Reading your article “Future of Newman Center uncertain” (May 29, 2020) brought back fond and nostalgic memories of our times with the Newman Club, memories and friendships that have lasted a lifetime.
We would like to begin to clarify one thing in your article, which we hesitate as it would date us, and that is that the UH Catholic campus ministry began in the 1950s with Father John McDonald as its first spiritual director followed by Msgr. Daniel J. Dever.
In those early years, we had no place to meet except a meeting room in Atherton Hall, which was owned and operated by the YMCA as a dormitory for men students, eventually moving to a standalone building on the campus near Atherton Hall.
At one of our meetings it was determined that we needed a more permanent meeting place. But establishing it would require the amassing of monies. The decision was made at that meeting to hold an annual luau to raise funds for the future Newman Center on the property of the Sisters of St. Francis.
With friends and student members of the Newman Club participating, the first annual Newman Club Luau was held at the American Chinese Club House where the Marco Polo condominiums now exist. Members sold tickets, prepared food (under the watchful eyes of professional caterers), served food, provided entertainment, washed dishes, pots and pans, and cleaned the hall after the luau.
Each year the noted artist Jean Charlot would donate his time and talent to prepare a poster publicizing the event.
This event continued to take place for years after many of us graduated from the University never forgetting that this Newman Club was where we maintained our faith in a secular environment.
Carmen Silva Kiyabu
Ronald Choo