The Class of 2024 graduates 600 students

A sea of people gathered inside and outside the perimeter of the Waikiki Shell to celebrate the many accomplishments of Chaminade’s Class of 2024, closing out an academic year that brought no shortage of challenges with plenty of smiles, laughter, cheering and tears of joy.

Waiting in line to enter the Waikiki Shell, Shandry Lopes said there was no way she was going to miss the graduation of her granddaughter, Kelli Lopes ’24, who earned her bachelor’s degree in Forensic Science. “Education is important to us,” said Lopes, holding an open umbrella to shield her from the sun. “I am so proud and happy for her.”

The same sentiments were echoed by Shanmarie and Paul Alferez, whose son Ryan Chang was conferred his bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, thanks to Bank of Hawaii’s College Assistance Program (CAP), which allows its employees to get back on the path to obtaining their first four-year undergraduate degree with tuition reimbursement.

“This means everything to us,” said Shanmarie of Ryan’s graduation, with Paul adding that the family has now “broken the family cycle by having a second generation of Alferezes graduate from university.”

“It was a great experience at Chaminade,” Chang said. “Through the University’s Flex program model, I was able to still work full time and earn my degree on my own time. I would not have been able to achieve this without the Bank of Hawaii’s CAP program. And I’m probably going to return to Chaminade to do my MBA.”

As the procession of faculty members and students filled the seats, the cheers and camera flashes came from every direction. Kaipo Leopoldino ’14 opened the ceremony with an oli (Hawaiian welcome and blessing), followed by the invocation delivered by Rev. Chris Wittmann, S.M., and the National Anthem and Hawai‘i Pono‘ī sung by Faith Leasiolagi ’15.

“It is such an honor to celebrate Commencement with our 2024 graduates,” said Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D., in her welcoming remarks. “Graduation is always a momentous milestone—an opportunity to mark achievements attained and look forward to new adventures ahead. But this year’s graduates can be doubly proud for the incredible determination they showed during the past four years.”

Indeed graduate student speaker Donna Kay Fisher, ’16 MA, ’24 EdD, shared her own struggles after she suffered a major heart attack in 2019. However, an invitation she received from Chaminade’s School of Education and Behavioral Sciences to apply for the Doctor of Education inaugural cohort became her lifeline.

“It was divine intervention at the most opportune time,” Fisher told fellow graduates. “We are testaments to the remarkable opportunities that Chaminade University has been able to give us. Our hearts echo with profound gratitude.”

The Commencement guest keynote speaker Dr. Kamanaʻopono M. Crabbe spoke of his own divine inspiration, which was derived from his kupunakane or granduncle Robert Kaho‘okele Na‘auao, who taught him the importance of ‘ohana, integrity, pride, courage, self-worth and “mana.”

“He was my divine intervention, my cultural professor, ‘ohana mentor, my inspiration that gave me something to believe in and a purpose for living,” Crabbe said. “We all need that Uncle Bob in our lives, and, for most of us, our life journey is trying to discover who we are, to find our kuleana, our gift, our special talent.”

This year’s graduating class included associates, bachelors and 36 doctoral students, including the first-ever cohort of 16 graduates in the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) program, 10 of whom graduated with their DNP-Family Nurse Practitioner degrees, three earned their DNP-Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner degrees and another three received their DNP-Executive Leader degrees.

Another first in Chaminade’s history, 14 graduate students were conferred their Doctor of Education in Educational in Organizational Leadership for Adaptation and Change degrees. Another six students earned their Doctor of Psychology in Clinical Psychology degrees. All of these programs were initiated to respond to the community’s needs, and exemplify the Marianist educational values of formation in faith, quality education, family spirit, service, justice and peace, and adaptation and change.

“As a University community, you have made all of us extremely proud. When you joined our Kalaepōhaku community, you could not have foreseen that you would be completing your degree requirements in the throes of a global pandemic,” Babington said. “And yet—despite the many adversities and restrictions—you adapted. Amid the uncertainty, you persevered. And through it all, you showed an exceptional capacity for resilience.”

In his remarks, Crabbe spoke of the future that lies ahead and to embrace the responsibility of supporting our local communities. “Pūpūkahi i holomua—Unite to move forward” encapsulates the spirit of collaboration, unity and collective progress deeply ingrained in our Hawaiian Culture,” he said. “As you stand on the threshold during these auspicious times, let us embrace the principle of ‘Pūpūkahi i holomua,’ recognizing that by standing united, we can overcome any obstacle and achieve our shared aspirations for a brighter future and a greater Hawai‘i.”

Also citing the same Hawaiian proverb in her speech, Fisher emphasized that “our greatest awakening is to understand that life is not an individual race, but it is a collective marathon of mind, body and spirit.” “Therefore, to foster a collective mindset, Chaminade’s faculty and staff taught us how to deliberately seek out and carefully draw out every voice,” she said. “They taught us how to earnestly value opposition, how to ardently appreciate our differences, and how to sincerely believe we are stronger together.”