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Kenneth and Diane Matsuura Foundation

Scholarship fund helps future nurses

After consistently hearing about the need for nurses during the pandemic, Kenneth and Diane Matsuura decided to do something about it. Rather than park their money in investments, the couple was driven to establish a foundation that would support future healthcare workers, knowing the essential role nurses play in and outside of hospital settings.  

“During the pandemic, we saw the perseverance of nurses,” says Diane Matsuura, a retired music teacher. “I could never do what they do; they work tirelessly to help their patients heal. And we’re fortunate enough to be able to start this foundation to help future nurses attain their degrees.”  

The COVID-19 pandemic was not in sight when the World Health Organization (WHO) declared 2020 as the Year of the Nurse and Midwife, with a goal to raise awareness of the need for “nine million more nurses and midwives to achieve universal health coverage by 2030.”

In Hawaii, there are currently 1,000 vacant nursing positions across the state, according to the State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. State data further shows the demand for more nurses will grow by more than 100 positions each year.  

Tiannah Ohta and Genie Reutirez heard that calling and decided to answer it by applying to Chaminade’s nursing program. As part of the cohort of students in the accelerated track to earn a bachelor of science in nursing, Ohta, Reutirez and their fellow nursing students will complete their degrees in five back-to-back terms (20 months, as opposed to the traditional four years) through a rigorous academic schedule.

“When I read the email that I received a scholarship from the Kenneth And Diane Matsuura Foundation, I started to bawl,” Reutirez told Diane Matsuura and son Keven Matsuura over lunch. “It was such a huge surprise and a major financial help.”  

Ohta was in disbelief when she learned about her scholarship, thinking at first, that the email was a prank. “I wasn’t expecting it all; I had to read the email a few times because I thought I was reading it incorrectly.” said the 24-year-old Waipahu native and two-time nominee for a U.S. Presidential Scholars Medallion. “This helps me a great deal financially because we can’t work and go to school at the same time. It’s just not possible.”  

With an increasing emphasis on preparing nurses at the baccalaureate and higher degree level, one innovative approach to nursing education is to offer an accelerated degree program for non-nursing graduates. These programs build on previous learning experiences and provide a way for individuals with undergraduate degrees in other disciplines to transition into nursing.  

Having already completed her undergraduate degree in public health, Reutirez decided to pursue her nursing degree, a goal of hers even when she was completing her first bachelor’s. “It’s just a little later than I expected,” said the Ewa Beach resident. “I guess though it’s better late than never.”      

Geared to individuals who have already proven their ability to succeed at college or university, accelerated baccalaureate programs accomplish programmatic objectives in a short time by building on previous learning experiences. Instruction is intense with courses offered full-time with no breaks between sessions. Students receive the same number of clinical hours as their counterparts in traditional entry-level nursing programs.  

“Even when I was completing my bachelor’s degree in biology at the University of Las Vegas, I knew I wanted to be in the medical field,” Ohta says. “This program will help me get there.”  

And so will her Kenneth and Diane Matsuura scholarship.  

“It’s rewarding to meet these young women who have so much passion to become nurses,” Diane Matsuura says. “My husband is currently hospitalized so I see what these nurses have to go through day in and day out. They work long shifts and the job is physically demanding. So, I commend anyone who goes into nursing.”            

Association of Marianist Universities

Advancing Marianist and Catholic values in higher education

In his seminal book, “A New Fulcrum: Marianist Horizons Today,” the late Fr. David Fleming posed: “What Makes University Education ‘Marianist’?” One of the potential answers perhaps lies in the synthesis of faith and reason, a hallmark of Catholic and Marianist education. It’s about fostering a community of learners who not only excel academically, but who also grow spiritually, morally and ethically. It’s about instilling in students a deep sense of social responsibility and a commitment to making the world a better place.

“In terms of the relationship between faith and reason, I adhere to Pope John Paul II’s 1998 Encyclical Letter ‘Fides Et Ratio,'” in which he describes Faith and Reason as two wings on which the human spirit rises to the contemplation of truth,” answered Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington, when asked about her understanding of the relationship between faith and reason in an interview with the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities. “In other words, the Catholic intellectual tradition at the heart of a Catholic university presupposes the harmonious existence between faith and reason. It’s a relationship that is not static because both faith and reason are involved in a mutual search for and reception of meaning and truth.”

