Chaminade University of Honolulu

Data Science

Silversword Embraces Model of ‘True Service’

Anson Ekau ’25 says he has a long list of professors and mentors to thank for all that he accomplished at Chaminade. And as he kicks off a promising career in data science, he’s not only looking for new opportunities to grow—he’s looking for new ways to give back.

“I truly believe that once you’ve made progress, it’s your responsibility to turn back and help the next person in line,” said Ekau, who double majored in computer science and data science, analytics and visualization at Chaminade and is pursuing a future in aerospace.

That drive to serve others was something Ekau learned at an early age.

Ekau said his father spent his career helping low-income families on the west side of Oʻahu. “He made sure their needs were met and that the kids had opportunities to succeed,” Ekau said. “Through his example, I learned what empathy, courage, and true service look like.”

So it’s little wonder that Ekau found Chaminade to be a perfect fit.

At a university with a strong service-focused mission, Ekau quickly hit his stride with volunteering opportunities and student leadership programming. And in Chaminade’s Data Science program, he also discovered a way to combine his passion for everything cyber with his love for helping others.

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Ekau said he still fondly recalls meeting Rylan Chong ’10, Ph.D., director of data science at Chaminade, for the first time. A friend introduced the two at the Silversword Café early one morning and they shared a meal. “We talked about life and had a genuine conversation,” Ekau said.

Three months later, Ekau signed up for Chong’s computer science class and was “honestly shocked” when he was greeted by name on his first day. “He remembered me, and I didn’t think he would,” Ekau said, adding, “That small moment made a huge impact on me. It showed me how much Dr. Chong genuinely cares about his students, not just as learners but as people.”

In the data science program, Ekau was quickly connected to a host of hands-on learning opportunities, including internships with Mission Technologies, MC3 Technologies, US Space Force, Texas Advanced Computing Center, Supporting Pacific Indigenous Computing Excellence (SPICE) Data Science Summer Institute, and Maunalua Fishpond Heritage Center, which he partnered with to build a dashboard that monitors fishpond health and restoration.

Ekau said those internships helped him build new skills and apply them, work with technologically advanced equipment and projects, and learn from leaders in the field.

“During my time at Chaminade, I was very fortunate to participate in programs and experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today,” he said. “I have participated in numerous internships and programs, and presented at conferences, even to military leaders.”

He said all those experiences “helped me grow both academically, professionally, and personally.”

Most recently, Ekau worked with Hawaiʻi cybersecurity firm MC3 Technologies, where he developed and launched a course covering the basics of machine learning and cybersecurity for students in Waianaʻe. “I’ve been mentoring students through this program, and it’s been especially meaningful because it’s so similar to the work my father did,” Ekau said. “In many ways, I feel like I’m following in his footsteps, using technology as a tool for empowerment, equity, and service.”

Ekau said his long-term dream is starting his own space-focused company.

As he continues on the pathway toward that big goal, he’s looking back at the many people who helped him along the way. “I’ve been truly blessed to have had the opportunities I’ve experienced during my time at Chaminade,” Ekau said. “But none of it would have been possible without the mentors and professors who believed in me—and, most importantly, took a chance on me.”

This story appears in the Fall 2025 edition of Chaminade Magazine. To read the full issue, click here.

Team Explores ‘Data Suppression’ in Journal Article

Data analytics is increasingly being used as a key decisionmaking tool, including in Pacific communities. But a practice of statistical data suppression (SDS) aimed at privacy protection runs the risk of negatively impacting small island populations, leading to “statistical invisibility.”

In a new peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Pacific Health Dialog, the Chaminade/CIFAL Honolulu Data/AI Research Team (DART) explores the issue and seeks to provide Hawaiʻi and Pacific stakeholders with a framework to better navigate SDS. Importantly, “Navigating Protection and Presence: Trade-offs around data suppression for small Pacific populations” shines a light on data suppression practices in Census and CDC datasets.

The research was supported by National Science Foundation funding and conducted in partnership with the University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine, the University of Waikato, and the UH Center for Indigenous Innovation and Health Equity.

