Athletics

Chaminade University’s 11^th Annual Intercollegiate Athletics Gala, held on March 14 at the Ala Moana Hotel, raised $167,000 to support the school’s 10 sports programs and 140 student-athletes that compete in the NCAA Division II and Pacific West Conference.

It was a night dedicated to honoring student-athletes, thanking sponsors and growing the Silversword Hall of Fame with two new inductees.

Recognized at the gala as the 2019 Hall of Fame inductees were alumna Martha B. Smith and former Chaminade Women’s Volleyball coach, Glennie Adams.

Smith graduated from Chaminade with her Master’s in Business Administration in 1991 and is currently the CEO for Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children. She sits on the Chaminade University Board of Regents, is an Athletic Booster Club member and helped to establish Hawaii Pacific Health as the “Official Healthcare Partner of Chaminade University Athletics” last year, which ensures that all student-athletes are well cared for.

Adams is known for her time at Chaminade as the winningest head coach of women’s volleyball, with 176 wins. In her 15 years at the university, she also held the titles of Assistant Director of Athletics and Senior Women’s Administrator. She now serves as the director of athletics at Kamehameha Schools Kapalama and will go down in history for being the school’s first female director of athletics.

Among the 360 attendees were sponsors from Hawaii Pacific Health, First Hawaiian Bank, the Star Advertiser and many more. The funds raised go directly toward Chaminade’s athletics program to help student-athletes thrive. Celebrated at this year’s gala was the construction of the new Silversword Training Center and Locker rooms, which would not have been possible without the help of generous donors.

In addition to ushering Smith and Adams into the Hall of Fame, the gala program included a student performance by Chaminade’s Hawaiian Club, dinner, musical entertainment, a video presentation on Chaminade Athletics, remarks by university president Lynn Babington and a student-athlete speech made by Antonio Bonnetty.

Senior student Bonnetty, who has been on the men’s cross country team since his sophomore year and serves as student government president, singled out cross country head coach Shadrack Nabea as a source of support throughout his athletic career and as someone who believed in him when he didn’t believe in himself.

“I have learned skills from [Nabea] and others in Chaminade and athletics which I employ today,” Bonnetty said. “I have learned how to believe in myself, how to believe I was better than a C average and make A’s, how to not be crippled by my weakness and see them as strengths, and how not just to live, but thrive. I have come this far because of my family, athletics and Chaminade.”

What better way to spend Valentine’s Day than by showing some gratitude and care for those who have served our country? Several of our women’s soccer team members did just that.

Students Cierra Toledo-Muragin, Rachel Arakawa and Randi Fontes spent their Valentine’s Day visiting with hospitalized veterans at the Tripler Army Medical Center.

“My grandpa is a veteran and I know how much he enjoys talking about his life when he was in the army,” says Toledo-Muragin, a third-year nursing student from Hilo. “I really enjoyed spending Valentine’s Day with veterans who do not have any family here.”

The students first met with Carlos Santana, a community liaison from Mazie Hirono’s Office, who taught them about the importance of veterans in our community. They then spent time visiting with medics from Desert Storm and Vietnam who shared practical information and a wealth of stories.

“They were so nice and supportive and emphasized the importance of getting an education,” says Toledo-Muragin. “They were proud of us for being student-athletes and motivated us to keep going and to accomplish our goals.”

Chaminade University’s Annual Intercollegiate Athletics Gala hit its decade year on March 15 and was a night 600 attendees won’t soon forget. Family, friends, colleagues, student-athletes and university supporters gathered at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel to honor the 2018 Silversword Hall of Fame inductees – Dr. Edison H. Miyawaki and Bill Villa.

In the hotel’s Hawaii Ballroom, guests could be heard chatting with enthusiasm before the program started. Emcee Felipe Ojastro welcomed guests and started the high-spirited program by introducing the honorees. The crowd gave a standing ovation as each made his way to the stage.

Following the initial introductions and Hawaiian ‘oli “He Mele No Kaminaka,” the evening’s program began with dinner and entertainment. Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington gave remarks congratulating the two honorees as well as thanking guests for their continuous support of Chaminade and its athletics program. Women’s softball’s Kaitlin Kim ’18 also took the stage sharing her experiences as a student-athlete and how generous contributors help provide a word-class education with a robust athletics experience.

Next was the main event, the induction of new members into the Silversword Hall of Fame: Dr. Edison Miyawaki and Bill Villa.

Dr. Edison K. Miyawaki, Jr. and Kawika Villa introduced their fathers to those in attendance. Both sons shared special memories of their fathers and how their love for sports and Chaminade has help build the athletics program to where it is today.

Dr. Miyawaki – known as “Doc” – is the driving force behind the Intercollegiate Athletic Gala. Under his direction, he created the event in 2008 when he joined Chaminade’s Board of Regents. Since then, the event has raised over $1.5 million for student-athletes and programming. Dr. Miyawaki is the president of Pali Corp. and was the first Japanese-American to become part owner of an NFL team. He’s put the same energy and commitment into philanthropy as his career, establishing scholarships for young athletes attending NFL training camps and leading education-centered capital projects.

Born and raised in Honolulu, Villa grew up a multi-sport athlete. He played for Kamehameha Schools Kapālama and the University of Hawaii. His love of sports led him to become the athletics director at Assets School and then Mid-Pacific Institute. In 2008, he was named the first full-time director of athletics at Chaminade. He’s worked tirelessly to expand the program, improve and modernize facilities, recruit top-notch coaching, training and leadership staff and launch the annual Chaminade Golf Tournament athletics scholarship fundraiser.

The athletics gala program concluded with the honorees being presented a Pahi Kaua Sword, crafted from the bill of a swordfish by alumnus Umi Kai ’73, and  Dr. Miyawaki and Villa both expressing their gratitude.

Dr. Miyawaki thanked everyone who has supported Chaminade over the years as well as those who helped make the Athletics Gala a success saying he could not be more proud of what the event has accomplished over the past decade. Crediting his father for instilling values of hard work and determination, Dr. Miyawaki enjoys believing in something that no one else believes can be done. He recognized his family, his son who along with his wife and granddaughter traveled from Missouri to celebrate his induction, and closed with saying that Chaminade is a special place because of the people.

Like Dr. Miyawaki, Villa appreciates the many opportunities given to him along his career path. He  urged student-athletes to put in the hard work and earn from experiences to thrive in the community. “You just need a chance like I was given to succeed, and with that chance amazing things can happen,” he said. Villa ended by thanking Dr. Miyawaki for being a “visionary and someone he will forever cherish as a friend.”

The annual Athletics Gala is instrumental to the success of Chaminade’s athletics program and its student-athletes. This year’s event set a new contribution record, raising over $300,000, supporting its 10 sports programs and over 140 student-athletes.