Securing Our Future
In June 2009, the Board of Directors and Administration of Damien Memorial School conducted many small group meetings with various stakeholders including Christian Brothers, parents, faculty, employees, students, alumni, community leaders, and the Catholic School Department, to gather information of critical importance to the future of the school.

Support Damien's E Ho'opa'a

A 5-Year Strategic Plan was developed with goals to strengthen the quality of Damien's education, increase enrollment, achieve financial sustainability and improve its facilities. The E Ho'opa'a Campaign for Excellence capital campaign addresses Strategic Goal #1:

Damien Memorial School will develop and implement a master plan for building and grounds utilization and maintenance that will encompass upgrades or new classroom(s), offices, athletic facilities, and conference rooms.

Above, Damien Memorial School's proposed 5-year Facilities Master Plan.

The objectives of the project are:

To make needed capital improvements to the campus including provisions for handicap accessibility
To better meet student needs in order to improve their learning and physical development
To strengthen the financial viability and competitiveness of the school
To increase student enrollment
To strengthen Catholic education

YFH Architects, Inc. has been retained to complete the project design which is currently in the concept design phase. It is anticipated that final designs and construction will be completed in three phases over a five year timeline beginning in the Fall of 2012. This plan will allow classroom instruction to continue uninterrupted throughout construction and ample time to complete the school’s five year capital campaign.

Please note that construction is in the design phase and is subject to change. Final designs are expected by Fall 2012.

To address Strategic Goal #1, this project will implement campus improvements that include:

The Clarence T. C. Ching Athletic Complex will house a new 5,970 s.f. multi-purpose athletic buildingto accommodate physical education classes, sports programs, equipment and storage. Classes, basketball and volleyball are currently held in the gymnasium but there is no multi-purpose facility to accommodate other sports such as wrestling and judo, which have had to hold practices in the cafeteria. The weight room, which is currently located on the second floor of the gym, will be relocated to the new facility for structural reasons and greater access. The new athletic building will be located on the far side of the campus next to the practice field, track and batting cages.

The new athletic building will be named in honor of Clarence T. C. Ching in appreciation for their $5 million contribution to the project

Relocation and upgrade of the track and practice field. The grass field will be upgraded to synthetic turf and the dirt track will be replaced with high quality materials which will allow the students the best possible conditions for athletic development. While, space will not allow for a regulation size football field with end zones, the architects are attempting to design a 100 yard "practice field" (without end zones) allowing the Damien's football teams more space to practice and a more accurate game conditions. The changes to the field and track will also eliminate dust to the neighboring homes along the makai boundary of the school property. Bleachers will be built along the newly landscaped mauka end of the field, and in conjunction with the new athletic building will form the school’s first multi-purpose athletic complex.

Above, a new 5.900 s.f. Student Services Center

Student Services Center on the undeveloped property adjacent to the existing parking lot is designed to centralize all school administrative functions and provide additional meeting and conference rooms, student use areas as well as offices. It will also house the library and resource center designed for flexibility in use; able to switch from classrooms to meeting facility to research and program areas. The library will provide a dedicated area for students to read and study as well as space to meet in small groups to work on projects collaboratively. Computer workstations will be located in the library for student use, and an office space will be provided for the school librarian.

The new music building with practice rooms and instrument storage spaces

The new 3,300 s.f. music building will replace the deteriorating “temporary” band room building erected in 1973. Construction on the new music building will incorporate industry standards for secondary school music facilities addressing rehearsal and practice space, acoustics, storage and layout.

Project Cost
The total estimated cost of the project is estimated at $12 million including a contingency for unforeseen expenses. Damien has launched the E Ho'opa'a Campaign for Excellence (Securing Our Future) to raise a total of $12 million. The campaign will implement a facilities master plan designed to improve and expand the campus for optimal efficiency and strengthen the mission and future of the school.

Support the E Ho'opa'a Campaign for Excellence
In April 2011 The Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation gifted the campaign with a generous $5 million challenge grant. To meet the Foundation’s challenge and successfully complete the campaign, a match of $7 million must be committed by December 31, 2013.

The challenge grant from The Clarence T. C. Ching Foundation is not only a huge jumpstart to the capital campaign and campus redevelopment, but also serves as catalyst for raised awareness and interest in Damien.

Make your donation securely online.

Tax-deductible donations can mailed to:

Damien Memorial School
E Ho'opa'a Campaign
1401 Houghtailing Street
Honolulu, HI 96817

Or to make a donation by phone, call Karen Quimoyog, Director of Institutional Advancement at (808) 841-0195, ext. 547.

This campaign marks the start of a comprehensive fund development program for Damien that will include the capital campaign, ongoing annual giving, and fundraising activities and events that will support student needs into the future.

For more information, contact Karen Quimoyog at (808) 841-0195, ext. 547 or kquimoyog@damien.edu.