1.2 Mission Statement
Chaminade University offers its students an education in a collaborative learning environment that prepares them for life, service and successful careers. Guided by its Catholic, Marianist and liberal arts educational traditions, Chaminade encourages the development of moral character and personal competencies, and a commitment to build a just and peaceful society. The University offers both the civic and church communities of the Pacific region its academic and intellectual resources in the pursuit of common aims.
1.2.1 Land Acknowledgment
‘Olelo Makuahine
Mai ke piko o ke po‘o a i ka mole o ka wawae
Aloha mai kakou mai kahi pae a kahi pae
Mai luna a lalo
Mai kaupoku a ke kahua
Aloha mai e na akua o ka po, e na akua o kea o
E na aumakua ma mua, e na aumakua ma hope, aloha mai
E na kupuna, na makua, e na keiki, aloha mai
E na hoa pili, na hoa paio, na hoa kama‘aina, aloha mai
Mahalo no ke akoakoa ana I keia la no ka holo mua ana I ka na‘auao, ka ikea, a me ka mana I
mea e ai a kakou a pau i ma‘ona ke kino mauli.
‘O au o __(Full Name)__ mai _(Organization Name)_. He kupa au no ka aina __(What land you originate from)__. He wahi aloha keia i na kanaka mauli o keia mau aina nei o Hawai‘i. Mai na lewa lani o Kanehoalani i ki‘ei mai ia i na Paliuli o keia aina aloha, a i ke Kualono i pa mai ai e ka makani Moa‘e i halili mai o Kulanihako‘i i ke kai o Kanaloaikamoananui. Mai poina kakou i ke kaumaha o na kupuna ma mua a mahope o ia aina nei.
He kuleana a kakou e auamo i keia kaumaha o ka lehulehu I mea e pale ai na mamo o ka ‘ohana e kupu a ulu me ke aloha o ke ao puni nei. E ulu, e a‘o, e malama, me ke aloha I na pua o ka lahui. E ho‘omau kakou me ha ha‘aha‘a e auamo mau I keia kuleana no ke kako‘o pu i ka ho‘omana ana me ke aloha no keia aina, na kanaka, na malihini, na mamo, a me ka lehuleu.
Mai na kihi ‘eha o ke kino
Ua oki ia ka Haumia a ola ke kino
Amama ua no, a lele
Mahalo
English
“From the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet”
Aloha everyone from horizon to horizon
From the heavens (sky) to the Earth, we welcome you
From the highest point to its foundation, welcome
Aloha to that we have brought with us, both seen and unseen
To the guardians of the past and present, we welcome you
To our elder and ancestors, our parents and children, welcome
To our friends, acquaintances, and colleagues new and old, welcome
Mahalo for gathering today to share our insights, knowledge, inspiration so that we all may be nourished in mind and spirit.
My name is (Full Name) the (Title/ positions of organization) originally from (Where you were born and raised). It is with respect that we recognize those of this land (if you want to add: that I now call home). From the first rays of the morning sun (of Kanehoalani) that illuminate these lands of aloha, to the (Moae) winds of the high (Kualono) cliffs that move the waters (of Kulanihakoi) to the ancestral oceans (of Kanaloa).
We have not forgotten the weight this land and its people endured and continue to endure. It is the responsibility of us all to carry this weight of the land and its people so that our children here and yet to come may flourish with aloha as their foundation and lokahi as their guide. For them to grow, learn, and be nurtured the same ways the people of this land have been for generations unhindered. We continue to carry this responsibility so that we may mentor and teach with humbleness and respect for all lands and their people, for those living there or visiting, and for all generations moving forward.
“From the four corners of our bodies
We sever the negativity so the body may heal
Let it be said and let it be heard”
Mahalo
Shortened version
Olelo Makuahine
Mai ke piko o ke po‘o a i ka mole o ka wawae
Aloha mai kakou mai kahi pae a kahi pae
Mai luna a lalo
Mai kaupoku a ke kahua
Mahalo no ke akoakoa ana i keia la no ka holo mua ana i ka na‘auao, ka ike, a me ka mana I mea
e ai a kakou a pau i ma‘ona ke kino mauli.
O au o (Full Name) mai (Organization Name). He kupa au no ka aina (What land you originate from). He wahi aloha keia i na kanaka mauli o keia mau aina nei o Hawai‘i He kuleana a kakou e auamo i ke kuleana o ka. E ho‘omau kakou me ha haahaa e auamo mau I keia kuleana no ke kako‘o pu i ka ho‘omana ana me ke aloha no keia aina, na kanaka, na malihini, na mamo, a me ka lehuleu.
Mai na kihi ‘eha o ke kino
Ua oki ia ka Haumia a ola ke kino
Amama ua no, a lele
Mahalo
English
“From the crown of our heads to the soles of our feet”
Aloha everyone from horizon to horizon
From the highest point to its foundation, welcome
Mahalo for gathering today to share our insights, knowledge, inspiration so that we all may be nourished in mind and spirit.
My name is (Full Name) the (Title/ positions of organization) originally from (Where you were born and raised). It is with respect that we recognize those of this land (if you want to add: that I now call home).
We have not forgotten the weight this land and its people endured and continue to endure. It is the responsibility of us all to carry this weight of the land and its people so that our children here and yet to come may flourish with aloha as their foundation and lokahi as their guide. May we continue to carry this responsibility so that we may mentor and teach with humbleness and respect for all lands and their people, living or visiting, for all generations moving forward.
“From the four corners of our bodies
We sever the negativity so the body may heal
Let it be said and let it be heard”
Mahalo
Pule for email sign-off
Olelo Makuahine Mai ke piko o ke po‘o
A i ka mole o ka wawae
Mai na kihi ‘eha o ke kino
Ua oki ia ka Haumia
A ola ke kino
Amama ua no, a lele
English
From the crown of our heads
To the soles of our feet
From the four corners of our bodies
We sever the negativity
So the body may heal
Let it be said and let it be heard
This land acknowledgement was created for use by faculty, staff, students, and affiliates of the university. It is intended to serve as an opening reflection and statement of responsibility that aligns with the Marianist mission and values of Chaminade University while honoring the history, presence, and stewardship of the Hawaiian people, the host culture of these islands. The acknowledgement recognizes Hawaiʻi as a place of deep ancestral knowledge, cultural practice, and living traditions that continue to shape the communities and lands on which the university resides.
By request of faculty, a shortened version of the land acknowledgement has been created as seen above. For this shortened version, passages referring to the directions we recognize our ancestors to have come from were taken out to focus on the core purpose acknowledgement. Alos by request, an email signoff was recommended to also reflect Chaminade’s mission while being meaningful and culturally appropriate which can be found above.
This acknowledgement is meant to be used in university gatherings, academic events, ceremonial openings, and institutional communications as a reminder of our kuleana (responsibility) to approach education, research, and service with humility, respect, and aloha. It also affirms the university’s commitment to supporting Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, and broader Indigenous communities and students in higher education, while encouraging all members of the Chaminade community to learn from and uplift the cultural values, histories, and voices of the lands and peoples of Hawaiʻi. The acknowledgement provided in both Hawaiian and English reflects this commitment and invites participants to recognize their shared responsibility to care for the land, its people, and future generations.