Davis Democracy Initiative Endowed Fund

The Initiative explores issues vital to the success of American democracy and helps to prepare generations of young people from Hawai‘i to make essential contributions as citizens of their communities. It bridges intellectual study and applied, practical experience in professional and public life and builds on the work of prominent centers and programs at U.S. universities and liberal arts colleges in a K – 12 educational setting. Core themes are inquiry and engagement, including an examination of politics and democratic participation, civil rights, media bias, legal systems and social justice, public policy, community engagement and social responsibility. The Davises chose to establish the Initiative at Punahou with the belief that the school has the capacity to convene multiple stakeholders and to design a curriculum that would benefit students at Punahou as well as other schools. Mark Davis is a founding partner of Honolulu law firm Davis, Levin, Livingston and a former member of the national board of directors of the American Civil Liberties Union. The Davis Family has been an integral part of the Punahou community for decades, with Janie serving on the PFA Board and as room parent, and daughters Erin ’99 and Rebecca ’01, attending since kindergarten.