Chaminade University of Honolulu

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Students Inducted Into Psychology Honor Society

Sixty-five Chaminade Psychology students were recognized for their academic excellence and commitment to the field with induction into Psi Chi, the International Honor Society in Psychology, during a Spring term ceremony.

Membership in the prestigious society is for life.

Abby Halston, Ed.D, associate professor of psychology at Chaminade, said students inducted into the society “have worked tirelessly to earn this lifelong honor.” She added, “Watching them be recognized for their dedication, resilience, and academic excellence is incredibly rewarding.

She noted that Chaminade has had a Psi Chi chapter for 26 years. Participants benefit from the prestigious recognition along with access to scholarships, research grants and networking events.

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Annie Kramer ’25 served as the president of the Psi Chi chapter at Chaminade over the past academic year. The Psychology major, who also minored in Education, said the group offers an important gathering space for students with a passion for their education and psychology.

“Like minded students are able to connect and build community together,” she said, adding participating in Psi Chi afforded her the opportunity to “deeply connect with peers and faculty members in a new light” and build her leadership skills as she pursued her studies.


“We want new Psi Chi members to feel proud of their hard work and dedication to the field,” Kramer said. “In our ceremony, we aimed to express that being inducted into Psi Chi is a great honor and that each member and their guests can celebrate their devotion for psychology.”

In addition to regular networking events over the last academic year, the Psi Chi chapter partnered with the Chaminade Counseling Center to organize and promote wellness events. Those ranged from a psychology-themed scavenger hunt to a Valentine’s Day gathering.

Students Learn with Cutting-Edge Forensics Tech

Forensic Sciences students at Chaminade have a new state-of-the-art tool for learning.

The SuperSpectral device, used to analyze physical evidence, is being made available to students thanks to an agreement between Chaminade University’s School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics and the product’s maker—Forenscope Scientific Technology, Ltd.

Carlos Gutierrez, D.F.S., assistant professor of Forensic Science, said the device allows forensic experts to visualize physical evidence—from blood to fingerprints to gunshot residue—at different wavelengths so that it can be more quickly and fully analyzed.

Gutierrez said the equipment will be used by Forensic Sciences students in different classrooms, laboratories and for research.

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“Having this technology in the Forensic Science Program is a huge improvement in how forensic sciences are taught because the students can have access and learn how to use this equipment and also search and identify real physical evidence,” he said. “Also, the students can be part of research and present their results.”

Forenscope notes the device has broad implications for forensic investigations, giving scientists a new way to analyze evidence and catch details that might be missed with traditional techniques. “This can help to solve crimes,” the company said.

Carlos Gutierrez, D.F.S., assistant professor of Forensic Sciences (center), poses with representatives from Forenscope Scientific Technology, Ltd.

Forenscope Scientific CEO Mr. Osman Eşki added the agreement will allow Chaminade to conduct research “using the best multispectral technology available in the forensic market.”

Gail Grabowsky, Ph.D., dean of the School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, said offering students access to the advanced technology will ensure Chaminade Forensic Sciences graduates “will be ready to serve the community” and excel in their careers.

Additionally, Gutierrez will be offering free online workshops on the device.

Outstanding Catholic Schools Educators Honored

Esther Amano is more than a teacher.

During her more than 35 years at Our Lady of Good Counsel School in Pearl City, she has also served as a mentor, a guide and a “quiet force of grace and strength,” said Chaminade Dean of Education and Behavioral Sciences Dale Fryxell, Ph.D.

At a recent celebration, Amano was named Hawai’i Catholic Schools Educator of the Year and presented with the Golden Pineapple Award for her outstanding contributions to teaching, her years of service and an unwavering commitment to seeing her students excel.

“Her classroom has launched leaders, nurtured faith, and shaped lives far beyond the eighth grade,” Fryxell said, at the awards ceremony. “Former students return—years later—to thank her, hug her, and tell her what we already know: That her impact lasts a lifetime.”

Esther Amano was named the Hawai’i Catholic Schools Educator of the Year for 2025.

Nominations for Amano poured in, with colleagues, parents, administrators and former students all attesting to her gift for inspiring the next generation of leaders. “Miss Amano shines as a beacon of inspiration within our school community,” one former student wrote.

Fryxell noted Amano is the first to arrive at school each morning and the last to leave each day.

“Whether she’s leading class Masses, mentoring new teachers, or writing cards for every staff birthday, Esther Amano lives the mission of Catholic education in every quiet, faithful action,” he said. “She has empowered her students to raise their voices through poetry, supported school service projects with heart, and modeled a leadership that lifts her school community.”

