Photos by Kathleen Connelly
The buff ’n blue community hosted Punahou Carnival 2026: Welcome to the Jungle! on Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7. Some of the highlights included E.K. Fernandez rides, lively student-run games and live musical entertainment. No Carnival experience is complete without its many culinary delights, such as malasadas, gyros, teri burgers and Portuguese bean soup. This cherished tradition dates to 1932.
By Sofia Pomares Sotomayor ’27
Organized by the Junior Class of 2027 and made possible by the entire buff ’n blue community, the Punahou Carnival once again delivered two days of thrills, delicious food, exclusive shopping, cherished traditions and lasting memories.
Since its founding in 1932, Carnival has remained one of Punahou’s most beloved traditions, raising critical funds in support of the School’s financial aid program. It also offers students invaluable leadership opportunities while bringing together parents, alumni, faculty, staff and students to volunteer in support of a shared purpose. This year’s theme was Welcome to the Jungle!
“With the energy of more than 4,500 volunteers and a mix of sunny skies and refreshing rain, Carnival 2026 transformed our campus,” said Carnival co-chairs Julia Saines ’27 and Carter Nobuhara ’27. Regardless of the weather, the festivities continued, with Friday marking the highest opening-day sales in Carnival history.
As always, many Carnival-goers were drawn to the wide array of favorite food offerings. Teri burgers, gyros and smoothies sold exceptionally well, while Portuguese bean soup continued to thrive at its new home in Dole Cafeteria. On closing night, the noodles booth capitalized on the excitement surrounding Sunday’s big game by offering a Super Bowl special, allowing guests to purchase half a pan.
By the end of the weekend, more than 127,000 malasadas had been sold, thanks to thousands of pounds of sugar donated by the school community and the hundreds of student, parent and alumni volunteers running the booths. As part of an ongoing sustainability initiative, oil from each batch of malasadas was converted into biofuel to help power Punahou’s glassblowing studio.
More than 4,500 volunteers – including students, parents, faculty, staff and alumni – support Carnival each year. Proceeds benefit Punahou’s need-based financial aid program, which supports more than 700 students.
Tying the theme into fashionable apparel, the student-designed Carnival fabric featured a pattern of more than a dozen tropical-inspired elements layered over a subtle leopard print. “As one of the administrative division heads, I had the opportunity to help design the Carnival fabric, which was a long and rewarding process,” said Ellie Chung ’27. “Of my contributions, my favorite was the blue-and-yellow flying omen macaw, as I thought it creatively captured both the jungle theme and Punahou spirit.”
Beneath the unmistakable blue-and-white tent, the beloved White Elephant offered thousands of secondhand treasures, from clothing, shoes, books, vinyl records, toys and electronics to select designer items, making it one of O‘ahu’s premier pop-up markets for thrifting enthusiasts. The tent also housed a plant sale, renamed “Rooted in the Jungle,” and the Pā‘ani Booth, whose proceeds support girls athletics.
Nearby, the iconic Jams and Jellies booth once again drew a line that stretched down Chamberlain Drive before sunrise. The first woman in line, who arrived on campus at 4 a.m., shared that she had been coming to Carnival for more than 25 years to purchase the mango chutney, a testament to both the event and the recipe’s enduring legacy.
Back for another year of thrilling fun, E.K. Fernandez Shows rides, such as Zero Gravity, Seven Seas and Jungle Twist, were among the most popular attractions. Booths organized by the Skills and Games Division also generated excitement, especially among children eager to redeem their tickets for prizes like the giant sloth stuffed animal.
The Midway Games saw the return of Ultimate Frisbee, a revival led by Academy math teacher and Punahou alumnus Eric Reppun ’92. “It was wonderful to see the Ultimate Frisbee booth return to Carnival after a 30-year hiatus, especially since I ran the booth myself as a junior,” said Reppun. “I was thrilled for the students from the Frisbee Club to help design and bring the booth to life, and they did a fantastic job creating the jungle-themed artwork.” Reintroducing the game was a collaborative effort, with Punahou Archivist Kylee Mar researching the booth’s history and Physical Plant employee Arsenio Suyat rebuilding it from the ground up and refining its design.
A centerpiece of the weekend was the annual Art Gallery, the largest of its kind in the state, showcasing nearly 300 local artists and more than 1,000 works of art. The gallery continues to be a cornerstone of Carnival, celebrating Hawai‘i’s vibrant creative community. Complementing the gallery was an online jewelry showcase, which ran from Jan. 20 to Feb. 7 and featured a curated collection from eight designers. Several pieces incorporated buff ’n blue colors, while others paid tribute to Punahou through designs featuring the hala tree and the night-blooming cereus.
Another highlight of the weekend was the 2026 Variety Show, “Where the Wild ’26ers Are.” Set deep in the jungle, the story followed a group of Punahou students on a quest to complete a series of trials in search of the “mat that seats many,” discovering the power of teamwork and resilience along the way. Entirely written, produced and performed by the senior class, the show featured a live band, dance numbers, singing and even juggling and acrobatics, showcasing the breadth of student talent.
Rain or shine, the success of “Welcome to the Jungle!” reflected the inclusive, dedicated and joyful spirit of the junior class and the broader Punahou community. While the food, rides and traditions are always highlights, what makes Carnival truly special is the way it brings people together – all working side by side for something bigger than themselves. It is that shared sense of purpose, and the opportunity to give back, that continues to make Carnival such a meaningful and unforgettable experience.
