When Punahou began laying the groundwork for the construction project that would eventually evolve into the Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons, the broad intent was to create a variety of flexible spaces that would support the individual learning styles and diverse needs of the School’s vibrant student population.
“Our goal was to design a space that could adapt over time, alongside the changing nature of education itself,” says Laura Ayers, partner at WhiteSpace Architects. “Our hope has always been to foster creativity, inspire innovation and empower students to take ownership of their educational journeys.”
That vision is coming to fruition. When the Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons opens in 2026, it will transform the former Cooke Library into a state-of-the-art intellectual hub at the heart of the Academy. The 53,300 sq. ft. facility will include flexible learning spaces and classrooms; design, technology and engineering labs; emerging technology studios equipped with virtual reality and AI tools; culinary and sustainability studios; and large wrap-around lānai spaces for students to collaborate and socialize.
Laura Ayers, Partner
WhiteSpace Architects
Philip “Pip” White ’66
But beyond the architectural and design prowess of this project, the Learning Commons will serve as a living bridge to the stories and heritage that have shaped it. In 2024, Punahou announced that the building would be named in honor of a preeminent historian, composer, author and educator of Hawaiian studies: Mary Kawena Pukui. Over the course of her celebrated life, she published more than 50 scholarly works, including the definitive Hawaiian-English Dictionary, was a researcher at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, taught at Punahou and at Kamehameha Schools, documented the people and culture of Hawai‘i, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1981.
“I was honored that the Learning Commons was named in recognition of Mary Kawena Pukui,” Ayers says. “It is my sincere hope that the space serves as a hub for intellectual and cultural exchange – and that it brings people together in a spirit that reflects her legacy and values.”
Ayers began working on this project nearly a decade ago, alongside her partner and mentor Philip “Pip” White ’66, who passed away in 2022. They collaborated on the design and development of this project, leading design charrettes and engaging in numerous in-depth discussions with faculty, staff and administration.
“I believe that Pip would be both proud and deeply moved by how the space is taking shape,” Ayers says. “The soft light streaming through the new clerestory windows in the mansard roof brings the commons to life exactly as he envisioned. The covered lānai offer a comfortable, cozy environment – an ideal spot for studying while enjoying the outdoors.”
Ayers considers this to be the most influential project of her career. “We are creating a space that will serve and inspire generations of students for years to come,” she says. Upon its completion, one of the students who will use this space is her son, Rune Ayers ’27, and that intergenerational connection makes this project extra special for her.
Right and bottom: Photographs of the Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons, depicting the progress on the interior of the project.
“This journey has drawn on the collective efforts of many; I do believe that my perspective – as both an architect and a mother – has shaped the way I’ve approached it,” she notes. “It has taken perseverance, patience and a sustained focus to bring us to this point. I am incredibly proud of what we are accomplishing together.”
Main Article: Blueprints for Learning: The Architects Who Shaped Punahou’s Campus