Also at the ceremony, Sister Katherine-Francis Miller ’63 was recognized as the Hawaii Catholic Schools Administrator of the Year. As Fryxell noted, she has “shaped the hearts, minds and spirits of generations of young women” at Sacred Hearts Academy for nearly six decades.

Miller, campus minister and director of the Office of Mission at Sacred Hearts Academy, was applauded for her transformative leadership and her caring approach to growth.

“Whether she’s leading a mission trip to the Philippines, organizing students to serve food at a transitional shelter, or helping a young person navigate their spiritual journey, Sister Katherine-Francis leads with compassion, humility, and the deep joy of someone truly rooted in her vocation,” Fryxell said.

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And her work extends into the community in many forms, including by leading prison ministry efforts with fellow Sisters, organizing mission trips to the Philippines, and working with students in Sacred Hearts’ Outreach, Unity and Renewal Club as they serve food at a housing shelter.

The Golden Pineapple Awards are sponsored by Chaminade University, Hawaii Catholic Schools with the support of John C. and Mary Lou Brogan.

Nominations open annually and recipients receive a trophy and cash award.

Students Mark Confirmation Ceremony

On the Sunday following Easter, members of the University community gathered to celebrate the spiritual journeys of six Catholic Chaminade students as they received the Sacrament of Confirmation.

Fr. Christopher Wittmann, S.M., director of Campus Ministry at Chaminade, said the six students started meeting weekly in October with faculty members and staff who served as their catechists. They then received Confirmation at a Mass on April 27 at the Mystical Rose Oratory.

The six are: Lance Carlo, AJ Dahlk, Theresa Fabian, Soso Hayes, Mimi Smith and Brenna White.

A seventh student, Dilubech Hideyos, received Confirmation at a separate Mass on Kauai.

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Confirmation, which with Baptism and First Communion is one of the three Sacraments of Initiation into the Catholic Church, “calls upon the Holy Spirit to fill the person with the gifts of the spirit; to seal and strengthen them in their journey of Christian discipleship,” Wittmann explained, adding that Honolulu Bishop Larry Silva delegates administration of Confirmation to priest pastors during the liturgical Season of Easter.

Wittmann said the students, working with their catechists, “studied the core beliefs and practices of the Catholic faith, prayed together and discussed church teaching and their own faith journeys.”

Hideyos went through the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults process, receiving all three Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil Mass at Immaculate Conception Parish Confirmation on Kauai.

Connor Torres, a young adult member of the Mystical Rose Oratory worshipping community, also received Confirmation with the six Chaminade students.

Brenna White, set to graduate in 2028 with a bachelor’s degree in Nursing, said receiving Confirmation at the Mystical Rose Oratory represented a significant rite of passage in her life.

“When I was a little girl, I went to church back home on Maui, getting baptized as a baby and attending Sunday classes to prepare for my First Communion,” she said. “Life got busy, and we became preoccupied with other things so we stopped going to church regularly. Participating in Confirmation now feels important to me because it reconnects me with my faith foundation.”

She added, “Even though I drifted away from it for a while, it’s always been a part of me. It represents a fresh commitment and a personal decision to grow in my relationship with God.”

White said after graduation she hopes to return to Maui to begin her career as a nurse.

“Through my time at Chaminade and my involvement in the Church, I’ve come to recognize that caring for others is the gift God has given me,” she said. “I hope to continue growing both professionally and personally, leaning on the values of faith and community.”

“I’m excited to give back to my community and use my gift to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Being involved in the church while at Chaminade has really taught me to take things one day at a time. College can feel overwhelming sometimes with everything going on, but my faith has reminded me that it’s OK to slow down, breathe and trust that things will work out.”

Silverswords Study Criminal Justice Abroad

A group of Chaminade Criminology and Criminal Justice students spent a whirlwind spring break in Mexico, Belize and Honduras. But they weren’t soaking in rays at the beach—at least not most of the time. Instead, they were studying international criminal justice systems.

The 13 student participants traveled with Kelly Treece, Ph.D., director of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Program at Chaminade. This was the third study trip Treece has led to international locales, and she said each one is eye-opening for students.

“These opportunities provide students with a global view of criminal justice,” Treece said.

“They are able to identify both the strengths and the weaknesses of the U.S. criminal justice system and the strengths and weaknesses of other criminal justice systems. Ultimately, this type of global travel provides them with a foundation for potential reform proposals.”

