Rising to the Occasion: The Class of 1976 Marks 50th Reunion and Centennial Alumni Lū‘au Celebrations with Aloha – and Generosity
By Tara Olney
This June, during Alumni Week 2026, the Punahou community celebrated the historic 100th anniversary of the Alumni Lū‘au. At the center of this celebration was the Class of 1976, marking their milestone 50th Reunion. To honor both of these occasions, the Class assembled an energetic and dedicated group to give back to the School.
Leading the fundraising effort as Reunion Gift Co-Chair was Willy Falk ’76, a successful Broadway actor. For Falk, Punahou laid the foundation for his life. “My time at Punahou was academically rigorous, rewarding, challenging and inspiring,” he says. “I developed a strong background in theatre and music. This opened a new world to me and became my eventual career. Tiger Tom Metcalf, our class Dean, was and remains a key figure who guided us and will be seated at our table.”
Working alongside Falk was Reunion Gift Co-Chair Vickie Fullard-Leo ’76, who learned the importance of philanthropy early. “My family’s legacy is deeply rooted in a greater sense of ‘ohana, and community,” she says. “Our grandparents fostered this harmony by finding natural ways to give back. Our parents taught us that ‘ohana is the foundation of society; we stick together and care for one another.”
Falk and Fullard-Leo were joined by Gwyn Kusumoto Hirasa, Naomi Kobayashi Mihara, Terry Kawamura Sasamura, Penny Wat Tong, and Li-Ann Wong to form the ’76 Reunion Gift Committee, affectionately named the “Giving Team.” Together, they set a themed fundraising goal of $1,976,000 – a nod to their graduation year.
To boost classmate participation, the committee focused on broad storytelling. “At first, many classmates find it hard to imagine that Punahou needs financial support,” Fullard-Leo shares. “That changes when they see the deeper story. Through financial aid, the School’s impact reaches individuals, families and our island community.” Falk notes that the emphasis is on reconnecting: “We hope to exceed our goal but, more importantly, our focus is on engagement and participation. These attributes speak to the unity and longevity of any community.” The Class achieved a historic participation rate of 50%.
An anonymous hui of 1976 classmates supplied matching gifts and challenges. Thanks to their generosity, a space in the new Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons will be named for the Class of 1976. This group also added $76 to each first-time gift on Giving Day through the “Spirit of $76 Matching Challenge” to drive progress toward the goal.
To encourage donations, the team promoted flexible giving strategies. “A pledge can be especially helpful because the full gift is counted now while payments are spread over five years,” Fullard-Leo explains. “Another advantage is the potential for tax savings, making a meaningful contribution more manageable.” Bequests and a deferred charitable gift annuity (that provides income for life) were additional ways for classmates to make an impact. This year, there were 8 planned gifts from the Class of ’76 totaling $980,000.
Alongside the Giving Team, Reunion Committee Chairs Randy Kam ’76 and Desi Winnie ’76 Poteet, plus Secretary Sybil Saito ’76, spent months reaching out to classmates. Growing up before smartphones, Falk observes, the Class was connected on a deeply personal level. The celebration also included a time for reflection. “Keenly aware that some of our classmates have passed on, we want to represent them and keep their memories alive,” Falk shares.
Ultimately, these volunteers hope to ensure that Punahou’s legacy remains secure. As Falk puts it, the goal is “to perpetuate the tradition of the Living Spring: a special place that nurtures bright, diverse, ethically-minded young people … and sends them out into the world to make it a better place.”
At a Glance:
The Generosity of the Class of ‘76 in Celebration of its 50th Reunion
Participation rate
50%
Total amount raised from total of donors
$1,976,000
Eight planned gifts, totaling