The Class of 2026 Takes Flight
The Class of 2026 gathered with loved ones for an inspiring Commencement ceremony at the Stan Sheriff Center on May 30. Chaplain George Scott opened the program with a stirring invocation. “We are part of that great cloud of witnesses, cheering them on as they begin to fly,” he said of the graduates.
The invocation was followed by a heartfelt mele puka kula dedicated to the students by faculty and staff. The elegant piece, “He Ho‘olana,” was composed by Punahou’s Kuaihelani Learning Center for ‘Ike Hawai‘i to honor students on the completion of their educational journey at Punahou.
The program continued with the beloved hymn “Ke Aloha o ka Haku” and the official Class of 2026 song, “I’ll Bet on Us.” Throughout the evening, student speakers Grace Hagino ’26, Elizabeth Chee ’26 and Riley Mishina ’26 also offered reflections on the meaning of the moment.
Junior School Principal Todd Chow-Hoy offered joyful remarks, setting the stage for Academy Principal Gustavo Carrera to participate in one of Punahou’s most meaningful traditions: the presentation of the graduating class.
“In Punahou’s 186th year, it is my great honor to stand before you tonight to celebrate this long-awaited evening,” Carrera said. During his remarks, Carrera unveiled the adjective that best describes the Class of 2026: present.
“You show up for one another, and you show up for Punahou. You have a remarkable ability to make spaces better simply by being fully present within them,” he said. “And my hope for you is that you will keep showing up in this same way, and that every place you go next will flourish because you were there.”
Over the past four years, that spirit has expressed itself in extraordinary ways. On the academic front, the class represents only 4% of graduating seniors in the state of Hawai‘i, yet accounts for 38% of the state’s semifinalists in the National Merit Scholarship Program. The Class also includes 115 members of the National Honor Society.
“Their accomplishments span disciplines from lab research to creative writing, and include successes in academic competitions,” Carrera said.
In athletics, the graduating class helped Punahou earn 25 Varsity league championships, accounting for half of all league titles this year. Members of the Class also helped earn 15 Koa Trophies, representing more than a third of all state championships, while 48 students became individual champions, with performances that broke three state records.
Carrera also celebrated the Class for its commitment to helping others. “These students sitting here before you have collectively dedicated nearly 20,000 volunteer hours to their communities, their School and one another,” he said. “Perhaps more than any other activity, community service reveals the importance of showing up for others.”
He concluded his remarks by officially presenting the Class to President Mike Latham ’86, who delivered an eloquent address.
“To the Class of 2026, congratulations! We are in awe of what you have done, and even more inspired by your heart and your character,” Latham said. “You have made Punahou a better place, and the best is yet to come.”
To read President Latham’s full Commencement 2026 address, read this article: Message from President Mike Latham ’86: Commencement Address for the Class of 2026.
The Commencement ceremony, held May 30 at the Stan Sheriff Center, was filled with touching moments, including stirring remarks from Junior School Principal, Todd Chow-Hoy, Academy Principal Gustavo Carrera and President Mike Latham ’86. A poignant highlight came at the beginning of the program, when faculty and staff performed “He Ho‘olana,” a heartfelt mele puka kula composed by the Kuaihelani Learning Center for ‘Ike Hawai‘i to honor the Class of 2026.