor the commitment and resilience of healthcare workers.

  • St. Luke's Blessing_cn1_500x333
    Sr. Malia Wong, Fr. Chris Wittman and Br. Edward Brink anointed the hands of nursing students and other healthcare providers during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
  • Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands.
    Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
  • Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands.
    Nursing students and other healthcare providers had their hands anointed during the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands.
  • Isaiah Atalig ’25 recounted a medical mission to Costa Rica this past summer and the impact the trip had on him.
    Isaiah Atalig ’25 recounted a medical mission to Costa Rica this past summer and the impact the trip had on him.
  • Nursing students and other healthcare providers attended the annual St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands on October 18.
    Nursing students and other healthcare providers attended the annual St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands on October 18.
  • Nursing major Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25 has her hands anointed by Fr. Chris Wittmann during the St. Luke's Blessing of the Hands on October 16.
    Nursing major Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25 has her hands anointed by Fr. Chris Wittmann during the St. Luke’s Blessing of the Hands on October 16.

“Bless those who are involved with taking care of others,” said Bro. Edward Brink, vice president for Mission and Rector. He added that as Chaminade is the only Catholic university in the islands and serves the entire Pacific region, “it’s important that we continue this tradition.”

At its core, organizers said, the blessing of the hands ceremony serves as a reminder that the hands that administer care are not only instruments of healing but also vessels of compassion and empathy.

Nursing student Tia Kaʻiulani Tabisola ’25, a certified nurse’s aide, was among those who attended the ceremony. She said the gathering reminded her why she wants to pursue a career helping others.

Tabisola recounted the story of a difficult patient who she struggled to assist.

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After spending some time with him, he finally spoke and asked her if they could pray for him and his mom. They both ended up crying. “This is why I want to become a nurse,” Tabisola said. “I want to break down barriers and eliminate stigmas against the vulnerable.”

Isaiah Atalig ’25 is majoring in Forensic Sciences at Chaminade and aspires to be a doctor.

He said he takes the notion of healing to heart.

“Caring for people is my calling,” said Atalig, who is from Guam.

Atalig said in Chamorro culture, just like in healthcare professions, putting others ahead of yourself is paramount. “You care for neighbors, strangers, family, and the sick and vulnerable,” he said.

Entrepreneurial Program Celebrates 22 Years

The entrepreneurial leadership incubator is unique in the islands

“Doing things that make social sense and doing social things that make business sense.”

That mantra, the foundation of Chaminade’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program, was emphasized by Hogan Director Roy Panzarella in his opening remarks to attendees at the 22nd annual Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program Kick-Off Celebration on October 16.

“This annual kick-off allows us to recognize current and former Hogan students,” Panzarella said.

“Our students become leaders and changemakers who care about social justice and who are committed to making a difference. We want them to become better versions of themselves.”

Isabella “Bella” Hughes, co-founder of Shaka Tea and other popular brands, echoed the sentiment in her keynote address at the event. “The world is made up of human connections,” Hughes said at the celebration, which was held on the Sullivan Family Library Lawn.

Isabella Hughes, co-founder of Shaka Tea and other popular brands, spoke at the Hogan event.


“It’s vital to build social capital and to choose kindness, which is fundamentally how I live both my personal and business lives.”

Since its launch in 2002, the Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program has sought to prepare students to become transformational leaders, driving change with empathy and compassion. The program is designed to be an incubator and catalyst for community development and job creation.

In her speech, Hughes said entrepreneurship requires relentless work. She added that her journey has included failed companies and a lot of rejection.

“But I persisted because I told myself that I was going to win,” she said.

Chaminade President Lynn Babington called the Hogan program “wonderful and unique” in Hawai’i.

“We link our students through coursework, internships and connections with business people,” she said. “Our students are from all majors. They learn the skills of being an entrepreneur and have the opportunity to work with some very successful start-ups here in Hawai’i.”

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Babington added that she’s proud to say that two decades of Hogan Entrepreneurial Leadership Program alumni have made significant contributions to their communities.

“They’ve started small businesses and launched larger companies, too,” she said.

In addition to economic benefits, the Hogan program seeks to address pressing social issues, incorporating social entrepreneurship into its curriculum. The program also encourages its students to develop solutions to problems like poverty, healthcare and environmental sustainability.

Gary Hogan, CEO of Hogan Hospitality Group, addressed attendees at the celebration event.
Aliikamanaekahi “Alii” Napoleon, second from right, received a $2,500 scholarship from Alaka‘ina Foundation. The check was presented to Napoleon by former Chaminade Athletics Director and Alaka‘ina Foundation board member, Bill Villa, far left. Bella Hughes, Gary Hogan, Dr. Lynn Babington and Dr. Roy Panzarella joined them on stage.
Aliikamanaekahi “Alii” Napoleon, second from right, received a $2,500 scholarship from Alaka‘ina Foundation.

By integrating entrepreneurial education with service and ethical leadership, students are challenged to leverage their passions and skills to make a meaningful impact.

