Punahou School honored the Graduating Class of 2025 with a special Commencement ceremony at the Stan Sheriff Center on May 31.
Thousands of friends and loved ones were on hand to celebrate, as well as to reflect on the diverse accomplishments of the Class of 2025 – and there are many.
Academically, this Punahou cohort represents 4% of graduating seniors in Hawai‘i, yet accounts for 30% of the state’s semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship competition.
On the athletics front, more than half of the graduates participated in Punahou Varsity sports, bringing home 23 Varsity League championships – which accounts for over 40% of all league titles – in addition to 13 Koa Trophies.
It is not just what the Class accomplished – but how it navigated the path to reach those milestones that is remarkable.
“The Class of 2025 has said again and again, ‘come with us,’ and made space for others to grow, to risk and to thrive,” said Academy Principal Gustavo Carrera.
As he reflected on the many moments and experiences that shaped the graduates and brought them to this point, Carrera unveiled the Class adjective that best reflects them: Encouraging.
The tradition to bestow an adjective that embodies the essence of a graduating class dates to 1968.
“Their impact is measured not just in victories – it’s in their integrity. In how they train, cheer, and hold each other to high standards,” Carrera noted.
He also described the Class as a group of generous learners who push their peers to try, even when the work is difficult.
Collectively, the graduates have dedicated approximately 20,000 volunteer hours to the community. “That number is not simply a measure of time,” Carrera said. “It is a reflection of character.”
As he concluded the presentation of the Class of 2025, Carrera reminded the audience that encouragement is not loud – but that it is bold.
“It’s the friend who stays behind to lend a helping hand. It is the classmate who says, ‘You’ve got this’ – and the teammate who believes in you when you’re not sure you believe in yourself.”