Impact Stories

From the Flaming “P” and Holokū to celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Punahou Music School and bidding Jim Scott ’70 a fond retirement as president, it was certainly a wonderful and eventful year. Take a look back at some of the many highlights of this school year.

The Himalayan Buddhist kingdom was the exciting destination for a group of 24 Punahou seniors and faculty chaperones this summer. Through cultural sharing and environmental preservation, students learned what makes Bhutan one of the happiest countries in the world.

How do students like the new playground at the Sidney and Minnie Kosasa Community for Grades 2 – 5? If their joyful expressions are any indication – they love it!

Eight Punahou teachers traveled to Kenya as part of a global learning fellowship during the summer break. The trip was a partnership with Kenya Connect, a nonprofit organization that works to connect children around the world and nurture cross-cultural exchange.

Punahou’s Clarence T.C. Ching PUEO (Partnerships in Unlimited Educational Opportunities) Program identifies middle and high school students in neighboring public schools with high academic potential, but with low economic opportunity. The program, aims to raise these students’ aspirations and their preparation to enter, and complete, college.

Punahou recently unveiled its stunning new learning environment – the Sidney and Minnie Kosasa Community for Grades 2 – 5 – with its state-of-the-art classrooms, a K – 8 Junior School Learning Commons, as well as expansive outdoor spaces.

Monumental changes are underway across Punahou’s campus – projects with an ambitious end goal. By 2025, Punahou aspires to become a Net Zero school, meaning the School will consume only as much energy as produced.

Punahou alumnus Ken Richardson ’48 had a vision to create a cutting-edge lab that would inspire students to become interested in science, technology, engineering and math.

When Xuan Nguyen ’19 arrived at Punahou in the sixth grade, she found herself in a place “brimming with opportunity.” She met her dearest friend, learned how to shoot a bow at camp, and was among those selected to deliver their Damon Speech to the entire seventh-grade class. While in the Academy, Nguyen joined the yearbook team, and is now in her third year as Oahuan editor.

In the robotics classroom at the Hawaii School for the Deaf and Blind (HSDB), a table was covered with wires, gears and robot pieces. I sat in the back of the classroom in awe as I watched my younger sister, Megan Kobayashi ’19, communicating with deaf students using American Sign Language (ASL).