Helen Turner, Ph.D., lead author for the article and research director at Chaminade’s UN CIFAL Honolulu, said she is proud of the research “because it surfaces an important and often hidden issue in science that may be specifically impacting our regional communities as they start to engage data analytics, AI and machine learning in their decision-making processes.”

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In the article, the authors recommend inclusive, transparent practices to prevent data suppression and propose alternative strategies grounded in “critical data theory” as a way to inform policies that balance the protection of individual privacy with representation of small populations.

Turner applauded the members of the DART team exploring the issue, including lead analyst Connor Flynn ’21, an author on the paper who started the work with his sister—co-author Lilliana Flynn ’21—when they were Chaminade undergraduates.

“It’s amazing to now see them as data professionals working on both the practice and policy issues that affect our communities,” Turner said.

Flynn note that the real-world projects he tackled while studying data science as an undergraduate inspired him to pursue a master’s degree in environmental data science at the University of California, Santa Barbara and then return to Chaminade to work with DART.

“Now that I mentor undergraduates in research experiences and teach data science classes myself, I’m bringing that same approach to my teaching,” he said.

“I’m hoping many more students can make these kinds of meaningful contributions by being involved in applied data science research for Hawaii and the Pacific region.”

Pacific Health Dialog is the Journal of Pacific Research for the Pacific region, and is the only Medline listed medical and public health journal published specifically for Pacific Island countries.

Also in August, DART announced that a separate research paper exploring data on ahi consumption and mercury levels in the blood was accepted for the Toxicology and Pedagogy tracks of the SSRN eJournal. Lead author Alii Napoleon ’25, a Hoʻoulu and NSF S-STEM Scholar, completed the research as part of his data science studies at Chaminade.

The paper uses advanced statistics to probe a national nutritional dataset and offers a risk-benefit framework relevant to communities that consume deep sea fish.

Grant awards that supported this work: NSF HRD-2217242, NSF DUE-2030654.

Silverswords Shine in Data Science Challenge

“Absolutely amazing.”

That’s how Rylan Chong, Ph.D., director of Chaminade’s Data Science Program, described the University’s showing in the most recent Advanced Computing for Social Change Challenge. Five Silverswords participated in the event, held in Atlanta from Nov. 16 to Nov. 21, joining students from across the country for a bootcamp-type experience full of learning and camaraderie.

It’s the sixth year Chaminade students have participated, using their skills in data analysis, computational thinking and the latest techniques in data visualization to explore a social challenge and consider data-informed solutions. A key component of the challenge is a presentation so participants can learn how to effectively communicate their findings to the general public.

Tallen Vidal ‘28, who is majoring in Data Science, became the first freshman to complete the challenge. In his project, he focused on the impact of COVID-19 on the homeless population of Oahu and put together recommendations aimed at better protecting the vulnerable group.

While Vidal is just beginning his university journey, he is already inspired about how he might deploy data science for the public good. “I believe data science can prove to be a powerful driver for social change because of how informative the data can be,” Vidal said.

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He noted that quality, trustworthy data is important for creating strategies to “attack the problems of today, which gives us a clearer plan for the mission of tomorrow. It can also be used to spread awareness so that more people can understand the presence of various social problems.”

Chong said the advanced computing challenge begins with participants selecting a research question and collecting key figures from large publicly-available data sets. From there, they use the Texas Advanced Computer Center supercomputer to analyze it and produce results.

He noted the challenge also stresses community connections, which is why several students previously presented their projects in Hawaiian to a large audience of scientists, engineers and statisticians. At the most recent event, Olynann Taase ‘25 presented her research in Samoan.

Students in the challenge tackle a social problem—and then seek to use data to help craft solutions.

Chong was also particularly proud of participants Anson Ekau ‘25 and Berylin Lau ‘26, who completed their own work while also looking for ways to help their peers. Lau focused her project on cultural identity while Ekau worked on a project about Hawai’i’s economic challenges.

