Chaminade University of Honolulu

Business & Communication

Students Flex Their Event Planning Skills

You can’t take advantage of opportunities you don’t know about.

That’s the idea behind the annual LEI (Leadership, Exploration, Inspiration) event, which is organized by nonprofit ClimbHI in collaboration with Chaminade students in the University’s senior field experience class.

More than 650 high school and college students attended this year’s LEI gathering, held at the Hawai‘i Convention Center on April 14.

The fair featured over 60 Hawai’i business and organizations sharing career opportunities in short “speed-dating” style segments. Students also learned about what types of preparation different jobs require and the internships that might be available to them as they advance their skills.

“We want these high school students to know that after graduation, there are all these opportunities available to them,” said Wendy Lam, Ph.D., a professor of Business Administration and Sport Event Management at Chaminade who oversees the Chaminade students who help organize the LEI event.


“It’s a very meaningful project that our students can apply everything that they have learned, from accounting to marketing to management and human resources.”

Loke Yokoyama ’25 is among the students who worked on the project.

“As a Chaminade student, we get to help with the planning and coordinating of the event,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun using my skills that I have obtained at Chaminade. The best part is working as a team.”

Yokoyama added Silverswords even made ti leaf lei for participating businesses.

John Paul Pacura ’25, a Business Administration senior, said Chaminade students got to apply their strongest skills and sharpen others in putting the event together.

“One of the biggest takeaways from this event is utilizing all the skills we have learned at Chaminade over four years,” Pacura said.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

This is the 13th year of the LEI event, which is especially focused on inspiring Hawai’i youth to pursue careers in the visitor industry. At the exposure fair, participants also got a chance to engage with industry leaders and participate in hands-on activities.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with ClimbHI and our industry and community partners to bring this important program to life,” said Caroline Anderson, interim president and CEO of the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority.

ClimbHI President Julie Morikawa said the LEI program is designed to offer a stepping stone between exposure to career opportunities and the hiring process, “allowing students to achieve their dreams and helping local businesses with workforce development.”

Business Students Take First in Global Competition

A team of Chaminade University students took top honors at an international business competition, wowing the judges with their strong presentation skills and innovative marketing strategies aimed at bolstering grassroots social media engagement.

Some 40 U.S. and international university teams participated in this year’s Fully Virtual IACBE Live Case Competition. Students spent more than a month crafting a marketing and engagement strategy for a real company—WealthFluent—as it seeks to reach Gen Z professionals.

The winning Chaminade team included John Barayuga ’25, Blake Buonopane ’25, Madelynne Knowd ’26 and Brycen Shackelford ’26, and their first-place title meant they took home a $1,200 prize. Their winning strategy: Crafting athlete and university partnerships to build a strong brand.

“Participating in this competition helped me grow as both a learner and a leader by challenging me to apply real-world problem-solving skills in a collaborative environment,” said Buonopane, the team captain.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

“As a leader, I learned to communicate effectively, delegate tasks based on team strengths, and stay adaptable under pressure. The experience strengthened my confidence, decision-making skills, and ability to guide a team toward a common goal, preparing me for future academic and professional challenges.”

He added, “Walking away with the top prize feels incredibly rewarding and validating. It’s a reflection of all the hard work and teamwork we put into bringing our idea to life. More than just winning, it feels amazing to know that our solution made an impact and stood out among other strong competitors since this was the first year it was virtual.”

The students tackled the challenge as part of their Business Strategy 469 course.

The winning Chaminade team (left to right) included John Barayuga ’25, Madelynne Knowd ’26, Blake Buonopane ’25 and Brycen Shackelford ’26.

Wera Panow-Loui, MBA, a marketing lecturer at Chaminade and an advisor for the group, said students worked hard to apply what they’d learned in a real-world setting and continuously hone their proposal. “Placing first among 40-plus teams is a prestigious achievement, especially considering the client and judges are highly-experienced professionals,” she said.

“I am incredibly proud of our students. They demonstrated exceptional critical thinking, business acumen and the ability to apply classroom learning in innovative ways.”

Eduard “Eddie” Merc, Ph.D., assistant professor of Business Administration and director of the University’s MBA program, noted that five Chaminade teams participated in the competition—held online for the first time this year.

“As mentors, we used our expertise in business analytics, marketing, and business strategies to prepare students with a comprehensive plan to solve the company’s biggest challenges,” Merc said.

Chaminade has participated in the International Accreditation Council for Business Education (IACBE) competition for several years. In 2024, the University placed third overall.

MBA Alumnus Sees Community Service as Essential

As vice chair and chief operating officer at Central Pacific Bank, David Morimoto, MBA ’97 keeps a breakneck schedule, overseeing banking at 27 branches along with CPB’s business and commercial banking, commercial real estate and wealth management lines of business.

But no matter how busy Morimoto gets, he still makes time to give back.

It’s a “good habit” he says was instilled in him growing up in the islands and working hard to make an impact.

“I think Hawai’i is more philanthropic than most states. Part of that comes from our upbringing and the spirit of aloha,” he said.

