Some 22% of Punahou students receive financial aid, with an average award of $12,500.
By Rachel Breitweser ’03 with Reporting by Sophia Chin ’26
The Punahou Carnival once again brought the community together for two sun-filled days of excitement, delicious food and cherished traditions. Held on Feb. 7 and 8, this year’s event, themed “Pā‘ina Paniolo: A Country Carnival,” paid tribute to Hawai‘i’s rich paniolo heritage. Hosted by the Junior Class of 2026, the Carnival transformed the campus into a bustling fairground filled with thrilling rides, entertaining games and beloved treats.
From the moment Carnival opened, attendees embraced the spirit of the theme, donning palaka shirts, cowboy boots and hats. “The paniolo way of life has been deeply ingrained in Hawaiian culture for several generations, and we felt the obligation to highlight this connection in a way never done before,” said Carnival Student Chairs Julia Savage ’26 and Kahi Marumoto ’26.
As always, food played a central role in the festivities, with favorites like fresh malasadas, Portuguese bean soup, Hawaiian plate, teri burgers and the ever-popular gyros booth drawing lines. Among the exciting changes this year, Portuguese bean soup moved to the Dole Hall cafeteria, and a brand-new booth featuring saimin, musubi and hot dogs made its debut.
One of the most special additions to this year’s Hawaiian Plate was campus-grown poi. For the first time, kalo (taro) harvested from Punahou’s own lo‘i at Kosasa was used for Carnival.
Volunteers came together to pull and process 580 pounds of kalo, which made up nearly half of the 1,300 pounds of poi needed for the event. Third graders and a mix of academy students were responsible for the campus harvest. The rest was sourced from Reppun Farm.
Carnival-goers enjoyed E.K. Fernandez rides like Seven Seas and Zero Gravity, while the Skills and Games Division kept the fun going with Punahou’s signature games and Kiddie Land. Shoppers searched for hidden treasures at the White Elephant rummage sale, while others picked up colorful Haku Lei or fresh fruit and veggies from the O-Men’s harvest on Hawai‘i Island to benefit Punahou athletics.
The Punahou Art Gallery showcased more than 1,100 works from local artists. In addition, the Jams and Jellies booth continued its long-standing tradition of preparing, cooking, jarring and labeling more than 10,000 jars of homemade treats, a process made possible through the hard work of students, parents and cafeteria staff.
Another highlight of the weekend was the Class of 2025’s Variety Show, “Giddyup to the Galaxy: Mission 2025.” This sci-fi western comedy followed a group of bounty hunters on a mission to capture the infamous Dr. Despicable – a villain wanted for an overdue library book. With a mix of humor, music and energetic performances, the show entertained audiences across its four performances during Carnival. The long-standing tradition once again showcased the talent and dedication of Punahou’s seniors, adding to the overall excitement of Carnival.
The success of Carnival wouldn’t have been possible without the dedication of Punahou’s students. This year, an impressive three-fourths of the junior class, over 300 students, held leadership positions.
The Admin Division led efforts to design the annual Carnival fabric, incorporating paniolo-themed elements before sending them to vendors for printing. “When we revealed it, people seemed to really like the fabric, and it made all of our work last summer pay off,” said Vincent Saito ’26. Meanwhile, the Food Division focused on improving efficiency, rearranging booth locations to streamline foot traffic and create a better experience for attendees. Even the Sound Booth contributed to the theme, playing country music to enhance the atmosphere.
More than just a weekend of fun, the Punahou Carnival serves as an important fundraiser for student financial aid and is a testament to the power of community involvement. From growing kalo to running booths and organizing logistics, students, parents, faculty and alumni all played a role in making this year’s Carnival a memorable success.
The theme of this year’s festive event – Pa‘ina Paniolo: A Country Carnival – paid homage to Hawai‘i’s rich cowboy heritage.
The Carnival was an all-hands-on-deck moment, with three-fourths of the junior class holding leadership positions.
Photos by Kathleen Connelly