Fun and Paniolo Pride Fill the Punahou Carnival

The Punahou Carnival brought the community together for two sunny days of fun, food and tradition with this year’s theme, “Pā‘ina Paniolo: A Country Carnival.” Hosted by the Junior Class of 2026, the event took place on Feb. 7 and 8, transforming the campus into a lively fairground filled with rides, games and favorite goodies.

Inspired by the rich history of Hawaiian cowboys, the theme paid tribute to the connection to Hawaiian culture. “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. Many carnival-goers embraced the spirit of the event, sporting palaka shirts, cowboy boots and hats as they enjoyed the festivities.

Crowds enjoyed beloved Carnival staples, including fresh malasadas, Portuguese bean soup, Hawaiian Plate and the ever-popular White Elephant rummage sale. The Art Gallery and Silent Auction also drew visitors, while E.K. Fernandez rides like Seven Seas and Zero Gravity brought nonstop thrills. Family-friendly rides and Punahou’s own carnival games rounded out the weekend of festivities.

Photos by Kathleen Connelly

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