Bro. Tom Giardino addresses Flyer alumni during a University of Dayton award ceremony. ©Briana Snyder, Knack Video + Photo

For Association of Marianist Universities (AMU) Executive Director Bro. Thomas Giardino, Fleming’s question could serve as a catalyst for conversations that are needed today in order to develop and advance the mission and identity of Marianist and Catholic higher education.

“Since the Marianist educational tradition is a person-centered charism [gift] with a mission strategy, when this reality is felt by students, staff and faculty then that university education is alive with the Marianist sensibilities,” said Giardino in an email response. “This means that the university community experiences that they individually matter, that relationships matter, that the world matters, and that there is a relationship between their education and their encounter with our world. For this to happen, there needs to be a critical mass of persons who are in the community, not simply for transactional relationships, but for transformational relationships; that is, it touches the meaning and purpose of their identity, what they live for.”

In today’s society, where knowledge is abundant but wisdom is scarce, Catholic and Marianist universities face pressing issues. One such issue is the challenge of maintaining their distinct identity and values in a rapidly changing world. The secularization of higher education and the prevailing culture of individualism pose threats to the unique mission of these universities.

Another pressing issue is the need for inclusivity and diversity. As society becomes more pluralistic, Catholic and Marianist universities must ensure that their campuses are welcoming to people of all backgrounds and faiths. They should strive to create an environment where open dialogue and respectful exchange of ideas can flourish.

AMU plays a crucial role in addressing these challenges. It serves as a platform for collaboration and shared learning among Catholic and Marianist universities. It fosters a sense of solidarity and unity among these institutions, helping them preserve their core values while adapting to the demands of the modern world.

“The Association of Marianist Universities provides a structure for the three Marianist Universities to share ideas and programming to strengthen the Marianist identity of each of the universities,” said Bro. Ed Brink, Chaminade’s Vice President of Mission and Rector. “Through the work of AMU, there are regular meetings (usually via Zoom) of people from each of the universities that have similar jobs.”

In 2005, members from Chaminade University, University of Dayton and St. Mary’s University of San Antonio responded to the call from AMU Board to build a partnership among members of the Society of Mary, the sponsoring religious body. It would invite a cadre of lay collaborators, who would together sustain and renew the mission and identity that was Catholic, and that embodied the Marianist educational tradition.  

Since then, faculty, staff and administrators have been invited each year to deepen their understanding of and their commitment to the traditions and beliefs that make each respective university a Catholic and Marianist community.

Bro. Ed Brink teaches the fundamentals of Marianist values.

“In the summer of 2022, AMU held a symposium during which more than 100 people from the three universities gathered to reflect on the unique contributions that Marianist Universities make within American higher education, and to envision possibilities for the future,” Brink said. “Whenever AMU gathers people from the three universities together, we are reminded that we are part of a bigger mission.  While we all take pride in our own work, we are able to see that we are working on a project that goes well beyond our own institution and campus walls.”

In a world marked by division and polarization, the three Marianist/Catholic universities promote a message of unity and common purpose. They produce graduates who are not only academically competent but also compassionate, ethical and dedicated to making a positive impact on society.

In a world hungry for meaning and purpose, the Association of Marianist Universities serves as a guiding light. It reminds us that education is not just about acquiring knowledge; it’s about becoming better human beings. It underscores the enduring relevance of Catholic and Marianist principles in today’s society, where the search for truth, goodness and justice remains as vital as ever.

“Our faculty and staff already embrace and appreciate the values of providing a quality education, and an education for service, justice, peace, adaptation and change,” Babington said. “They may not necessarily have a religious affiliation, but they do believe in an equal and just society, which is what we impart to our students.”

Dean’s Speaker Series

Eric Fujimoto ’94 advises students to persevere and show humility

The best rate of return and the stock market ticker symbol to keep a close eye on is YOU or ME. Sage advice from Ho‘ea Wealth Advisory Group Principal Eric Fujimoto, the guest speaker of the School of Business and Communication’s inaugural Dean’s Speaker Series. In his address to students, the 1994 Chaminade MBA graduate and Board of Regents member advised attendees to double down and invest in themselves.  

“There is nothing wrong with making money,” said Fujimoto, who was ranked Barron’s Top 1,200 Financial Advisors and #1 in Hawai‘i and Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Advisors from 2018-2023. “But, do it ethically and use it to better your community. Shift the focus from money to people.”  