And in another bright spot for Chaminade, Dae’Onna Butler ‘27 was offered the honor of presenting her project first “because of her advanced analytics, research project and spectacular practice presentation,” Chong said.

“She went into the presentation helping other students understand the expectations, demonstrating confidence, and setting the tone.

Two Chaminade students—Upumoni Logologo ‘25 and Kole Nagai ‘25—also attended the challenge as mentors after having previously participated. Over the week, they guided students with their research, helped them with computer coding and gave pointers on presentations.

“Data science has the potential to significantly impact social change by providing insights and evidence-based solutions to complex societal problems. By analyzing data, we can identify patterns, predict trends, and propose data-driven interventions that have the capacity to address issues such as inequality, public health challenges, and environmental sustainability,” said Logologo, adding the challenge is not only a learning opportunity but a chance to network with organizations.

Vidal said while the challenge was tough, he walked away with new confidence, ideas and inspiration.

“My favorite part of the event was getting to meet and talk to other students who were from all over the country,” he said, adding that he hopes to stay in touch with them. “I was able to learn so much about each and every one of their cultures and places they are from.”

Chaminade, Blockchain Firm Partner for ‘Datapreneurship’ Internship

Chaminade University is proud to partner with cutting-edge software company Constellation Network to expand a “datapreneurship” internship program aimed at empowering students to innovate in the emerging digital economy.

Constellation Network, a leading blockchain solutions business, provides guidance and technical assistance to two federally-funded grant programs at Chaminade, including the $10 million NSF-INCLUDES ALL-SPICE Alliance aimed at building data science capacity across the Pacific and the ’Inana Innovators Program to nurture sustainability entrepreneurs.

Now, Chaminade and Constellation Network are working together to scale up a unique “datapreneurship” internship, first piloted in Summer 2024, with a full cohort of five new students to begin in Spring 2025.

Participants will work to build their skills as data scientists and entrepreneurs, leveraging Constellation Network’s blockchain technologies to tackle real-world challenges.

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Dr. Helen Turner, principal investigator of the NSF-INCLUDES ALL-SPICE and ’Inana Innovators programs, said industry partnerships are “critically important to STEM higher education, especially in computational disciplines that have dramatic workforce shortfalls.”

“Our students are inspired by the transformational leaders and world-class technical experts they meet and they form game-changing networks to enhance their career prospects,” she said.

Turner added a short-course certification program is also being developed as part of the partnership. “Economic growth and diversification is a decades-long conversation in the islands, and I think our students feel the energy around the digital economy and Web3.0 as a truly viable path for increasing prosperity and accessing technical jobs in Hawaii and beyond,” Turner said.

Benjamin Diggles, co-founder of Constellation Network, said the business is “incredibly excited to be at the forefront of sovereign data attribution and incentive design by aligning with forward-thinking entities such as the ALL-SPICE program at Chaminade.”

“Both communication and financial exchange capabilities have significantly up-leveled because of Web3.0 technologies,” Diggles added. “In conjunction with joining this key alliance, Constellation is working with other universities on furthering Web 3.0 education.”

For more on the ALL-SPICE Alliance, click here.

Cutting-edge GIS Certification

The certification is designed to tailor data science training with community and workforce needs.

Biology Professor Dr. Helen Turner is the Principal Investigator for Chaminade’s NSF Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) program.
Biology Professor Dr. Helen Turner is the Principal Investigator for Chaminade’s NSF Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) program.

When Chaminade University introduced its Data Science & Analytics degree in 2018, the University became among the first in the nation to offer such a curriculum at the undergraduate level.

Today, in partnership with the National Science Foundation (NSF), the Pacific Intelligence Innovation Initiative (P3I) and Chaminade University’s United Nations CIFAL Honolulu Center for Sustainability, the University offers various sought-after certificates in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), which are accredited by the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and the NSF.

“GIS leads to a very desirable skill set with applications relevant to the Department of Defense sector and defense contractors, and nonprofits and agencies working in agriculture, on sustainability and resilience,” said Dr. Helen Turner, Biology Professor and Principal Investigator for Chaminade’s NSF Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) program.

