Founded in 1955 by the Society of Mary, Chaminade is located in Kaimuki, Honolulu at the base of St. Louis Heights.

With the encouragement of Saint Louis alumni, the Marianists established a university to serve the educational needs of local Hawai'i Catholics.

Chaminade's approach to education is founded in the Marianist education values:[2] Chaminade's main campus, serving the undergraduate program and graduate program, is at the base of St. Louis Heights, a residential division of the Kaimuki district.

Chaminade University of Honolulu competes in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II as a member of the Pacific West Conference, a nine-member athletic conference with members located in California, Hawaii, and Utah.

Chaminade University fields teams in baseball, basketball, cross country, golf for men, softball, tennis, and volleyball for women.

Chaminade University of Honolulu's team name is the "Silverswords," a reference to a Hawaiian plant prized for its beauty and ability to withstand harsh conditions.

[10] In 2010, Chaminade's student body was 66% Asian/Pacific Islander, 18% White, 6% Hispanic, 4% Black, 2% Non-Resident Alien, and 0.7% American Indian/Alaska Native.

Keiffer Hall is the only single sex dorm, offering housing for first-year and upper-class women.