Special Friend Of Chaminade Honored For Years Of Support

Chaminade University named its nursing skills lab after the late U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye Feb. 24 in ceremonies with (from left) CU institutional advancement vice president Diane Peters-Nguyen, CU regents Vaughn Vasconcellos and Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Wo, CU president Bro. Bernard Ploeger, Irene Hirano Inouye, Jennifer Goto Sabas, regent Dr. Larry Tseu and nursing dean Stephanie Genz. Photo from Kapono Ryan.

When one man makes a huge impact on campus, Chaminade doesn’t forget.

The university dedicated Henry Hall 113 Feb. 24 to the late Dan Inouye, naming it Senator Daniel K. Inouye Nursing Skills Laboratory in ceremonies with his widow and former chief of staff present.

“The federal programs Sen. Inouye sponsored have had a transformational effect on our university,” said Kathleen “Kitty” Wo, chairwoman of the regents board. “Primarily through the Title

III program as a Native Hawaiian-serving institution, federal funding to Chaminade has totaled $25 million over the past five years.”

Wo noted that an additional $1.2 million capital grant Inouye helped secure supported the CU nursing school.

The just-dedicated room also has a personal history with Inouye, who died in December 2012. According to Brother Bernard Ploeger, Chaminade president, it was the very room where Inouye had his Army medical exam that cleared him for WWII service. (Henry Hall was taken over and used as a military hospital in wartime.)

A new plaque now proclaims his achievements and service to Chaminade and the nation.

Inouye visited the Kaimuki campus in 2010, and served on its board of governors from 2003 to 2008.

“We are profoundly grateful to Sen. Inouye for his service to our nation, our state and for the impact his work has had on our communities,” Ploeger stated.