“It also has applications in public health (geospatial mapping of outbreaks, provider and resource allocation, and health disparities and inequities), and policy and planning (State and Federal planning efforts in transportation, housing, natural resource management and disaster/emergency management.”

According to P3I co-chair Jason Chung, the company’s mission is about developing careers for the people of Hawaii, allowing island residents to work, live and stay in Hawaii.

It’s also about building a more resilient economy through diversification, and creating opportunities for the growing demand for information technology, cybersecurity, data science and intelligence professionals within Hawaii’s defense sector—the second leading economic driver in the state.

Prior to interning with P3I, Kawailani Luat ’23 was resigned to the fact that she would have to leave her home state to find a job in her field of data science that would pay her a decent wage.

However, the experience with P3I changed her mind, opening her eyes to the many potentials, locally, where she can focus her career toward.

Now working as a data analyst with Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)—an all-domain defense and technologies partner, recognized worldwide as America’s largest shipbuilder—the Mililani native credits her internship with P3I as leading to this opportunity of a lifetime.

“By providing opportunities locally, I could stay in Hawaii, and I know a lot of local kids who want to stay home,” Luat said. “Without P3I, I would not have the career that I have today.”

Managed by the Hawaii Defense Alliance (HDA) and supported by Hawaii congressional delegates, P3I is committed to supporting economic development in Hawaii by creating jobs and opportunities for Hawaii’s students, businesses and military.

Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babingto presented Kawailani Luat with her President Sue Wesselkamper Award during last year's Na Liko Na’auao.
Chaminade President Dr. Lynn Babington presented Kawailani Luat with her President Sue Wesselkamper Award during last year’s Na Liko Na’auao.

“P3I connects individuals to educational and certificate programs, and internships, to prepare them with the experience and skill sets needed to succeed in these high-paying careers,” Chung said. “P3I is a collaboration with public, private and academic institutions across the state.”

Over the past five decades, geographic information systems have transformed from a simple concept into a sophisticated science. This remarkable evolution, from a basic tool to a powerful platform for comprehending and planning our world, is one of the fastest growing—and highly consequential—technological tools.

GIS, by definition, is exclusively used to refer to a particular kind of geospatial technology that stores geographic information in layers and integrates that data with software programs.

These software programs can then create, store, manipulate, analyze and even visualize the data for further use. Conversely, geospatial studies and practices set themselves apart with three unique practices: a particular focus on the management, analysis and representation of geographic data.

These elements create the three essential levels of geospatial practice:

  • Data management naturally includes acquiring, cleaning and integrating data into a system.
  • Data analysis refers to choropleth mapping, overlay and spatial query.
  • Data representation refers to producing representational maps, charts and graphs of geographic information.

“While data science analytics and visualization has been around for 15 to 20 years, it was only a decade ago that it really impacted higher education,” said Dr. Lance Askildson, Chaminade’s Provost and Senior Vice President, during a Hawaii Defense Alliance-hosted webinar about geospatial analytics careers and workforce development.

“From my perspective, I can see that we’re reaching a point where there’s so much data to disaggregate that we’re having to develop new tools, new methodologies and new credentialing pathways for professionals to make sense of it.”

In response, universities, like Chaminade, are fulfilling this niche demand by offering comprehensive curricula that blend theoretical knowledge with practical skills gained through experiential internships. Also a panel member of the geospatial analytics career webinar, Data Science Professor, Dr. Mark Speck, addressed the lack of supply of good candidates who are trained in the geospatial field.

“It’s difficult enough to find one person trained in a certain discipline, like geospatial and geospatial intelligence,” Speck said.

“It is even more difficult to try to find more of them on an island. Local contractors can hire people from the mainland, but they have trouble keeping them on island, and it’s also very expensive for them to bring people to Hawaii.

“So, it’s much easier and cheaper for them to train and invest in candidates who are from Hawaii and who are more likely to stay,” Speck added. “One of the focus of HDA is to hire local kids and keep them on island with good-paying jobs.”

