Chaminade University of Honolulu

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Green Roofs & Living Walls

Environmental+Interior Design students participate in service-learning project: green roof and living walls

Lots of times, designers create spaces for working and for living that cut us off from nature.

But an exciting initiative underway at Chaminade is aimed at challenging Environmental + Interior Design students to do the opposite by working to model and construct green roofs and living walls.

It’s all part of Chaminade’s Sustainability in Design course, which is aimed at helping students unpack principles of sustainable design by focusing on key environmental issues and then considering how they relate to other areas of society, including economic inequities and social disparities. The idea: Think through how relatively simple environmentally friendly design changes can have a positive impact.

Environmental+Interior Design students participate in service-learning project: green roof and living walls

That’s where green roofs and living walls come in.

For several years, students in the class have participated in a field project in partnership with the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s College of Tropical Agriculture to install the design elements — along the way exploring the potential benefits of adding more greenery to urban landscapes.

In participating in the hands-on project, students learn first-hand how sustainable design can make a significant difference to city life. Green roofs and living walls can cool buildings, be sources of food, offer aesthetic appeal and can improve air and water quality. They can also provide a much-needed space for recreation or reflection — or even for gathering people together to try their hand at gardening.

Environmental+Interior Design students participate in service-learning project: green roof and living walls

Chaminade Environmental Science major Hiilani Fujihara-Nagamine ‘21 participated in the service learning project and said the class learned all about green roofs and living walls before actually working on them in person. “I can see a future in having these two concepts come to life here in Hawaii,” she said. “The islands seem to be the ideal place for green roofs and living walls due to the wonderful weather all year round. Native plants could be planted to increase the native plant population.”

She said her favorite part of the effort was learning about an actual solution — something tangible designers and environmentalists and even regular people could do to make a positive difference. “I want to make sure that the Earth is still around for the next generations to come,” she said.

“This experience will help me find more solutions that can help solve the problems in this world.”

Undergraduate Summer Research Institute Goes Digital

In-classroom learning may be temporarily suspended, but that doesn’t mean hands-on research opportunities have to be suspended as well. 

In true Marianist fashion, the Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional Program (URPPP) has adapted to the current times and moved its Undergraduate Summer Research Institute online.

As part of the institute, Chaminade undergraduate students will be able to gain invaluable research experience from the comfort and safety of their own homes. The institute will run for 8 weeks and students who are accepted into the institute will receive a $2,000 stipend for their participation.

Each summer, the institute matches students with Chaminade professors to explore a research question of interest to them. The students spend 8-weeks participating in weekly group meetings to learn more about the research process while undertaking their project. At the end of the 8 weeks, students submit a final project thesis and present their outcomes and findings to the group. This year, the institute will take a similar form—the only difference is that it will be virtual instead of in-person.

“Opportunities like this are so important because they help our students strengthen their resume while also allowing them to gain research experience, which can be very insightful for students who are looking to continue their studies in graduate school,” says Dr. Amber Noguchi, director of Chaminade’s Undergraduate Research and Pre-Professional program. “We wanted to make sure these hands-on learning experiences could continue while we’re apart.” 

To be eligible, students must be a rising sophomore, junior or senior at Chaminade University; have at least a 2.5 GPA; have completed at least two semesters at Chaminade before the program begins; and have at least one semester of education remaining before the program begins. 

Native Hawaiian students are highly encouraged to apply, and priority will be given to students in non-natural science disciplines, including biochemistry, chemistry and data science. To apply, students must complete the institute’s application by the April 27 deadline and include two short written statements, a personal statement and a statement of research interest.

For more information, students are encouraged to contact Dr. Noguchi at [email protected].

Student’s Heritage Motivates Academic Journey

Chaminade junior Alexis Lambert loves to see history come alive through culture.

Alexis Lambert - online undergraduate student majoring in psychology

And so when her professor tasked her with writing a research paper for History 201, a course that explores America through the Civil War, she knew exactly what she wanted to write about: Her people.