“Giving to those who are less fortunate—I hope that is what my two daughters see in me. “

Morimoto started at Central Pacific Bank in 1991, and has served across the company. Before being promoted to chief operating officer in March, Morimoto was senior executive vice president and chief financial officer of Central Pacific Financial Corp. and Central Pacific Bank.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

In the community, Morimoto has long been active with Aloha United Way and homeless services nonprofit Institute for Human Services (IHS).

At IHS, he is the nonprofit’s board chair—a role that he says has afforded him the opportunity to better understand the complexity of Hawai’i’s homeless crisis. “Homelessness is a large and growing problem,” he said. “It’s about helping as many people as you can to improve their situation.”

Also in a volunteer capacity, Morimoto serves with the U.S.-Japan Council, a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening U.S.-Japan relations. Morimoto said as a yonsei, or fourth-generation Japanese-American, the council’s mission of education and relationship-building has resonated with him.

Chaminade’s mission of service also struck a chord with Morimoto while he pursued his MBA.

Central Pacific Bank Chief Operating Officer David Morimoto volunteers at homeless service nonprofit Institute for Human Services.

He attended classes at night to attain his MBA—as online learning wasn’t an option at the time. Morimoto recalled that many of his fellow students were professionals or members of the military and he appreciated learning about their unique perspectives to business and the community.

“I enjoyed the diversity,” he said.

It’s one of the reasons that when he has a chance to talk to younger people, especially college students, he encourages them to get outside of their comfort zones and seek out opportunities that will challenge them—and help them to grow.

“Work ethic has also been a lot of what I think has led to my success,” he added. “I waited tables in college and carried that work ethic into the day job. It served me well.”

Chaminade MBA Options Geared Toward Advancement, Impact

Prospective MBA students come with different goals, experiences and expectations, which is why Chaminade offers two unique MBA pathways—both designed to maximize student success and impact, said MBA Program Director Eduard Merc, Ph.D.

The best part? Whichever option you choose, you can finish in just 12 months.

The two pathway options are the MBA, open to students from all educational or professional backgrounds, and the Professional MBA, geared toward business executives.

Merc said both degrees were recently restructured to put a dual focus on soft and hard skills building—from leadership to data analytics. He added the MBA and Professional MBA also stress hands-on learning, mentoring and a “business for good” philosophy.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

And in a new offering this Spring, students in both MBA pathways will be able to take a preparation course for the Project Management Professional certification exam—a highly sought-after credential. Merc said more preparation courses will be added in the future.

Merc said that a foundational principle of Chaminade’s MBA program is preparing students to use innovative strategies to make a difference. “We are graduating students who want to improve their community through an entrepreneurial spirit,” he said.

Annette Taijeron Santos, D.B.A., interim dean of the School of Business and Communication at Chaminade, added that students are encouraged to “act locally but think globally. Everything they’re learning in classes, it’s rooted to real-world learning experiences and what the workforce is demanding, especially for career mobility.”

RELATED STORIES:

Applications are now being accepted for the MBA, with a Spring deadline of April 7.

Merc noted that students in the MBA program come with a diversity of backgrounds. To provide a “level playing field” for everyone, incoming students attend an in-person or remote “MBA bootcamp,” which covers key themes of accounting, economics, finance and more.

“It helps them feel confident about their skills before the semester even starts,” he said.

The Professional MBA, meanwhile, is cohort-based and students are admitted in the Fall. Merc said a typical cohort has about 15 to 20 people—all entrepreneurs, business owners and emerging leaders seeking to advance their careers. In addition to online learning, students meet every other Saturday for intensive instruction and discussion.

Merc noted the Professional MBA also includes an optional international study trip to Japan. Participants get the chance to meet business leaders, tour companies and network.

For more information on the MBA and Professional MBA at Chaminade, click here.

Bringing Learning to Life for HR Students

Students in Dr. Pamela Estell’s Human Resources Management course devoted much of the Fall semester to researching emerging trends in HR, from mental health in the workplace to bolstering employee engagement to the popularity of the four-day workweek.

They pored over studies, spoke to experts, dug into the data, and wrote a research paper.

And then Estell challenged them to take it one step further: Take everything you have learned about your topic, she told them, and create a five-minute presentation for busy bank executives.

Their hard work was on display Nov. 27 at the Bank of Hawaii headquarters.

The 25 Business students in Estell’s course took the podium at a BOH conference room and addressed bank professionals, detailing the trending topic they’d investigated and showing off detailed infographics. The students also offered three recommendations in their research area.

Estell said the idea to have students deliver the presentations came out of a conversation with a Bank of Hawaii guest speaker.

“She mentioned that they were using infographics to present bite-sized information to employees that would be more interactive than a simple email,” Estell said.

“Hearing that they were looking for ways not just to collect information, but also present information, really lit a fire in me to start building in some synergies. As such, I redesigned my existing assignment to include the infographic and presentation portion.”

