By Noelle Fujii-Oride
Damon Haimoff ’85 turned his passion for videography and broadcasting into a thriving business, driven by the faith that the adults around him had in his potential from a young age. Their encouragement gave him the assurance to dive into his interests and push forward, even when the path ahead was uncertain.
One of the most influential figures during his time at the Academy was Hank Fordham, who led Punahou’s video department for many years. Haimoff recalls how Fordham never told his students “no,” always empowering them to explore creative possibilities and take risks.
Forty years after graduating, the co-founder of Media 3, a leading broadcast facility and live-shot studio in New York City, has established a remarkable track record of helping young adults and fellow alumni forge valuable connections and develop key skills. “If someone shows ambition and commitment, I’m willing to do whatever it takes,” Haimoff says.
In recent years, Haimoff hired two Punahou alumni – Troy Enoka ’15 and Kulani Jenkins ’08. Enoka started as an intern in 2017 and became a full-time employee at Media 3, while Jenkins coordinates private events at the company’s lounge in a freelance capacity.
Haimoff first met Enoka and Jenkins at several Punahou alumni events held at Media 3’s New York lounge. At the time, Enoka was a 19-year-old New York University student still exploring his career path. He recalls bonding with Haimoff over their shared experiences at both Punahou and NYU.
“I remember being impressed with all of his early accomplishments at such a young age and wanted to learn from his experience,” Enoka says.
Raised in Lahaina, Haimoff began selling his photographs in his parents’ gallery at the age of seven. By 16, he had founded his first business, shooting aerial photographs of surfing and other water sports from helicopters. In 1987, while still a student at NYU, he launched Media 3.
NBC soon hired Media 3 to create and run small studios around the country. By 2008, the company was handling 30 to 50 live shots daily from five studios. Eventually, Media 3 became the New York bureau for around 50 domestic networks.
Enoka joined Media 3 in 2017, initially automating the company’s booking system and day-to-day operations. However, his role quickly expanded, and he was invited to contribute to strategic business discussions, including the company’s growth strategy and its relocation to a new commercial space. Enoka appreciated not only the mentorship but also the opportunity to make meaningful contributions to the company, despite his young age.
“Damon helped me to open my eyes to the possibilities of what I could do and really gave me the confidence to dream big when I was first starting out,” Enoka says. Today, he works at Island Wealth Management, his family’s financial planning business in Honolulu.
For her part, Jenkins has coordinated weddings, birthdays, corporate parties, entrepreneurial pitch events and productions at Media 3’s lounge – a role that has enabled her to cross paths with CEOs of Fortune 500 companies and marquee entertainers. She’s learned invaluable lessons from observing Haimoff, particularly his attention to detail and approach to hospitality. Jenkins started at Media 3 in 2022 and continues to work there today.
Haimoff’s commitment to giving back is rooted in his experiences at Punahou and growing up on O‘ahu. Shortly after arriving at NYU, he used earnings from his first business to establish a scholarship fund at Punahou, a way to honor the impact the school had on him and support future students.
Haimoff is now doing his part to nurture the next generation of entrepreneurs, often hosting alumni events and providing mentorship.
Haimoff transferred to Punahou in ninth grade, where he began experimenting with video production. Thanks to a donation of video equipment from Sony co-founder Akio Morita, he and three other students launched Punavision, a student-run television program. The group would meet in what was then Cooke Library’s basement, next to the AV office, where there was a small studio and space to edit. This is also where he crossed paths with Fordham. Haimoff says the group’s videos included everything from segments on new businesses to silly skits. Their shows would air monthly on Oceanic Cable.
That early experience led Haimoff to an after-school internship at KGMB, where he began by printing teleprompter scripts and later shot and produced commercials for clients. After graduation, he traveled the world shooting surfing and other water sports for a large advertising company. While studying at NYU, he also trained NBC employees in production equipment that he used in Asia and Europe.
By the time he was 23, he had already become a director in the Directors Guild of America and an assistant director for NBC News. The next person closest to him in age was in their 50s. “I was young, and I had the attention of a lot of adults that I admired or looked up to,” he says.
Mentoring students has a long tradition at Punahou. Hank Fordham, who started a long career at Punahou in the 1960s, pictured with students in the PunaVision truck. One of his mentees, Damon Haimoff ’85, remembers him for being supportive and encouraging of the students.
“Unfortunately, I didn’t have time for people my own age because it’s like these people were giving me opportunities that were kind of unusual for someone my age, but I always did my best to basically not screw it up.”
Today, Haimoff is busier than ever, leading a thriving company that focuses on high-end projects. He has also found more time to reconnect with his passion for photography and dream up ways to inspire the next generation of visionaries.
He is also dedicated to leaving a legacy of creativity and purpose that bridges the past and future – just as the mentors who shaped him once did.
Main Article: The Punahou Network A Hui for Life