Chaminade University of Honolulu is a private coeducational university in Honolulu, Hawai'i. Founded in 1955 by the Society of Mary, a Roman Catholic religious order also known as the Marianists, Chaminade is located in the historic Kaimuki district of Honolulu. It is near other notable Roman Catholic schools, Sacred Hearts Academy and Saint Louis School. Chaminade confers both bachelor's and master's degrees in the major arts and sciences subjects. The school specializes in business, communication, education, interior design, law and religious studies degree programs.

Founding

Chaminade University of Honolulu is named after the founder of the Society of Mary, Father William Joseph Chaminade, a survivor of the French Revolution persecutions of Catholic leaders. Beatified by Pope John Paul II on September 3, 2000 with the title of Blessed Chaminade, his feast day is celebrated on January 22.

Chaminade University of Honolulu was named after Father William Joseph Chaminade, a French Catholic priest who survived persecution during the French Revolution. He founded the Society of Mary in 1817. In 1849, Marianists sent missionaries to the United States to serve immigrant populations. In September 1883, eight Marianist priests arrived in Honolulu and established Saint Louis School, today a high school for boys. With the encouragement of Saint Louis alumni, the Marianists established a university to serve the educational needs of local Hawai'i Catholics. They opened Saint Louis Junior College in 1955. Upon becoming a four-year institution, the school changed its name to Chaminade College in 1957. When graduate programs were added in 1977, Chaminade College changed its name to Chaminade University of Honolulu.

Athletics

Chaminade University of Honolulu competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division (NCAA) Division II as a member of the Pacific West Conference. It fields teams in basketball, cross country, tennis, and water polo for men and cross country, softball, tennis, and volleyball for women. Chaminade University of Honolulu's team name is the Silverswords, a reference to a Hawaiian fern prized for its beauty and ability to withstand harsh conditions. It is also a reference to the weapon used by the Crusaders in the medieval battle for the Holy Lands, a tribute to Chaminade University of Honolulu's neighboring Saint Louis School. In 1981, when Chaminade University of Honolulu was a National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics member, it scored one of the biggest upsets in college basketball history when it defeated University of Virginia, then a top-ranked NCAA Division I team.

School Song

Chaminade, Alma Mater, Hail!

Light of truth by tropic sea,

Guide of youth, you keep us free.

Your colors: white as curling foam,

Your royal blue, our island home.

Lift our loyal spirits high,

With a sword of inspiration

Lead to battle with the cry,

"Life in the word" and victory

For love of God and nation.

Rendezvous of West and East

Home of evening star, a gleam,

And morning star, pure silver beam,

Hail, splendor, echo of the sun.

Lift our loyal spirits high,

With the sword of inspiration

Lead to battle with the cry,

"Life in the word" and victory.

External links

• Chaminade University of Honolulu
• Chaminade University Silverswords
• Society of Mary Province of the United States