Lambert, 21, is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

She was born and raised in Cherokee, North Carolina, and still lives on reservation land there with her mother and two younger siblings. It seems a world away from Chaminade, but Lambert says the university’s online program has turned out to be a perfect fit for her—and her studies.

Alexis Lambert - online undergraduate student majoring in psychology

Lambert first applied to Chaminade while still in high school, but then decided to attend her local community college for two years. After receiving her associate’s degree, she was looking for an online bachelor’s degree program that would allow her to stay in Cherokee while also getting access to quality educational programs. She remembered what she’d read about Chaminade and decided to apply again.

“Everything fell into place,” she said.

Lambert is now majoring in Psychology and pursuing a minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice at Chaminade.

She dreams of bringing her unique perspective to her future profession just as she brings it to her courses today. “I love my culture and cannot imagine growing up any other way,” she said. “We have pow-wows and festivals that celebrate our food and culture all throughout the year.”

For History 201, Lambert worked with adjunct Professor Willis Moore to tell the story of her people before 1865 into present day. The paper explores what the Cherokee people have gone through—and how they have survived to keep their traditions, customs and language alive for future generations.

It also unpacks her tribe’s laws and political structure, comparing them to the US government.

Lambert said she jumped at the opportunity to write the paper for a simple reason: “I want more people to know about my culture and to know about the other side of history—the one that is not in the books. Cherokee is a federally recognized tribe in the US. We have our own laws and land.”

Lambert said she’s come a long way—and is looking forward to graduation and beyond.

She’s interested in becoming a clinical psychologist or a forensic psychologist. Whatever she chooses, she’s confident that she’ll get there because of having her foundation rooted at Chaminade. “I love it here and cannot wait to learn more,” she said. “I am very happy right now and very proud of myself.”

Students Set Sail Aboard an Outdoor Classroom

Learning at Chaminade University, more often than not, takes place beyond the four walls of a classroom.

Students on the Golden Rule Peace Boat

Take our RE 431: Environmental Ethics course, for example. Designed to introduce students to effective methods for dealing with ethical issues within environmental studies and sustainable practices, the course has taken a variety of forms, the most recent of which has allowed students to take to the sea aboard the Golden Rule Peace Boat.

It started with professor Sr. Malia Wong, who’d been working closely with a few Buddhist monks with connections to crewmembers aboard the Golden Rule Peace Boat. A project spearheaded by Veterans for Peace, the Golden Rule first set sail in 1958 to promote opposition to nuclear weapons and war. Following a restoration, the Golden Rule once again set sail on an expedition to the Marshall Islands and Japan to commemorate the lives of those affected by nuclear warfare.

Docked at the Ala Wai Boat Harbor in Honolulu, the Golden Rule is a majestic and historic sight to behold. The restored vessel—and the vision of world peace it symbolizes—has inspired books, poems, lyrics and songs over the course of its 62-year existence. And in its 62nd year, a group of Chaminade students and Sr. Malia had the privilege of boarding and later sailing on the boat by invitation from the crewmembers, who are also peace movement activists.

For the students, climbing aboard the Golden Rule was an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience.

According to Dean of Humanities Cheryl Edelson, the mission of the Golden Rule Peace Boat is intricately linked to the efforts to protect the environment that she’s currently teaching her students. It also embodies Chaminade’s own commitment to the Marianist values of service, justice, and peace.

“It was an amazing experience,” said student Cara Gutierrez ’23, a communication major who’s passionate about climate change. “While on the boat, our class had the chance to talk with Helen, the project manager. She shared that the boat actually inspired Green Peace, which really hooked me and drew me in.”

Gutierrez is now working closely with Helen as a youth ambassador for the Golden Rule in Hawaii.

“During our sail, I had a great conversation with Helen about how much I admired her passion and her lifelong devotion to this project,” Gutierrez said. Chaminade is proud to equip our students with opportunities to explore the world beyond the classroom. During field trips such as the Golden Rule sail, students are embracing experiential learning while making memories that will last a lifetime.

