Chaminade University of Honolulu

Campus and Community

Chaminade Celebrates Fall Convocation

It was a day of spiritual celebration.

With the kickoff of the new academic year fresh on everyone’s minds, Chaminade students, members of the faculty and staff gathered September 3 for a special Fall Convocation. This year’s gathering, which is a longstanding tradition at Chaminade, not only celebrated the beginning of the school year but marked 25 years since the University’s namesake was beatified.

It was on September 3, 2000, that Pope John Paul II designated Fr. Chaminade as “Blessed.”

Fr. Martin Solma, S.M., vice president of Mission and rector, said Fall Convocation typically happens during the first week of the new school year but was moved to include the Silver Jubilee celebration for Chaminade. He added that honoring Chaminade in this way, as a campus community united around service, values the educational project he started.

“This is a man who had a wonderful charisma of forming a community of faith and then expressing that in an educational faith,” Solma said.

Classes were canceled for two hours so all students had the opportunity to attend the convocation, which was held in the Ching Conference Center and also included a recognition of the newest cohort of Marianist Educational Associates (MEAs) at Chaminade.

Participants in the MEA program, which includes representative from sister institutions the University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University, go through a one-year formation program filled with readings and reflections. The goal is to instill a deep understanding of the University’s Marianist character and encourage faculty and staff to weave those values into their work.

Chaminade has 38 active MEAs, with seven in the newest cohort.

The newest MEAs are:

  • Hubert Brown, audio video coordinator
  • Kumu Kahoali’i Keahi-Wood, cultural engagement specialist
  • Elisabeth Mather, MSCP ’18, mental health counselor
  • Kristopher Martin, MBA ’17, director of Admissions
  • Lorin Ramocki, DNP, RN, School of Nursing & Health Professions dean
  • Ariz Sanchez, assistant vice president for Student Success / Office of Student Success
  • Jodi-Ann Yoshida, MBA ’23, director of Alumni Relations

Martin says he’s honored to have been selected for the program.

“I want to be able to share my experience as both a Chaminade alumnus and MEA with prospective students so they feel a sense of purpose and belonging,” he said, adding that he’s greatly enjoyed the experience so far—including an MEA formation retreat at St. Mary’s University in Texas this summer.

“Also, it has reframed the way I think about my own purpose and how I can positively impact others,” he said. “I look forward to explaining our campus and community through the lens of an MEA, and seeing prospective students begin to understand and embrace our Marianist culture.”

Mather says she’s long been interested in the connection between faith and learning.

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“Personally, I believe deeply in our common human need to seek transcendence or the divine in community,” she said. “At their best, both religious faith and institutions of higher education recognize our human need to connect with a story larger than our individual selves.”

Mather added she looks forward to continuing to learn from the program, and her fellow MEAs.

“To be honest, I’m a bit of a nerd, so I absolutely love learning about history, religion, and philosophy, and the opportunity to do this kind of learning with cross-disciplinary colleagues was really fun,” she said. “I also really appreciated getting to know colleagues at the University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University who share so many experiences and goals.”

For Solma, that’s a key point.

The MEA program gives participants “a language to talk about what we do here,” he said. “They’re really collaborators with the leadership of the University and with the Society of Mary.”

Chaminade Hosts Nonprofit Financial Seminar

Chaminade University hosted its 22nd annual Nonprofit Financial Seminar on August 7, welcoming scores of professionals from more than 50 different not-for-profit Hawaiʻi organizations to campus for a day of collaboration, networking, and growth.

Speakers and panel discussions covered a wide range of topics, including the current government tax and funding landscape.

Also covered: fundraising, successful grant writing, and what nonprofits can do to succeed in a changing economy.

Annette Taijeron Santos, DBA, interim dean of the School of Business and Communication, said the event showcases Chaminade’s deep commitment to the state’s nonprofit sector.

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“More than just a seminar, this gathering is a space for collaboration, capacity-building, and community,” she said.

“For over two decades, we’ve welcomed nonprofit leaders to our campus to learn, share, and uplift one another. In strengthening those who serve others, we live out our shared kuleana to foster a more just, compassionate, and thriving Hawai‘i.”

Major sponsors of the event included OCCPA LLC, First Hawaiian Bank and Sacred Hearts Academy.