Estell then reached out to her Bank of Hawaii contact to ask if some bank employees would be willing to visit the class and provide feedback on student presentations. But the class mentor offered a counter-proposal: Students should come to the BOH offices in Honolulu instead.

“I knew immediately that this was an amazing opportunity for our students to be able to close the loop on how their work can be impactful in a work environment,” Estell said. “In the School of Business and Communication, relationships with local businesses are crucial.”

She added, “These types of high impact experiences are a good way for us to build on those connections with local businesses and also understand what their needs are so that we can ensure we are providing a rigorous and relevant education for our students.”

On the day of the presentations, students were nervous but excited.

John Barayuga ‘25 spoke to the BOH professionals about the importance of mental health programming in the workplace. He said the assignment and subsequent presentation was a challenge that required him to think about the real-world application of his chosen topic.

“This experience has better prepared me for what it means to present on and defend a meaningful subject to an audience with varying opinions and perspectives,” Barayuga said, adding he was gratified to take several insightful and thought-provoking questions from the attendees.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

He said the experience also inspired him to think about other ways he could contribute to improving workplaces. “The more pride you take in your work and understand how it can improve the wellbeing of yourself and others, the more likely your actions will resonate,” he said.

Kyla Castro ‘25 focused her presentation on discipline and dispute management.

She said the class assignment was tough, especially considering all the other things she was juggling in her schedule.

“With the presentation being at BOH, an extra pressure was put on myself and my fellow classmates to represent Chaminade University,” Castro said.

For Castro, the takeaway lesson was she’s capable of pushing through. “This presentation has not only reminded me of what I am capable of,” she said, “but it has also shown me where I need to improve which will ultimately help me as I enter the final push into my professional career.”

Estell said she walked away from the day incredibly proud of her students and grateful to Bank of Hawaii for the opportunity.

“Sometimes it can be difficult for students who are so accustomed to sitting in a classroom every day to see the connections between what they are learning right now—in this moment—and how those skills translate to their future careers,” she said.

“Any opportunity we have to make that really come alive for students is a huge value.”

Business Competition Offers Real-World Lessons

Loke Kaho’opōmaika’i Yokoyama ’25 hopes to pursue a career that allows her to bring together fashion marketing and sustainability. Those passions were on display in the recent Silversword Business Competition, which tasks participating teams with crafting a real-world business proposal.

Yokoyama and her group of three other students—John Paul Pacura ’25, Brianna Gutierrez ’25, and Heavenly Campbell ’25—used $250 in seed money to develop “Charmed by Kalaepōhaku,” selling hand-crafted, sustainable jewelry that celebrates the natural beauty of Chaminade’s campus.

“We aim to educate Chaminade students, faculty, and the broader community on the indigenous and invasive plant life thriving on Kalaepōhaku, the hill upon which the university resides,” Yokoyama explained. “Each piece is designed to connect wearers to the land’s beauty.”

That way, she added, people can “carry a piece of Kalaepōhaku wherever they go.”

The innovation, heart and meticulous planning at the center of the team’s business proposal wowed judges in the competition, held Nov. 22 on campus. And at the end of the night, Charmed by Kalaepōhaku walked away with a $1,000 check to reinvest into their small business.

Dr. Masahisa Yamaguchi, an associate professor of Strategic Management at Chaminade, teaches the Business 469 class that culminates in the competition and said all participants—not just the overall winners—get the opportunity to build relationships with mentors and gain real-world experience.

That’s made the competition, first held in Fall 2021, a hit with students.

“Students prepared for the business competition presentation by thoroughly understanding the competition’s rules, criteria, and target audience,” Yamaguchi said.

“They crafted a clear and compelling story that highlights the problem, the solution, market opportunity, business model, and financial projections, supported by professional, visually appealing slides.”

Four groups participated this year, including one that sold tapas and another that offered soccer training.

“The idea behind this competition was to give Chaminade students a greater appreciation for what they are learning in business, how it is applied in the marketplace and the importance of relationship-building,” Yamaguchi said. And that’s exactly what students gained along the way.

Never miss a post! Follow Chaminade University on Facebook and Instagram.

Judges for the competition were:

• Kynan Pang MBA ’13, a commercial Realtor
• Kendrick Morikawa MBA ’22, of SmartClean
• Chaminade Regent Eric Fujimoto MBA ’94
• Kristine Stebbins ’87, chief experience officer at Bank of Hawaii
• Jay Higa, SBC Advisory Board member
• Kristal Koga, local small business owner and Soroptimist International board member

Yokoyama described the competition as challenging, stressful and rewarding—much like running a real business.

“The seed money helped us kickstart our business with a budget higher than we were willing to provide from our own pockets,” Yokohama said, adding that she has made jewelry in the past as a hobby and jumped at the chance to turn a fun craft into a business that she could get behind.

The group sold their creations at a recent open market held on campus.

With a big win under their belt, the team is excited about pursuing next steps.

“We ran into various time constraints as a team due to our individually demanding schedules and commitments outside of class,” Yokoyama said. “However, I will say that we were dedicated to upholding strong communication to ease any of our stressors, and remain on the same page.”