On June 13, 2008, former boarders, kindergarten faculty and students of Wilcox Hall along with members of the Wilcox family gathered to celebrate the storied history of this remarkable building. Built in 1936 as a boys' dormitory, Wilcox Hall was designed by Charles W. Dickey and named for former Punahou Trustee and philanthropist George N. Wilcox. For generations of young boys, the building was their campus home, a place where enduring school friendships and memories were forged. In 1961, declining neighbor-island enrollment led to the closure of the boys' boarding program. Boarding girls moved into the building for two years and, in 1964, a renovated Wilcox Hall opened its doors to the first of many kindergarten classes.

Plans call for Wilcox Hall to undergo renovations over the next year, transforming it into the anchor for Punahou's new K - 1 complex. The building will house administrative offices and a creative learning center dedicated to literacy and the arts.

At the celebration event, President Jim Scott '70 thanked the Wilcox family for their generous foresight. He quoted Elsie Wilcox (1897), who, speaking at the original building dedication, said: "If this hall [serving as a home for boarder boys] ... can contribute in even small measure to their development in character, defining of purpose and preparation for future achievement, we shall be satisfied. May it help in preserving the tradition and spirit of Punahou School."

Below are excerpts of some of the memories collected through the years from former Wilcox boarders.

Dan Case '42
"The main floor [of the dorm] was kind of like a reception room. They had a pool table in the middle. They had chairs around for meetings. A ping-pong table. A small room for group meetings and then a stairway up. The second and third floors were where the boys stayed - mostly two to a room. ..."

"I was here on December 7, 1941, and we'd just finished breakfast with the [boarder] girls and saw some action in the air but we didn't know it was serious. So we came back. We hadn't been here more than a few minutes when we heard on the radio that it was Pearl Harbor.

"And there were clear rumors about a Japanese invasion of the islands. So starting the next night, those of us in ROTC (and it was compulsory in those days) had rifles. So it was determined that we would go guard Rocky Hill because there was a water tank up there and they were afraid the Japanese might be poisoning it. It was a very dark evening and we went up there (I was 16 at the time) with loaded rifles. They put us into position. The big worry we found out later was that one of us might shoot the gun off. There was never anybody else prowling, never any real risks yet here we were, somewhat stunned with the whole occasion, with loaded rifles."

Dr. Thomas Chang '52
"My sister Dorothy Chang '49 Van Horn and I were from Kaua‘i. We became the first Asians to board at the school, she at Castle and myself at Wilcox Hall, where I spent four years.  During my senior year, I decided to etch my name on the windowpane of my room. Freddie Rice '52 was my roommate so I put something on it for him. I guess I was an early-time graffiti artist! Years later my grandchildren, Christina Meyer '11 and Scott Meyer '14, attended kindergarten at Wilcox and saw my name etched on the window. Christina's classroom was part of what used to be my dorm room. I have many fond memories of what was a great four years there at Wilcox Hall. All of which has served me well through the years. Thank you, Punahou!"

Dave Clark '49
"I got to date this cute girl who used to live up on the hill right above Punahou. And when I was at Wilcox it was easy to go out the door and up the barbed wire fence and go visit her anytime. They ran cattle out back of Wilcox Hall. There was a pasture - I believe it was the Cooke family's. They ran a lot of cattle in Manoa over the years."

Roy Shipman Blackshear '41 (who passed away in 2006)
"Removing the hinges from [assistant dorm master] Hyland's door while he was out on a date. The crashing door at 2 a.m.! Discovering the hole in Bill Akana's room whereby we could short circuit the dorm bells to ring at will at night. Mrs. Hendrickson coming out of her room with her nightgown on to yell at us that we were slowly driving her husband crazy. ...

"Graduation 1941, Alexander Field Pageant. Farewells. Leaving Wilcox Hall for the last time. A final glance at the sign-out, sign-in book, the "stoolie" box [where demerit slips were deposited], walking down the stairs, loading the car, one backward glance. The end of an era in our lives we will always cherish. Goodbye campus. Goodbye Punahou."

Photo caption: Inscribed in memory. Tom Chang '52 points out his name etched on the window of his former dorm room at Wilcox Hall.