Beloved educator embraced his adopted Hawaii home
By Celia K. Downes
Hawaii Catholic Herald
On the occasion of celebrating 60 years of consecrated life a decade ago, Christian Brother William P. “Liam” Nolan shared his impressions of Hawaii following his arrival in the state in 1998.
It was the first time the educator had lived outside his native Ireland, but he still found happy similarities between the two cultures.
“(The) friendly and family-based lifestyle here is very similar to the Ireland I grew up in,” Brother Nolan said in a short profile published in the Hawaii Catholic Herald. “Working in multicultural Hawaii has been very enriching for me.”
Brother Nolan died Jan. 15 in Honolulu at age 84, just months before he would have been honored for 70 years of religious life. His funeral was held Feb. 21 at Damien Memorial School — the campus where he spent his entire educational career while in Hawaii.
Brother Nolan was born in England in 1939, but his family relocated to Ireland when he was young. He attended schools run by the Congregation of Christian Brothers, whose influence was so great that he joined the order in 1954.
He spent many decades working as a teacher and school administrator in Ireland before moving to Hawaii. He picked up where he left off, joining the Damien faculty in 1998 to teach chemistry and biology before moving to the school’s counseling department.
Brother Nolan retired from education in 2020 at age 81.
Deacon Mike Weaver, who worked at Damien for 19 years as a teacher and as principal of the high school, remembered Brother Nolan as “totally devoted to his students” and “the consummate teacher and counselor.”
“(He) took to life in Hawaii with enthusiasm and a sincere interest in learning about the culture,” said Deacon Weaver, who served at the school from 1991 to 2010.
Brother Nolan had a keen sense of humor and a calm presence that had an impact on those around him.
“His attitude of just taking things as they come and not being overly worried about anything was a great example for me,” Weaver said.
Brother Bernard Samp, who taught math and coached the track and cross-country teams at Damien, remembered Brother Nolan’s faith and dedication to prayer, as well as to the students he worked with.
Brother Nolan supported a scholarship that helped needy kids, recalled Brother Samp, who now works at a school in California, and did all he could to support the Damien community.
Brent Limos, currently the admissions director at Damien, joined the school’s staff the same year as Brother Nolan (albeit at very different points in their lives: Limos was fresh out of college while Brother Nolan was carrying on his educational career.)
Limos, who transitioned from math teacher to campus minister to his current role, admired Brother Nolan as “someone passionate about the mission of Blessed Edmund Rice and educating young people.”
“He was extremely faith-filled, intelligent, kind, generous with his time, compassionate and empathetic toward our students and their families,” Limos recalled.
Brother Nolan’s impact was felt by more than just students; Limos said he “was an inspiration and mentor” to younger faculty and staff members as well.
Brother Samp, Deacon Weaver and Limos also knew Brother Nolan for more than just his educational expertise. The Irishman was an enthusiastic booster of athletics and extracurricular activities who wholeheartedly embraced all things Hawaii, from the cuisine (“He would never miss chicken katsu day in our school cafeteria,” Limos said) to the Hawaiian language.
Deacon Weaver recalled one instance that showed Brother Nolan’s commitment to his new home.
“Soon after he arrived, he enrolled in a conversational Hawaiian language class,” Deacon Weaver said. “He told me he thought it helped him connect with ‘his boys,’ as he called the students.”
Some time after he began attending the class, Brother Nolan asked Deacon Weaver if he could lead the prayer at an assembly — and proceeded to do so in Hawaiian.
“To this day, I have never heard anyone else speak Hawaiian with an Irish brogue!” Deacon Weaver said. “When he finished, the students rose to their feet and applauded him.”