Supported by the Hogan Family Foundation, Chaminade’s Hogan entrepreneurship program has sought to strengthen its partnerships over the years with Hawai’i businesses.

“Under great leadership comes great success,” said Gary Hogan, CEO of Hogan Hospitality Group. “Lynn and Roy are two great leaders who have a vision to build a resilient community.”

Embedded in the Hogan program is the Suzie Martin & Vaughn Vasconcellos Leadership Institute.

Vaughn Vasconcellos, a former Chaminade Board of Regents chair and current member of the Board of Governors, is also the co-founder of Alaka’ina Foundation, a nonprofit Native Hawaiian organization with a mission to build and promote leadership and educational initiatives for the youth of Hawai‘i.

The goal of the foundation is to develop a new generation of leaders.

Representing Vasconcellos at the Hogan event, former Chaminade Athletics Director and Alaka‘ina Foundation board member Bill Villa presented Aliikamanaekahi “Alii” Napoleon with a $2,500 scholarship, awarded to a Native Hawaiian first-year or transfer student for his or her first year of study at Chaminade.

Scholar: Catholic Bioethics Must Evolve

Dr. Therese Lysaught is an influential voice in Catholic healthcare

Dr. Therese Lysaught, professor at the Neiswanger Institute for Bioethics and Health Care Leadership at Loyola University Chicago, argues Catholic bioethics must embrace the fullness of the Catholic social tradition and pay more attention to ethical dimensions of healing that are relevant to people’s lives.

Addressing attendees at the latest Marianist Lecture, which was held Oct. 13 at the Mystical Rose Oratory, Lysaught also said a broadened Catholic bioethics has the ability to play a critical role in society.

In an introduction before the lecture, Chaminade’s Dr. Dustyn Ragasa applauded Lysaught’s encyclopedic knowledge of Catholic bioethics and the healthcare system while also praising her for a “big heart and unwavering compassion and commitment” to help patients.

Dr. Dustyn Ragasa praised Dr. Therese Lysault for her unwavering commitment to help the poor and ill.
Dr. Dustyn Ragasa praised Dr. Therese Lysault for her unwavering commitment to help the poor and ill.

“In her work, she holds theology, medicine, ethics and bioethics in profound dialogue,” said Ragasa, director of the Pastoral Theology master’s degree program.

“She’s addressed such issues as the anointing of the sick, gene therapy, genetics, human embryonic cell research, end of life, neuroscience, global health, bioethics and social justice.”

In her lecture, titled “Catholic Bioethics: Catholic Social Tradition and Human Flourishing,” Lysaught detailed three different healthcare scenarios: One involved a Guatemalan man with kidney failure, the second was an elderly Black suffering from end-stage congestive heart failure, and the third involved an 8-year-old gunshot victim.

“Open up any textbook or journal on Catholic bioethics and you will find no mention of such scenarios or of a myriad of similar issues,” Lysault said. “They don’t count as topics for Catholic bioethical analysis.”

Yet they need to be, she said.

Lysault added Catholic bioethics must incorporate a broader analysis of poverty, race and ethnicity.

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She also argued that the Catholic social tradition could help expand and re-orient Catholic bioethics around a foundation of caring for the sick and approaching the moral dimensions of health and medicine.

Lysault asserted the COVID pandemic exposed many bioethical questions like: How should few effective treatments, such as ventilators, be allocated to patients? How should scarce protective equipment be allocated among frontline healthcare workers? Could patients’ advance directives be overridden?

Dr. Therese Lysault was presented with a lei after Dr. Dustyn Ragasa introduced her to the audience.
Dr. Therese Lysault was presented with a lei from Emmalee Bugado after Dr. Dustyn Ragasa introduced her to attendees.

According to Lysault, there was nothing in the literature of Catholic bioethics to address these questions.

And four years later, she added, while secular bioethics has begun to attend to these questions, you’ll still find almost nothing in the Catholic bioethics literature about these issues.

Tackling questions such as these “will require the theoretical and practical tools of social analysis in the Catholic social tradition,” she concluded.

In her address, Lysaught also touched on a 2022 study in which researchers interviewed 10 kupuna from rural Hawaii communities about their experiences with healthcare barriers. When asked what advice they had for providers about how to improve healthcare for Native Hawaiians, the elders did not list the standard bioethical principles or any of the principles of Catholic bioethics, Lysault said.

“Rather, they appreciated providers who, to quote, ‘took the time to talk story and to get to know them as people and community members,’” Lysault said.

“They appreciated providers who shared information about themselves.”

At the end of her lecture, Lysault was presented with the Mackey Award for Catholic Thought, which honors scholarly, community and faith leaders whose body of work advances the spirit and educational mission of the Society of Mary and the Marianist Family.

Presenting her with an ‘umeke, Chaminade Student Engagement Coordinator Andrew Ancheta told Lysault the significance of the koa bowl in Hawaiian culture and remarked, “Today, you filled it with spiritual and intellectual food.”