The Dean’s Speaker Series is designed to bring private, nonprofit and public sector leaders who have achieved recognition in their respective fields to share their expertise and insights on a broad range of timely issues, as well as share the highlights, challenges and turning points of their individual career paths.

The intent of the forum is to bring a diversity of social, cultural, economic and other business-related perspectives to the Chaminade community in order to engage in ways that inform and encourage sustainable business for good.  

Ho‘ea Wealth Advisory Group Principal Eric Fujimoto Eric Fujimoto shared his story and advice with students.

“The impetus for the Series is to provide co-curricular and extra-curricular opportunities for students to augment what they are learning in the classrooms with relevant and high-impact experiences,” said School of Business and Communication Interim Dean Annette Santos. “Ultimately, this event has an underlying call to action to students who are reminded that they are empowered to create a sustainable future that reflects the values and the priorities of their communities through the knowledge they glean from their educational experience at Chaminade.”  

Awarded the US Small Business Administration’s Small Business Person of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu in 2020, Fujimoto’s wealth of experience not only includes offering solid financial advice to his clients, but also serving as a member of various nonprofit organizations, including Drug Free Hawai‘i, Central Union Church and, one that he is particularly eager to help, Unity Prom, which is an effort to provide students with disabilities the experience of a normal high school prom.  

“We were the students and they were the teachers,” said Fujimoto, choking up in a video address that he played during his Monday evening talk. “The Ho‘ea Foundation is a proud sponsor of this event, which gives these high schools the chance to enjoy what other kids their age experience every year. And we’re always looking for dates, so if anyone wants to be a prom date, contact her—pointing to Jill Higashi, Chaminade’s Assistant Vice President of Advancement.”  

After Fujimoto’s talk, freshman baseball player Jacob Villacorte said he learned a lot, and the message of perseverance and giving back to the community especially meant a lot to him. “There were things I didn’t know about,” said Villacorte. “It was a good learning experience.”  

Consistent with Chaminade’s mission of community service, the Speakers Series is framed around the theme, “Sustainable Business for Good,” which also aligns with Chaminade’s CIFAL designation. Speakers are selected based on their demonstrated commitment to transforming lives and advancing communities.  

“I’ve had the privilege to visit other universities, but Chaminade is the only one where you feel a sense of community that genuinely wants you to succeed,” Fujimoto said. “The people here care about you; they put great ideas in front of you; so you were right to choose Chaminade.”  

Santos hopes students will feel the same way after they attend the Speakers Series.  

“There are several takeaways that I hope will resonate with students,” Santos said. “The first is to be inspired by the personal and professional journey of the featured speakers in ways that enhance their educational experience; the second is to understand that personal and professional growth is a process that involves challenges and turning points on the way to wins and transformation; and the third is to provide opportunities for them to build their network, possibly creating meaningful connections with speakers or those in attendance.”  

Gesturing as if he was steering a car on the H-1 freeway, Fujimoto made one final point to the students: they are in the driver’s seat and they determine the course of their destiny. “If you were just to turn the car by one degree, what do you think would happen,” he posed to the students. “You will end up at a different destination.”        

39th Annual Maui Invitational

Tournament officials decide to shift location to Oahu  

It’s official. The 39th Annual Maui Invitational will be played on O‘ahu, from Nov. 20 to 22. Tournament officials attribute the necessity to relocate the event due to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s current use of Lahaina Civic Center as its Disaster Recovery Center for Maui wildfire recovery efforts.  

“We understand that circumstances warrant moving the Tournament, which has been held on Maui for the 37 years,” says Dr. Lynn Babington, President of Chaminade University of Honolulu. “However, this year is like no other, and it will stand alone in history as one of the most difficult for our West Maui residents.”  

Ironically, the tournament returns to the city where it all began. In 1982, Chaminade, then a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA) school, shocked the collegiate sports world by defeating No. 1 Virginia, led by two-time national player of the year Ralph Sampson, in Honolulu.  

Often considered one of the premier in-season tournaments, the 2023 Maui Invitational assembled one of the strongest fields in the tournament’s history with Gonzaga, Kansas, Marquette, Purdue, Syracuse, Tennessee, UCLA and Chaminade University, which has hosted this event for the past 36 years. Combined, the eight teams boast 263 NCAA Tournament appearances, 17 NCAA Tournament Championship Titles and three AP Coach of the Year award—Mark Few (2017), Bill Self (2009, 2016) and Shaka Smart (2023).  

