Damien Memorial School
Address
Map
1401 Houghtailing Street

Honolulu
,
Hawaii
96817

United States
Coordinates21°19′52″N 157°52′04″W / 21.33124°N 157.86781°W / 21.33124; -157.86781
Information
TypePrivate
MottoLatin: Viriliter age
("Act courageously")
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic; Congregation of Christian Brothers
Patron saint(s)Saint Damien De Veuster of Moloka‘i
Established1962
Sister schoolDamien High School
PresidentDr. Arnold Laanui
PrincipalKyle Atabay
Grades6–12
GenderCo-educational
Enrollment654 (2016)
Color(s)Mauve and gold   
MascotLion
Team nameMonarchs
AccreditationWestern Association of Schools and Colleges[1]
NewspaperKe Ali'i
Websitewww.damien.edu

Damien Memorial School is a private Roman Catholic preparatory school for boys and girls in grades 6–12 in Kalihi, Honolulu, Hawaii, United States. Located in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Honolulu, the school is sponsored by the Congregation of Christian Brothers and is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges.[1]

History and origins

At the end of World War II, the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu saw the need for a second Catholic school on Oahu. The new school was named after Saint Damien de Veuster, who devoted his life to caring for Hansen's Disease patients on Molokai during the 19th century. The Congregation of Christian Brothers, parents and students volunteered to turn the land - which included 4 acres (16,000 m2) of taro patches and a good deal of uneven swampland - into a school campus because the company that started construction on Damien went bankrupt.[2] Damien became coeducational beginning from the 2012–13 school year.[3]

On April 13, 2023, Damien Memorial School joined with their sister school, Damien High School of La Verne, California, for the first time and planned events to hold between the two schools.[4] In the beginning week of September 2023, Damien High School visited Damien Memorial for the second time, joining together for their first joined liturgy and football match held in the nearby Farrington High School.[5]

Athletics

Damien, in its 60 years of athletic competition, has primarily played within Division II. As recently as the 2021–2022 season, Damien's Varsity Boys Baseball Team had emerged as Division II State Champions, representing the Interscholastic League of Honolulu and winning the ILH their third consecutive state championship.[6]

"Damien Fight Song"

Cheer, cheer for Damien,

Stir up the crowd and let us begin,

Say a prayer from the skies,

Monarchs rule our sprits high!

What though the odds be great or small,

Damien will win over all,

While our blessed ones are marching,

Onwards, to victory!

Song is sung to the tune of the Notre Dame Victory March.

Damien Alma Mater

Damien Alma Mater

Tender True and Bold

Proudly in the Heavens

Gleams thy Mauve and Gold

Glory's mantle cloaks thee

God our guide is nigh

And our hearts forever love thee Damien High

And our hearts forever praise thee Damien High!

Song is sung to the tune of the Notre Dame Alma Mater.

Notable alumni

References

  1. ^ a b WASC-ACS. "WASC-Accrediting Commission for Schools". Archived from the original on 2009-08-14. Retrieved 2009-08-04.
  2. ^ The Companies We Keep by Bob Sigall and his students at Hawaii Pacific University
  3. ^ "Damien Memorial School going coed in fall 2012". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. September 30, 2011.
  4. ^ "A Tale of Two Damien Schools". Damien Memorial School. April 23, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  5. ^ "Historical First Goodwill Game between Damien Memorial School and Damien Highschool (Pictorial ReCap.)". Damien Memorial School. September 5, 2023. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  6. ^ "Damien Memorial School is the HHSAA Division II State Baseball Championship". Damien Memorial School. Retrieved 2023-10-06.
  7. ^ "Damien honors brothers at lu'au". The Honolulu Advertiser. April 6, 2009.
  8. ^ "Frank De Lima visits Damien students". damien.edu. May 28, 2015. Archived from the original on August 16, 2016. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
  9. ^ Joe DeSa Statistics and History. Baseball Reference. Retrieved on January 19, 2017.
  10. ^ "Ex-major leaguer Truby back as CaneFires' coach". The Honolulu Advertiser. September 25, 2008.
  11. ^ "Inoke Breckterfield-Coach Bio". Archived from the original on February 7, 2016.
  12. ^ Levine, Daniel S. (2017-03-24). "Jacob Batalon: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. Retrieved 2019-07-20.
  13. ^ Yamane, Marisa (April 29, 2022). "A retired FBI special agent is named the new head of Damien Memorial School". KITV4. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
  14. ^ "Damien Announces New President/CEO". Damien Memorial School. Retrieved 2023-10-26.
  15. ^ Web, Staff (June 9, 2021). "Hawaii-born pilot dies in California plane crash". Khon2.
  16. ^ Cole, William (February 17, 2012). "Portrait of Damien graduate killed in Afghanistan unveiled". Star Advertiser.
  17. ^ "Hawaii's Ty Gwerder will make Bellator debut at the Neal Blaisdell Center in December". KHON2. 2019-11-27. Retrieved 2023-11-04.
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