Chaminade University of Honolulu has welcomed a new but familiar face to the Athletic Administration department. Alana Handy, an outside hitter on the women’s volleyball team for two seasons from 2018-2019, has returned to Chaminade as the new Facilities and Operations manager since August. 

“I had no idea I was going to come back here,” Handy said. “I loved Hawaii, but I really just wanted to travel. After I traveled I thought it was time I figured out what I wanted to do. Around that time I was notified of the job opening in athletics and I saw an opportunity to start getting serious.”

Being the new Facilities and Operations manager at Chaminade, Handy covers setup and breakdown for sports such as volleyball, basketball, cross country, soccer and softball games, which also includes placing the cameras for the livestreams. Handy also works closely in communicating with St. Louis for reserving the field and gym times for the teams at Chaminade. Other responsibilities include van reservations, gym staff, and locker room checkups and assignments. 

“It’s been a pretty fun and challenging experience so far,” said Handy, now 23. “Just the adjustment of previously going to school here as a student-athlete and then actually working here as an admin has been a bit of a challenge. Now I see athletes from a new perspective and seeing the people I work with who are now my coworkers, who used to be authority figures to me has been an adjustment for me as well – just the change in different relationship dynamics I’d say has been a bit of a shift for me.” 

During her time on the team, Handy, who transferred to CUH from a Division I school in Florida, earned Pacific West Conference Newcomer of the Year and All-PacWest Second Team honors in 2018. She was a two-year starter as the Swords went 45-14 in her two seasons here.

“It’s crazy where life can take you,” Handy said. “After I transferred [to Chaminade], I just wanted to be somewhere that I wanted to be and who can say no to Hawaii? Getting all those awards was just a bonus. When I took the visit I loved the girls and the coaches, the program and the culture they were in the process they were cultivating. Now that I am here again it seems like it was such a long time ago, but at the same time it wasn’t.”

After graduating in 2018, Handy traveled quite a bit. Handy spent time in Kenya as a volunteer teaching kids math and helping with P.E. classes. While at home in Washington she also spent some time as a nanny. 

She took over the position from Shawn Sueoka, who is now at Damien High School as the new athletic director.

“It was the perfect fit for athletics,” Sueoka said. “Her being a previous student-athlete and her knowing the Chaminade culture was an easy transition and a perfect fit for everyone. She works so hard, and the motivation she has and the work effort she brings is the icing on the cake.”

Being that Handy has been on the job since August, it’s been a bit of a learning curve juggling men’s and women’s soccer, women’s volleyball, and cross country all in one semester.

“Being a student-athlete, I didn’t know how much went into game day setups or just traveling and practices,” Handy said. “I didn’t realize how much work admin did, and being in admin now has made me appreciate it so much more. Being a student-athlete you don’t know all the time, effort and all the little things like budget, travel, transportation and all the details that you don’t worry about. As a student-athlete all you have to worry about is getting on the court and playing your sport. Admin worries about everything else behind the scenes.” 

Learning the job has had its ups and downs, but the job has also been an eye-opener and has provided a blessing for Handy to give back to the people who gave her opportunities when she was a student at Chaminade.

“Even though this job can be challenging sometimes I just remind myself that I am here to service others and give back to the school and the people who have helped me out when I went to school here,” Handy said. “ Chaminade gave me a lot academically, relationships, and connections. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for the connections and people who have helped me get to where I am at now.”