Donor Stories

A Team Effort

If anyone knows anything about teamwork, it's the members of the Punahou O-Men. The O-Men is a charitable organization devoted to enhancing Punahou students' athletic experience.
Through dues and fundraising efforts, the organization has helped Punahou athletes by funding new equipment such as wrestling mats and team travel bags; spearheaded the handsome refurbishment of the Hall of Champions in the Asa Thurston Physical Education Building; and have generously raised funds to support the Punahou financial aid program.

O-Men members, from left: Noah Gibson '99, Mel Ing '68, Robby Field '03 and Scott May '56.

The O-Men also launched the Punahou Athletic Hall of Fame in 1980 and joined with Nā Wāhine o Pā'ani in 2008 to revive the awards to honor lifetime athletic achievement.

The Punahou O-Men originated with the student Lettermen's Club in 1930, but for decades has represented a multigenerational membership of alumni athletes. The O-Men established its first endowed financial aid fund in 1951, and since then these funds have provided need-based financial assistance to 137 student athletes.
In 2012, the O-Men membership supported the renovation of Alexander Field. This year, the O-Men have come together to pledge a gift of $175,000 to support both the grades 2 – 5 neighborhood and need-based financial aid. This organizational gift came together under the leadership of O-Men President Mike Blake '87, along with O-Men members Chris Abbott '99 and Robby Field '03. In championing this idea, Blake commented, "Our membership spans more than 60 years of Punahou athletes. We challenged them with another opportunity to support Punahou and they enthusiastically accepted that challenge."
Back
©2022 Punahou School. All Rights Reserved