Inspiring Watershed ‘Caretakers’

Hawaiʻi’s watersheds are critical to the state’s ecosystems and its population.

So how do you go about teaching young people the importance of these natural resources and how to protect them?

That was the question an interdisciplinary group of Chaminade professors and public school teachers sought to investigate as part of a years-long project called “Mauka to Makai: Watershed Experience for Teachers.” The effort was made possible with a competitive Bay Watershed Education and Training grant from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Chaminade Education Professor Katrina Roseler and Environmental Science Assistant Professor Lupita Ruiz-Jones served as co-principal investigators for the project, facilitating a series of workshops for teachers and collecting resources to support “classroom visions.”

With support from the Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, participating teachers experienced place‑based experiential learning. At the Kānewai Spring and Kalauha‘iha‘i Fishpond, Roseler said, teachers grounded their learning in “authentic cultural and ecological contexts of Maunalua Bay.”

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The result was a cadre of teachers galvanized to inspire their students into action.

Kēhau (Shawna) Nishimoto, a science teacher at ʻIlima Intermediate, first participated in a two-week workshop at Chaminade in 2023, and vividly recalls becoming a “student scientist”—just as she wants her own students to be.

“This is where the push for teacher and student stewardship was born,” said Nishimoto. “I have taken this passion, this fire, and shared it with my students.”

Nishimoto and other “steward-teachers” subsequently presented their watershed education curricula, including at the National Science Teaching Association Conference earlier this year. She said the hands-on learning units are designed to allow students to gain new skills while trying to solve real-world problems and understand their kuleana as “caretakers of their island home.”

(From left to right): Chaminade Education Professor Katrina Roseler, teachers Kēhau Nishimoto and Christina Chan, and Environmental Science Assistant Professor Lupita Ruiz-Jones pose for a photo after a recent conference presentation.

Teacher Christina Chan built her own watershed curriculum for students at Highlands Intermediate, also presenting her work with Nishimoto. She said connecting students to meaningful learning experiences with science and stewardship was a central goal.

“Science education is important for students to be able to understand the world around us,” she said. “Our students are our future ʻāina stewards and decision makers. They need to know what we have so they know what it is they care for, protect and defend.”

Chan added that support and leadership from Roseler and Ruiz-Jones were key.

For Roseler, the grant project was an opportunity to embrace her own personal and academic interests in environmental stewardship and science education.

“Science education is more critical than ever in Hawai‘i, where the islands’ unique ecosystems, cultural heritage, and environmental challenges demand a deep, place-based understanding of sustainability” Roseler said.

She also noted the project was guided by United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, specifically “Life on Land,” “Life Below Water,” and “Quality Education.”

Ruiz-Jones said the conference presentations also offered an opportunity to showcase teachers who are “passionate about learning, being outside, and connecting their students to the community” while inspiring educators to learn about the importance of watersheds.

“The more students that become aware and start to care about our Hawaiian watershed the better off our future will be,” she said, adding that “there are so many local efforts underway to steward and restore our precious environment. Getting teachers and their students outside, in the field, to engage in experiential learning deepens their understanding and stewardship.”

To learn more about the project and find lesson plans, click here.

Leadership, Goal Setting Stressed in ‘College Camp’

High school students from across the state gathered at Chaminade in July for a week-long camp designed to give them a taste for the college experience and inspire them to pursue big goals.

Chaminade partnered with YMCA for the College & Career Camp program, which included students in grades 9 to 11 and stressed leadership and the importance of building workforce-ready skills. The program is geared toward underserved teens.

Janet T. Davidson, Ph.D., vice provost for Academic Affairs, said the camp “represents a mission-aligned partnership that inspires future college students, increases confidence, solidifies hope, and engenders incredible growth and self-efficacy in the span of a week.”

She added, “This is the type of work that benefits our larger community for generations to come.”

The camp included 50 students. They got the opportunity to stay in Chaminade’s Hale Pohaku residence hall, participated in a community service project, set personal goals and toured campus.

Jon Cho, YMCA senior program executive director, stressed the camp is geared toward students who may not have the resources to pursue college without assistance. He noted the camp also included critical tutorials on the admissions and financial aid process.

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Plus, students met with professionals in the fields they’re interested in and worked with Chaminade mentors.

“Students discover more about themselves, experience independent living in a college environment, and gain a better understanding of what they need to accomplish in high school to attend college or enter the workforce,” Cho said.

