From the Archives: Then and Now

Academy Campus News

·October 7, 2024·3 min read

October is National Archives Month, and we’re celebrating Punahou School’s very own Archives. To honor the occasion, students from the Key Club and Archivist Kylee Mar recreated vintage photos, highlighting what has changed – and what has stayed the same – over the years. Drag the slider in the photos to take a look at how history and the present come together.

Castle Hall

Then: Castle Hall, 1999
Sixth graders from the Class of 2006 Jonathan Onaga and Maile Thompson with Castle Hall Supervisor Tim Lucas ’62 and classmates Kelsey Cagasan and Kelsey Kaneshiro (paintbrush in hand) put the finishing touches on a creative project showcasing three-dimensional ceramic tile murals.

Now: Castle Hall, 2024
Melanie Lin ’28, Ryan Kao ’28, Ka’ula Hashimoto ’28, Claire Hubbard ’27, retiree Tim Lucas ’62, Logan Lee ’27 and Lauren Phomsopha ’27.

Then: Castle Hall, 1999
Sixth graders from the Class of 2006 Jonathan Onaga and Maile Thompson with Castle Hall Supervisor Tim Lucas ’62 and classmates Kelsey Cagasan and Kelsey Kaneshiro (paintbrush in hand) put the finishing touches on a creative project showcasing three-dimensional ceramic tile murals.

Now: Castle Hall, 2024
Melanie Lin ’28, Ryan Kao ’28, Ka’ula Hashimoto ’28, Claire Hubbard ’27, retiree Tim Lucas ’62, Logan Lee ’27 and Lauren Phomsopha ’27.

Pauahi Steps

Then: Pauahi Steps, 1901
Members from the Class of 1901 – Mary Hester “Nessie” Lemon, Ethel Damon, Antonio Marcallino, Charlie Judd, Sarah Lyman, Edward Perry, James Lawrence Robinson and Alfred Kui Far Yap – gather on the steps fronting Pauahi Hall.

Now: Pauahi Steps, 2024
Mia Yeung ‘28, Juliana Kaniho ‘28, Joshua Yang ‘25, Andrea Shen ‘28, Jenna Cheong ‘28, Alli Djou ‘25, Katie Wu ‘27 and Christian Haraguchi ‘26.

Then: Pauahi Steps, 1901
Members from the Class of 1901 – Mary Hester “Nessie” Lemon, Ethel Damon, Antonio Marcallino, Charlie Judd, Sarah Lyman, Edward Perry, James Lawrence Robinson and Alfred Kui Far Yap – gather on the steps fronting Pauahi Hall.

Now: Pauahi Steps, 2024
Mia Yeung ‘28, Juliana Kaniho ‘28, Joshua Yang ‘25, Andrea Shen ‘28, Jenna Cheong ‘28, Alli Djou ‘25, Katie Wu ‘27 and Christian Haraguchi ‘26.

Carnival Shirts

Then: Carnival Shirts, Lum Hawaiiana Room, Cooke Library, 1994
Members from the Class of 1994 and Archivist Mary Judd ’47 pose with Carnival shirts from over the years.

Now: Carnival Shirts, 2024
Academy students pose with the same Carnival shirts and current Archivist Kylee Pōmaika’i Mar.

Then: Carnival Shirts, Lum Hawaiiana Room, Cooke Library, 1994
Members from the Class of 1994 and Archivist Mary Judd ’47 pose with Carnival shirts from over the years.

Now: Carnival Shirts, 2024
Academy students pose with the same Carnival shirts and current Archivist Kylee Pōmaika’i Mar.

Alexander Gate

Then: Alexander Gate, Pre-1920
The intersection of Wilder Avenue and Alexander Street shows Charles R Bishop Hall (1907 – 1971) in background. The former building housed the Preparatory School when it was relocated from Richards Street, next to Washington Place.

Now: Alexander Gate, 2024

Then: Alexander Gate, Pre-1920
The intersection of Wilder Avenue and Alexander Street shows Charles R Bishop Hall (1907 – 1971) in background. The former building housed the Preparatory School when it was relocated from Richards Street, next to Washington Place.

Now: Alexander Gate, 2024

Front Gate

Then: Front Gate, 1940s
Students arrive at school under the watchful eye of campus guard Mr. Berger. During WWII in the ’40s, campus was occupied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who rolled up to the gate with their trucks and informed Mr. Berger they would be taking over the School’s equipment. The Corp stayed until 1944. Safety tunnels were built below ground, buildings were repurposed, and classes were moved to private homes and the Hawai’i College (University of Hawai‘i). Campus even became its own United State Post Office Station during this time.

Now: Front Gate, 2024

Then: Front Gate, 1940s
Students arrive at school under the watchful eye of campus guard Mr. Berger. During WWII in the ’40s, campus was occupied by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who rolled up to the gate with their trucks and informed Mr. Berger they would be taking over the School’s equipment. The Corp stayed until 1944. Safety tunnels were built below ground, buildings were repurposed, and classes were moved to private homes and the Hawai’i College (University of Hawai‘i). Campus even became its own United State Post Office Station during this time.

Now: Front Gate, 2024