Marianists in Hawai`i

Chaminade University is named after the founder of the Society of Mary, Father William Joseph Chaminade, a French Catholic priest who survived the political turmoil and religious persecution of the French Revolution.

In September of 1883, eight Marianists from Dayton, Ohio arrived in Honolulu and assumed the leadership of what is now St. Louis School. In 1995, St. Louis Junior College opened, later evolving into present day Chaminade University of Honolulu.

The story of how the land at Kalaepōhaku (meaning "hill of rocks" or "rocky point" in Hawaiian) was obtained for the campuses, is thus told:

"One September day in 1922, Brother Frank Herald, one of the original eight Brothers from Dayton, Ohio, walked into a downtown frame shop. For years, Brother Frank delighted in painting Hawaiian scenes. And, today was the day he would have them framed.

It so happened that in the shop was W. O. Smith, the Chairman of the Bernice Pauahi Estate. The casual meeting was fortuitous. Brother (Adolph) Eiben had been searching for a suitable site for a new school. A prime location overlooking Kaimuki was the slopes of Kalaepōhaku, which was owned by Bishop Estate. So, when Brother Frank mentioned that he had met W. O. Smith, Brother Eiben was elated.

On January 27, 1923, the trustees of the Bishop Estate signed over 205 acres to St. Louis College for $62,500."*

*Source: Marianists in Hawaii.VOB. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hl0vgEKXLGI

Plants the Marianists First Saw

"The new property (of Kalaepōhaku) was drier and windier than the Nu`uanu campus, which was frequently flooded, and offered a spectacular view to the ocean. The rocky hillside, however, posed a challenge to builders, and access to the property was only possible after the construction of a culvert and bridge across Palolo Stream in 1925."*

The following plants** most likely were growing on the slope of Kalaepōhaku in 1927 or before.

• `A`ali`i (Dodonae viscosa) - Short shrub, green with red capsules, lei material
• `Ipu (Lagenaria siceraria) - Creeping ground cover producing gourds
• Kauna`oa (Cuscuta sandwichiana) - Parasitic, orange epiphyte, lei of Lanai
• Kawelu (Eragrotis vaiablis) - Fountain grass, endemic, short
• Loulu Palm (Pritchardia beccariana) - Endemic palmate leaves palm
• Nai`o (Myoporum sandwicense) - Short to middle shrub, false sandalwood
• Naupaka kuahiwi (Scaevola gaudichaudiana) - Mountain Naupaka, the "other half of the flower" of legend
• Pili (Heteropogon contours) - Endemic grass used primarily for thatching
• Pūkiawe (Styphelia tameiameiae) - Low shrub, dark green with white flowers and red berries, lei material
• `Uala (Ipomoea batatas) - Sweet potato, low ground cover
• `Ūlei (Osteomeles anthyllidifolia) - Low shrub, bright green pinnate leaves, white flowers and fruit, lei material, wood used in `ukeke instrument
• Wiliwili (Erythyrina sandwicensis) - Low to middle tree, endemic with variety of leaves, very drought resistant

Sources: *Iwamoto, Linda, "The Chaminade University - St. Louis School Campus: An Architectural Overview 1927 - 1993." September 1993

**"Landscaping at Marianist Center of Hawaii, Saint Louis Schools and Chaminade University," Vth Rough Draft. June 25, 2006

Chaminade's Hale Ho`oulu Mea Kanu

From 1982-2012, biology professor, Associate Provost and Director of Native Hawaiian Partnerships, Henry Halenani Gomes, greatly added to the cultural value of the campus through increasing the number of native Hawaiian plants to be found, especially through the generous collaboration of Rick Kaponowaiwaiola Barboza, co-founder of Hui Ku Maoli Ola. Gome's "Hale ho`oulu mea kanu" (meaning "horticulture" or "greenhouse" in Hawaiian) included species endemic, indigenous and introduced (especially canoe plants) to the islands.

In the Fall of 2017, work began to document as many of these plants as possible that present and future generations may learn of their valuable traditional cultural and medicinal uses.

The Spring of 2018 ushered in the greening of two more areas on the campus. In March, Chaminade's Cultural Engagement Specialist Kahoalii Keahi-Wood replaced the water sprinkling line near the Greenhouse of the former Gardening Club. During a Chaminade Blue Zone's event day, as planters were fixed and plants put in, the new Ka Mala 'o Kalaepohaku area came to life. In April, the new Silversword Athletics Training Center and Locker Rooms were blessed. The facility is surrounded by a number of native Hawaiian plants.

Acknowledgements...

First, I would like to acknowledge my teachers, Dr. Heny Halenani Gomes (Biology) and Kahuna La`au Lapa`au Kumu Levon Ohai of Kaua`i whose spirits live on through the knowledge of plants and medicinal uses they shared. I am most grateful to them and this opportunity to continue their legacy of love for this land of Hawai`i that future generations may also be enriched.

With gratitude for their vision, help and support, special acknowledgment goes to:

• Office of the Associate Provost: Janet Davidson, Associate Provost and Krystal Reeves, Administrative Assistant
• Chaminade Facilities: Michael Haisen, Director (retired) and Luka Kaneakua, Assistant Director; and their green-thumb staff
• Center for Teaching and Learning: Mary Hattori, Director
• Finance and Facilities: Aulani Kaanoi, Vice President
• Humanities and Fine Arts Department: Karen Harp, Receptionist, Web-designer

For donations of plants and other assistance, mahalo to:

• Aunty Alyssa Gomes (Dr. Henry Halenani Gomes), and Aunty Jackie Ohai (Kahuna La`au Lapa`au Kumu Levon Ohai)
• Ho`oulu`Āina
• Clyde and Gloria, Matthew Chun tropical flowers farm in Waimanalo
• Alyce Dodge, `A`ali`i Council
• RE/ENV431 Environmental Ethics Spring 2018: Lawrence Arnold and students
• RE/ENV431 Environmental Ethics Spring 2019 students and their movement #takebackthepiko in their efforts to reduce the feral cat population in the Oval in protection of the endemic native plants there
• Aunty Ethel Mau and Evonne Akama, Na Lomilomi o Papakōlea
• Kapono Ryan, Chaminade Gardening Club (former advisor)

E Kū Makani!

Dr. Malia Dominica Wong, O.P. , c/o '84

2017-2018; 2018-2019 Teaching, Learning & Assessment Faculty Fellow