Davidson said the experience is ultimately about demystifying higher education and helping students feel like they belong on a college campus. “This equips students with both the knowledge and confidence to pursue continued education,” she added.

2 Business Leaders Elected to Board of Regents

Two Hawaiʻi business leaders have been elected to serve on Chaminade University’s Board of Regents as the institution marks its 70th year of serving students across the islands and Pacific.

The new Regents are: David Oyadomari, who is the founder and managing director of Ekklesia Capital, an innovation and strategy firm focused on developing small businesses; and Kristine Stebbins ’87, senior executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Bank of Hawaii.

They kicked off their three-year terms on July 1.

Chaminade President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. called Oyadomari and Stebbins longtime supporters of Chaminade “who fully embrace our University’s service-focused mission and are driven to help build stronger island communities.”

“We are most appreciative for the time and expertise they bring to the Board of Regents led by Chair Dr. Keiki-Pua Dancil that is working tirelessly to support and serve as our institution’s governing body,” she added.

Oyadomari, formerly executive vice president of operations at American Savings Bank, has more than 25 years of experience in new market and product development, cost reduction and organizational design and also serves as strategic advisor to FTV Capital.

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A graduate of ’Iolani School, Oyadomari earned his bachelor’s degree at Claremont McKenna College and holds an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to serving as the president of the Claremont McKenna Alumni Association, Oyadomari is an advisory board member for Chaminade’s School of Business and Communication.

He also volunteers for other organizations, including the Hoea Foundation.

Oyadomari says he is committed to his family and faith, as a founding member of Kakaako Christian Fellowship, and seeks to live the values that Chaminade teaches—from moral character to building a just, peaceful society. He is married to Tammy Oyadomari-Chun, who is the deputy superintendent for Strategy at the Hawai’i Department of Education, and they have a son.

Stebbins joined the Bank of Hawaii in October 2020, and has nearly 30 years of experience in digital marketing, brand strategy, integrated marketing, product marketing, and channel marketing through the customer experience lens.

She was founder and CEO of Beyond Vigilant, a strategic consultant company that led clients through digital business transformation, and has also held leadership positions at Ogilvy Mather Advertising, Accenture, Ascentium, and Microsoft.

Stebbins, who is Catholic, earned her bachelor’s degree in communications from Chaminade.

In addition to her volunteer work with the University, including the School of Business and Communication, she has served on the board for Girl Scouts and mentored local entrepreneurs through the Mana Up effort and Bank of Hawaii Women-Inspired employee resource group.

For a full list of Chaminade’s Board of Regents, click here.

Chaminade Hosts ‘Meaningful Work’ Summit

Scores of policymakers, corrections officials, nonprofit advocates, and others converged on Chaminade’s campus for a summit focused on fostering pathways to meaningful employment for those who have been impacted by the justice system, including formerly incarcerated individuals.

The June 25 Pathways to Meaningful Work Symposium, organized by Chaminade and made possible by a grant from the Mellon Foundation, included a panel of formerly incarcerated people who shared the barriers they faced to employment and the support and resources that made all the difference.

Janet Davidson, Ph.D, vice provost for Academic Affairs, said the event was designed to bring together a diversity of stakeholders on a critical issue.

The summit comes as Chaminade prepares to welcome a third cohort to its prison education program at Halawa Correctional Facility.

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Participants of the program earn an associate’s degree in Business Administration.

Davidson said the prison education initiative has prompted questions at the University and beyond about “what’s next.”

She continued, “Once someone earns a degree, how are we helping them transition to meaningful employment?” And that’s what the summit was meant to explore.

Ved Price, executive director of the Alliance for Higher Education in Prison, spoke at the conference and said it’s critical to generate more conversation about how to transition people out of prison and ensure they can build successful lives following incarceration.


“We want the community to understand that education is one of our most powerful interventions that we have for incarceration,” Price said. “It’s important to get as many people to the table as possible, meaning the business community, corrections, policymakers, all in the same room.”

Since the launch of Chaminade’s prison education program, 17 people have earned their associate’s degree while incarcerated.

Davidson said in addition to welcoming a new cohort this fall, the University plans to offer bachelor’s degree courses to previous AA graduates. Chaminade also has plans to expand the program to other correctional facilities.