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Owen Caba ’26 couldn’t agree more.

He’s double majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice and said the study trip was nothing less than “life-changing.” Two highlights for him: Traveling to Placencia, Belize, a small beach town where everyone was welcoming, and shuttling their way to Roatan, a city in Honduras.

“Belize is the country I plan to go back to and want to learn more about,” said Caba, who also traveled with Treece to Australia and New Zealand on previous trips. “Studying abroad broadened my perspective by unlocking new cultures and showing me the daily lives of different people.”

Chaminade Criminology and Criminal Justice students pose for photos during their spring break trip to Central and South America.

Hannah Grace Dyer ’25, a Criminology and Criminal Justice major, said she felt privileged to explore different countries and their criminal justice systems. In Roatan, Honduras, students enjoyed the idyllic scenery while also taking note of indicators of higher crime and poverty.

“I would be interested to learn more about the notoriously corrupt government in Honduras and how that affects the criminal justice system along with why there is less crime in Roatan than Honduras mainland.,” she said, adding that hearing first-hand accounts was instructive.

“In America, almost every place you go you will experience the melting pot of cultures, people, and personalities that our country hosts. However, if you go to another country like Honduras or Mexico, you will see one culture and mainly one group of people. To me, this is always so fascinating because it gives me insight into different ways of understanding others.”

For Dyer, the trips also turned out to be a bonding experience with her fellow classmates.

“After both of these trips, I immediately felt closer to my classmates and the ’ohana at Chaminade,” she said. “One of my favorite parts of the trip was in Belize, spontaneously exploring the town of Placencia, trying local cuisine, learning about the local police department, and relaxing at the beach. This was a more ‘low-key’ day and a great break from my everyday schedule.”

Prison Education Grads Celebrate Commencement

The Halawa Correctional Facility and Chaminade University held a special commencement ceremony May 10 for nine men earning their associate of arts degree in Business Administration. The graduates are the second cohort to graduate from Halawa’s Prison Education Program—offered at the facility through a partnership with Chaminade.

“Driving positive change and advocating for social justice is core to our Catholic, Marianist mission at Chaminade University, which is why we are so excited about the continued success of our rehabilitation-through-education partnership with the State of Hawaiʻi,” said Lynn Babington, Ph.D., president of Chaminade University.

“Our Spring 2025 prison-based education graduates exemplify the importance of second chances and personal development. These men have overcome so many obstacles that most of us can’t even imagine. They are well on their way to being resilient, to taking care of themselves and moving forward with their life’s path and we are so proud of that.”

The graduates included Eddieson Reyes, AA ’25, who said he never thought he would be able to attain a college degree.

“It’s an eye-opener for me, gaining more knowledge, more wisdom, more understanding of how the world works,” he said, adding that he is proud to be a positive role model for his two daughters, both of whom are also attending college.

“I’m trying to show them that if I can do it, they can do it. This program was so inspiring. I told myself that I didn’t like school, but really I love it.”

Oscar Kanoa, AA ’25 said he had “a lot of butterflies” at the commencement.

“It’s means a lot to me. It shows the perseverance we’ve had,” he said. “This is a second chance to achieve something.”

Through the program, Chaminade University faculty teach courses at the correctional facility.

The graduates completed 20 courses and accumulated 60 credits over five semesters to earn their associate’s degree. The AA in Business Administration includes foundational coursework in business principles, communication and critical thinking.

Tommy Johnson, director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the graduating class “represents the core mission of the department—providing programs and services in collaboration with our partners to those in our custody and care so they can successfully reintegrate back into society upon release.”

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“We are extremely proud of all the graduates,” he added.

After the ceremony, graduate Tyrone Molina said he was proud of himself—and his fellow Silverswords.

“This proves that I’m capable of doing things that I never thought I could,” the 38-year-old said.

“Growing up, I was pretty good in school but I just started following the wrong crowd. So this was a chance for me to redeem myself and get back out there and show the world what I’m capable of and be able to provide for myself and my family.”

Lance Askildson, Ph.D, senior vice president for academic affairs and provost at Chaminade University, told graduates that the commencement ceremony was a new beginning.

“The start of this new chapter is not defined by the past but by the purpose you have chosen, the values you carry with you and the choices that lie ahead of you,” he said.

Askildson added: “At Chaminade, we believe that every student deserves the chance to grow and learn to build a life of purpose. Our graduates in the prison education program have embraced this opportunity with courage and perseverance while also finding renewed purpose in their lives.”