“While we have to move this year’s Tournament off of Maui, we are determined to celebrate and honor the culture and traditions that make this event so special,” says Tom Valdiserri, executive vice president of KemperSports LIVE, the operator of the Maui Invitational. “Throughout this process, we’ve seen the spirit of ‘ohana in action. Thank you to Governor Josh Green, Hawai‘i Tourism Authority, and Mayor Richard Bissen, as well as the staff at Chaminade University of Honolulu and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa for working tirelessly with us to keep this tournament in Hawai‘i.”  

Other college basketball programs across the country are showing their support for Maui through charity games and fundraisers. Michigan State hosts Tennessee on Oct. 29 in a charity exhibition, while Kansas and Illinois will do the same in Champaign, Illinois. Saint Mary’s will visit Honolulu on Oct. 20 to play an exhibition game against Hawaii at the Stan Sheriff Center.  

Meanwhile, the Maui Invitational launched its Hoops for ‘Ohana online auction last week in partnership with Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s Maui Strong Fund. All the proceeds will go directly to wildfire relief and recovery efforts. Fans can bid on unique items donated by past Maui Jim Invitational basketball programs and Tournament partners.  

“Although this year’s Invitational will be held on O‘ahu, Maui will forever remain in the hearts and minds of the teams who participate in it,” Babington says. “We feel a heightened responsibility to support our Maui neighbors, and we look forward to returning home to Lahaina in 2024.”  

Environmental Leaders

Changemakers discuss their path to policymaking

One is nicknamed by her husband as the “Irresistible Force.” The other is known as “The Enforcer.” And the third has a spouse who wholeheartedly stands behind him—even if it means wielding a tire iron. Together, Althine Clark, Celeste Connors and William Aila, Jr., respectively, represent a “super power” to contend with when it involves environmental policy and activism in the islands.  

“The goal of this session is to have our guest speakers talk about how they got where they are today,” said Clark, a Chaminade adjunct professor who recently retired as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) superintendent of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument. “You’ll hear real-life examples of what it’s like to live a life in environmental policy.”  

In his opening story, Aila recalled a time when he was young with a fervent commitment to do whatever it took to preserve the aina–even if it meant physical confrontation. “I saw these three guys one day and I confronted them because they were mistreating a cultural site,” Aila shared with the students. “I asked them to stop and I started to move towards them. When you’re about to get into a fight, you look at the person’s eyes and then watch their shoulder. But these guys kept looking behind me so I thought I was going to be ambushed. And when I had a second to look back, I saw my wife standing there with a tire iron in her hands.”  

Today’s environmentalists are faced with many forms of violence—and even death at times. The non-governmental organization Standing Firm has published an annual report on the killings of land and environmental defenders around the world every year since 2012, after the murder of Chut Wutty, a Cambodian environmentalist who worked with the Global Witness CEO Mike Davis investigating illegal logging.  

While stationed in Greece as an economics officer with the U.S. Mission to the United Nations, Celeste Connors once remembered seeing a bullet lodged in her office window. “There was so much anti-American sentiment at the time,” said Connors, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Green Growth, which is a United Nations Local 2030 hub that brings together diverse stakeholders committed to economic, social and environmental priorities. “But when I told them I was from Hawaii, everyone started reaching out because they can connect with Hawaii.”

Indeed, Hawaii holds a special place with Connors who decided to come home in 2015 after serving as a diplomat in Saudi Arabia, Greece, Germany and U.S. Mission to the UN. She later was named the Director for Environment and Climate Change at the National Security Council and National Economic Council in the White House (2008-2012), where she helped shape the Administration’s climate and energy policies, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Connors also worked with the United Nations on the Paris climate agreement that was signed in 2016, which she sees as inspiration for Hawai‘i Green Growth’s goals.  

“The world is at a point where we desperately need solutions,” Connors asserted. “Since I left home, there has been a cultural renaissance, and other nations are now looking to indigenous models, such as Hawai’s ahupua‘a system, to become sustainable and independent. Think locally but act globally.”  

With a background in urban and regional planning, Clark understands the complexity of environmental law and policy, a class (ENV 300) that she is currently teaching to sophomores and juniors. Her introductory course outlines environmental policy and law—specifically its nature, development, flexibility, and growth, and to the ethical dimensions surrounding the creation of state, national and international environmental policy and law.  