Cybersecurity Workshop

Expert warns of maintaining healthy online hygiene

Similar to what you would hear at a dentist office, Liam Wesley dispensed advice about the importance of daily hygiene during a Cybersecurity Workshop at the Data Science Center in Tredtin Hall. But for the cybersecurity expert, this means never using the same username nor the same password ever! Just like you would never keep using the same strand of floss.

In an era dominated by digitization, Wesley described the importance of robust cybersecurity measures that cannot be overstated. As online users navigate an increasingly interconnected world, the guardians of our digital realm are facing new challenges and adapting strategies to protect against evolving cyber threats. Wesley is among them fighting the digital perils.

The 90-minute Cybersecurity Workshop was hosted by the National Science Foundation ALL-SPICE Alliance, which includes the United Nations CIFAL CENTER of Honolulu, Information Technology and Services Department (senior director Jules Sukhabut), the Networking Department (director Joseph Rosario), Data Science, Analytics and Visualization Program (director Rylan Chong, Ph.D.) and the Computer Science Department.

Liam Wesley—a penetration tester and cybersecurity engineer with High Tech Hui, LLC and Cyberruptive—demonstrated some of the tools that professional hackers keep in their arsenal.
Liam Wesley—a penetration tester and cybersecurity engineer with High Tech Hui, LLC and Cyberruptive—demonstrated some of the tools that professional hackers keep in their arsenal.

“We brought in Liam to demonstrate real cyberattacks, and discuss how a student can protect themselves for educational purposes and build awareness,” said Chong, Co-Principal Investigator of the National Science Foundation’s Alliance Supporting Pacific Impact through Computational Excellence (ALL-SPICE) grant. “Joe and I plan to pilot this cybersecurity workshop to Natural Sciences and Mathematics students to gauge interest. This will help us understand if there is interest for future workshops, larger workshops and/or a need for a cybersecurity course or program.”

Cybersecurity experts, like Wesley—a penetration tester and cybersecurity engineer with High Tech Hui, LLC and Cyberruptive—warn of the escalating sophistication of cyber threats, ranging from ransomware attacks that cripple essential services to targeted phishing campaigns exploiting the remote work landscape. The proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices—AI voice assistants like the Amazon Echo and Google Home—coupled with the rise of artificial intelligence in cyberattacks, adds a layer of complexity to the battlefield.

In the face of these evolving threats, organizations are doubling down on best practices to fortify their defenses. This includes regular employee training to recognize and thwart phishing attempts, implementing multi-factor authentication, and keeping software and systems up-to-date with the latest security patches.

“Patching is absolutely necessary,” Wesley said. “But wait a few days to avoid the potential for buffer overflow, which are memory storage regions that temporarily hold data while it is being transferred from one location to another.”

Initially limited to Rosario’s computer science networking class, the workshop was eventually opened to all Natural Sciences and Mathematics students due to the importance of the topic and the large interest from Chong’s previous presentation on the topic.

One of the workshop’s primary goals was to bring awareness and introduce education innovation. Chong explained that the topic is very important for the University’s DSAV, CS and NSM students, as many of them are doing research, working with data and sensitive data at various organizations for jobs and internships, and using computers.

“Instead of traditionally just bringing in someone to talk about cybersecurity in general, our goal was to make this relevant to the students to build awareness, address on the national security level the lack of cybersecurity education in schools, and an approach to work on better securing our campus,” Chong said. “In addition, we are planning to take an innovative educational approach by actually demonstrating how easy it is to hack and simulate how bad a cyberattack can be to an organization.”

The landscape of cybersecurity is indeed dynamic and ever-evolving. Experts agree that a collaborative, proactive approach—comprising technological innovation, regulatory compliance and ongoing education—is essential to safeguarding our digital world against the relentless tide of cyber threats.

“There was a lot of information, which was hard to keep up with,” said data science and visualization major LaVelle White ’26. “He explained pretty well how hackers get into systems, even though I can’t hack, but I understood the concept.”