Bridging Cultural Contrasts
Charles Ye ’26 is passionate about global education, a drive that has led him to promote cultural understanding both in Hawai‘i and in rural China, where he launched a teaching project to help middle and high school students learn English as a second language. Through his Global Education Program, Ye reached over 250 students this past summer through in-person classes, and plans to continue this fall by teaching English classes over Zoom and visiting again next summer.
Ye joined Punahou School in 2019 as a sixth grader, after moving from Beijing to Hawai‘i. Prior to Punahou, he attended Kāhala Elementary and Thomas Jefferson Elementary. When his family visited schools, Ye was attracted to Punahou for its diversity and opportunities.
At Punahou, his passion for learning languages has thrived. He enjoys studying Japanese and English, and is also fluent in Mandarin, which he speaks at home. “Learning a new language gives me the chance to view the world from a different perspective,” said Ye, who was wearing a T-shirt that read, “Embody cultural wisdom.” “To me, it’s a message about how big the world is, so it reminds me to be humble and seek more perspective.”
This past summer, Ye returned to his father’s alma mater, Lion Hua Middle School in northern China, where he launched a teaching project. “One of the biggest differences there was in teaching styles,” Ye noted. “In China, students are used to listening to lectures. Getting them to participate and share their thoughts was a challenge, but once they realized we were all in this together, they became more comfortable.”
The experience helped Ye recognize the vast cultural contrasts between life in rural China and Hawai‘i. In the rural farming community, resources like computers and fast internet are scarce. Despite these challenges, Ye was struck by how eager to learn the students were. “We often underestimate these students because we don’t hear much about them,” he said, “but they’re all really knowledgeable about current events and are in touch with the world.” The experience also brought him closer to his family, who joined him on the trip. His younger sister, Cherry ’30, helped with teaching English, while his father, the first person from the village to attend college, felt a sense of nostalgia returning to his former school.
In addition to his work in cultural exchange, Ye is deeply involved in other activities. He’s an active member of Punahou’s debate team, mock trial and Hawai‘i Youth Symphony’s Concert Orchestra, where he plays the flute. Managing his time between academics, extracurriculars and his projects can be a challenge, but Ye stays organized by creating a schedule and reviewing the next day’s plans before bed every night.
Ye credits many of his achievements to the support of teachers like Julia Harrison ’09, his former fifth grade teacher from Kāhala Elementary who now teaches at Punahou. “She’s very inspiring, kind and warm,” Ye shared. He’s also thankful for mentors like Elisa Lo, Academy Chinese language faculty member and advisor for a Hawaii-based Chinese Education Club that he co-founded, and Jan Asato, his Academy Japanese language teacher, with whom he is working with on a language immersion trip to Taiwan for the future.
In his free time, Ye enjoys traveling with his family, a passion that grew even stronger after the pandemic. Recently, they’ve visited several cities in China, including Shanghai, Hong Kong and Beijing, as well as some places in Japan. His father, a professor at Beijing University, works on reducing water pollution and travels between China and Hawai‘i, while his mother manages properties. Both parents have instilled in him a deep interest in global events and a desire to make a difference.
With his growing experience in education and cultural exchange, Ye is already making a lasting impact – and he’s just getting started. Looking ahead, Ye plans to continue building on his global education work. He hopes to establish a formal exchange program between Punahou and schools in China, fostering relationships between students from both countries.
