Punahou President Mike Latham ’86 visited alumni in Boston and in New York City in April. These events, hosted by the Punahou Alumni Association (PAA) New York and PAA New England, were attended by a combined audience of nearly 150 alumni and friends of the School.
Much of Latham’s remarks centered around the School’s new mission statement, which is distinctive, impactful and purpose-driven. He explained that creating the mission statement and core values was an all-inclusive process, involving students, faculty, staff, alumni, parents and the Board of Trustees.
Latham also touched on the new Davis Democracy Initiative, an innovative K – 12 program around civic engagement, made possible through the financial support of Mark and Janie Davis. The initiative was officially unveiled at a special ceremony in February – with keynote speaker U.S. Senator Brian Schatz ’90, Governor Josh Green and Mayor Rick Blangiardi. The Davis Democracy Initiative will cast a wide net by establishing partnerships with public and private schools, universities and organizations.
Latham also discussed another key strategic priority: Sustainability, which is spearheaded by Director of Sustainability Debbie Millikan. The K – 12 initiative will analyze and set targets for campus operations, food, waste, water and energy consumption – as well as create groundbreaking opportunities for Punahou and non-Punahou students to collaborate on real-world environmental problems.
Chair of the Board of Trustees Connie Hee ’70 Lau and Punahou Alumni Association President Chris Abbott ’99 also addressed the guests and brought the aloha spirit from Hawai‘i, further bonding the Punahou community on the East Coast. Fellow Trustee Debbie Berger ’82 joined the group in Boston with her brother, Kenny ’83, and daughter, Lana Reeves ’19. The program for each event was opened by the PAANE and PAANY regional chapter representatives Kathleen Hanson ’91 and Allen Murabayashi ’90, respectively.
Overall, the two events were a great success, and guests were impressed with Latham’s passion and dedication to the School’s mission – with many attendees expressing their excitement about Punahou’s future.
By Doug Rigg ’84