Student Named to Most Promising Multicultural Class of 2020

Chaminade Communication senior Sofia Vela jetted off to New York in February for a four-day conference of the American Advertising Federation’s Most Promising Multicultural Class of 2020.

Sofia Vela in NYC for Most Promising Multicultural program

Vela was among just 50 students from around the country selected for the class, a prestigious honor that recognized her portfolio of work and academic accomplishments. A panel of industry representatives from across a host of big-name companies selected the honorees.

The federation launched the Most Promising Multicultural Student program in 1997 to link the advertising industry with top multicultural students from around the country, setting up sit-downs with mentors and recruiters in a bid to create a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

Those selected this year traveled to New York from February 10 to 13 for a packed agenda—with workshops, “industry immersion” opportunities, and the Building Bridge for our Future luncheon.

The students were also treated to a Broadway show: “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical.”

Vela said she couldn’t contain her excitement when she’d found out she was selected for the honor.

And the New York City conference didn’t disappoint. “I had no idea that this trip would be so life-changing,” Vela said. “Each MPM student was hard-working and driven. Together, we lifted each other up and created an energy that continues to motivate me, even after returning home.”

All the honorees in the class are minorities and 43 are women. The diversity left Vela inspired. “We were all there for a similar, unspoken reason: to redefine the norm,” she said. “The time to increase populations of multicultural men and women in the workplace is now.”

Vela said she’s now ready to take on just about anything after college. Whatever her next steps, she knows she’ll have some new peers to share them with. “I made some lifelong friends on the trip,” Vela said. “The students on this trip were all absolutely wonderful.”

Growing as a Writer and Learner

Sami Eastwood published her first book at 17, when she was a freshman at Chaminade.

Three years later, she’s completing final edits on a sequel and has already started working on a third novel in her science fiction series. She’s also the co-founder of a boutique publishing house, helps her parents grow their business in her spare time and is a year away from finishing her bachelor’s degree.

If that’s not impressive enough, Eastwood decided to double major in English and History.

Sami Eastwood, an online undergraduate student who lives in Oregon

Eastwood is an online undergraduate student at Chaminade, taking classes, completing assignments and communicating with professors and her peers remotely. While she lives in Oregon, she said she counts her professors as close and valuable mentors who have helped her grow as a writer and a learner.

“Every term I’m learning new things that contribute to sparking my creativity,” Eastwood said.

She said she decided to pursue her degree at Chaminade after taking a few classes at a large public university that she said wasn’t a right fit. Chaminade’s Marianist tradition of helping others and building a better world was an especially important element to her and her family, Eastwood said.

“I decided on an English major because I want to write books for a living and it’s good to know the rules of any trade you go into and how to analyze other works of fiction and nonfiction,” Eastwood said. “I chose history as well because I’ve always been fascinated by it, especially American history.”

In fact, Eastwood said she’s also interested in pursuing a future career in museums.

Her first love, though, is writing. And she has no plans to give that up. “My goal is to stay as closely connected to both worlds as possible,” Eastwood said. “The literary world of writing books along with the historical world, and I’m hoping my degrees can help me with that process.”

To publish her first book, Eastwood worked closely with another online undergraduate student at Chaminade–English major Jodi Clark. The two are good friends (and Oregon residents) and have found the university’s online program has allowed them to pursue their passions.

Clark even served as Eastwood’s editor for her first book, “Blackstone Asylum.”

The book is set 100 years in the future in a world in which superpowers are common and misunderstood. The novel’s heroine, Andrea Rosales, was born with the ability to heal. It’s that power that makes her a target for a villain who kidnaps paranormal children to turn them into weapons.

Eastwood said all she’s learned at Chaminade has given her a multitude of new story ideas and techniques for tackling them. “I learn endless amounts of information from both my English and history classes,” she said. “Even the smallest fact can blossom into (yet another) story idea.”