Chaminade University of Honolulu

Student Life

Students Investigative ‘Crime Scene’ in Waikiki

The “crime scene” in Waikiki drew more than a few curious glances from beachgoers and passersby.

But it wasn’t police investigating the site. Instead, Chaminade University Forensic Sciences students—in official CSI gear—were the ones collecting evidence and documenting the scene.

The mock crime scene was set up in early April as a hands-on learning opportunity, allowing students to practice critical forensic skills.

“They feel the reality of being in an actual crime scene,” said Carlos Gutierrez, D.F.S., assistant professor of Forensic Science. “They’re applying all the skills they learned during the semester in a more specific and realistic scenario.”



Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences program is known for its practical approach, blending rigorous academics with real-world applications. The setup in Waikiki demonstrated Chaminade’s commitment to hands-on learning, giving students a chance to navigate complex investigative procedures under faculty supervision, Gutierrez said.

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The major in Forensic Sciences includes instruction on the techniques used for recognizing, documenting and analyzing physical evidence, reviews of the legal system and ethical guidelines that govern forensic sciences, and hands-on applications of the scientific method in a lab.

All Forensics Sciences students are required to complete a rigorous, 135-hour internship. Students have completed internships with a variety of entities, including the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, police departments in Hawaii and Guam, and the Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command’s Central Identification Laboratory.

To learn more about Chaminade’s Forensic Sciences program, click here.

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.

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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.”

Community Gathers for ‘International Extravaganza’

It was an evening of cultural celebration and Silversword pride.

Scores of students, faculty, staff and members of the community gathered at Chaminade’s campus April 11 for “International Extravaganza,” which featured performances from Ka Ipu Kukui Me Ka ‘ie ‘ie: the Hawaiian Club, the Taotao Marianas Club, the Filipino Club, and Lumana‘i O Samoa.

The annual event on the Sullivan Family Library Lawn is always a big hit.

And this year was no exception.

Victoria Zembik ’26, who is president of the Chaminade Student Government Association, said student cultural clubs spent months preparing for the special evening.

“A lot of the performers are seniors and this was their big send-off,” she said. “One of the biggest highlights of this year’s event is that they always top their performances from previous semesters, which I absolutely love.”

International Extravaganza aims to showcase the cultural traditions and diversity of the Chaminade community through performances. Zembik said lots of time, passion and sweat go into preparing for and organizing the event.

“It gives students, regardless of their major or cultural background, a chance to meet, connect, and build community,” the Nursing major added.

“It’s a space where they bring a piece of themselves, their families, and their heritage to the stage.”

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Zembik added her focus for the event was making sure everything went smoothly behind the scenes so that the spotlight was on the performers.

“They’re the ones who really seal the deal and make this event as extravagant as it is,” she said. “This event wouldn’t be as successful without the dedication and commitment of the students. That’s why I work hard to make sure it’s worthy of their time—because they give so much of theirs to make it unforgettable.”

Photo Gallery: Taste of Culture

Chaminade students, faculty and staff gathered this week for the seventh annual Taste of Culture event.

The celebration spotlights Chaminade’s cultural diversity with foods from around the world.

The event April 9, organized by the Chaminade Student Government Association, was held on the Sullivan Family Library Lawn from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more Chaminade events, click here to go to our online calendar.

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.

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“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.

Celebrating Admitted Student Day

Future Silverswords and their parents gathered on campus this weekend for Admitted Student Day.

Attendees got the opportunity to meet with academic programs, browse a Student Resource Fair, tour campus and pose for Silversword photoshoots.

The event also included an “Eat the Streets Lunch” with vendors serving up tasty favorites.

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President Lynn Babington, Ph.D. said the event is an “important time for some of our prospective students and their families to come have a look at our campus, meet some of our faculty and staff, and tour the residence halls. It’s a great opportunity for people interested in attending Chaminade University to come have an up-close look.”

In addition to academic open houses, financial aid counselors were on hand to discuss Chaminade’s financial aid packages and scholarships.


Among the attendees was Mathias Mafi, a high school senior.

“I’m just exploring the campus, looking at what they offer here at Chaminade,” he said. “My mom graduated from the School of Business so it’s like coming back home—great campus, great people around.”