“No is not an option nor an answer,” Clark said. “I’m now seeing lots of communities get engaged. One of the reasons I agreed to teach at Chaminade is because the University encourages students to get involved in projects that benefit society.”  

Asked by a student how to deal with climate change deniers, Aila said try to first reason with them. “And if that doesn’t work, go around him, go above him, go below him,” he advised. “Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t. Instead, use those words as a motivator, and go out and make a difference.”                

Community Service

Catholic Charities Hawaii renders aid to Maui residents

A day after the catastrophic Maui wildfire, Tina Andrade was already anticipating a groundswell of pleas for assistance. As the Chief Operations Officer of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Andrade is no stranger to emergency crisis. After all, the aftermath of COVID-19 still lingers among some residents who continue to struggle financially, physically and emotionally.

“I am on Maui right now, and we are meeting with families on the west side,” says Andrade, who joined Catholic Charities Hawai‘i in 2003 as its vice president in mission integration and was appointed earlier this year to serve as the nonprofit’s Chief Operations Officer. “We’ve been giving them gift cards and solar lights, which also serve as phone chargers. We’ve distributed food, water and personal items. And we’ve placed families in Airbnb rentals, and will be helping with rental assistance/housing stability. We’ve also had counselors meeting with individuals.”

Serving Hawai‘i since 1947, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i has rendered aid to local residents of all faiths and cultures in previous disasters, including Hurricane Iniki, the recent Kīlauea eruptions, the COVID-19 pandemic and now the worst natural catastrophe in Hawaii’s history.

Tina Andrade has been with Hawaii Catholic Charities since 2003, and is currently the nonprofit's Chief Operations Officer.
Tina Andrade has been with Hawaii Catholic Charities since 2003, and is currently the nonprofit’s Chief Operations Officer.

“We typically serve approximately 40,000 individuals per year,” says Andrade, who engages the local community in Catholic Charities Hawai‘i’s mission through its Social Policy efforts and with the neighboring islands advisory boards. “We provide more than 40 social services and programs, ranging from rental assistance and mental health to immigration and senior advocacy to assist our kūpuna.”

Born and raised in Honolulu, Andrade graduated from Kamehameha Schools, and received her bachelor’s degree in religious studies (2005) and master’s degree (2014) in pastoral theology from Chaminade University.

Prior to joining Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, she was an educator at several Hawai‘i Catholic schools and worked within the Catholic community in the area of religious education and social ministry. Additionally, she has an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Transformational Leadership from Notre Dame University and a Professional Certificate in Human Resource & Workforce Development & Management from Michigan State University.

“I started with Catholic Charities Hawai‘i years ago as a receptionist until I decided to enroll at Chaminade,” Andrade says. “I really believe in our mission and our values—which are similar to Chaminade’s— that were first established by the Maryknoll Sisters. We seek to help strengthen families in the community and, to do so effectively, we partner with government agencies, hospitals and parishes, and we’re also part of Aloha United Way’s 211 helpline.”

With affordable housing as the number one priority in Hawaii—especially on Maui right now— Andrade has collaborated with community partners in securing $200 million to build affordable housing. As part of Catholic Charities executive team, she helped oversee the distribution of more than $150 million in federal rental assistance to tenants during the pandemic.

“Tina has been a trusted and collaborative member of our executive team for the past 20 years, helping us identify the priorities of our agency’s social policies to address poverty and social justice,” says CEO and President Robert Van Tassell, in a released statement. “With her extensive knowledge of our organization’s history, programs, personnel, partners and future potential, she is a natural fit to run CCH’s day-to-day operations.”

Celebrating its 75th anniversary last year, Catholic Charities Hawai‘i continues to serve as a beacon of hope for the state’s most vulnerable populations. It all started in 1859 when the Catholic Women’s Guild provided food, clothes and medical aid to immigrant plantation workers. The association was later reorganized by Bishop Sweeney as Catholic Charities in 1942. Recognizing that Hawai‘i was in dire need of social services following World War II, Sweeney contacted the Maryknoll Sisters, a group of New York women who exemplified their faith by devoting their lives to others.

“The Maryknoll Sisters’ primary emphasis was putting their faith into action,” Andrade explains. “That faith is what brought me here. It’s what keeps me here. We have one mission—to provide compassionate care—but there are many ways to carry out that mission.”