By Gina Gelber
Kyndra Leong ’27 was devastated with the passing of her beloved grandmother around the holiday season. “I had a special connection to her,” Leong says. “She lived right next door to me and I would go over to her house every single day.” During the quality time she spent with her grandmother, Leong says she always felt seen, understood – and, above all, loved for who she is.
The Class of 2027 has launched Spotlight Sessions, which are inspiring presentations that mimic TED Talk conversations. The intent is to share uplifting messages and get to know each other better.
In the midst of her grief, Leong found comfort in her supportive buff ‘n blue community. “My friends made sure to check up on me daily and were there for me whenever I needed to talk to someone,” she says. “They shared their own experiences of losing loved ones which helped me. Knowing others had shared similar feelings and pain made a huge difference in healing.”
To express her gratitude, Leong took centerstage at Dillingham Hall to deliver an inspiring Spotlight Session – presentations which mimic the format and feel of TED Talk conversations. Her Spotlight Session is part of a broader undertaking from the Class of 2027, according to Grade 10 Dean Deane Salter ’98. “The Spotlight Sessions were conceived in 2024 as a way to get to know the members of our class and bring the class closer together,” Salter says. “Students have a platform through which they can share their stories and positive messages with each other.”
During her address, which lasted about four minutes, Leong reflected on the concept of Lōkahi, which encapsulates unity and harmony. “The conventional meaning of Lōkahi is many hands, many different pieces coming together,” she said during her presentation. “But there is also a spiritual meaning, which means unbroken – not many pieces, just one single, connected piece. I immediately thought of our class.”
These Spotlight Sessions are emblematic of the diverse experiences – such as group projects, sports and volunteer work – that Punahou students routinely participate in, laying the foundation for lifelong bonds and creating the building blocks for a strong community. “The intention of my speech was to share the message of Lōkahi, that we are unbroken,” Leong says. “We are all connected as a community that’s stronger together.”
Leong believes her fellow classmates will be supportive of each other for the long haul. “I have confidence that our Class will carry this sense of unity beyond graduation, whichever path life takes us,” she says.
So far, Leong and Class of 2027 President Kenton Chan ’27 have presented the Spotlight Sessions – but more are in the works, according to Salter. For his part, Chan, who is a high-achieving scholar, athlete and musician, used his Spotlight Session platform to convey the message of being true to yourself. “The opinions of others heavily influence teens,” Chan says. “Oftentimes causing them to wear a false mask in order to fit in with everyone else. Witnessing firsthand the negative effects of peer pressure motivated me to encourage my classmates to be their authentic selves.”
Chan believes the Spotlight Sessions have enabled students to provide inspirational messages and to share vulnerable parts of their lives. “As a result, Spotlight Sessions have helped to unify our class and create a more cohesive community,” he says. “My classmates make me feel supported in countless ways. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a smile or providing a listening ear; other times, it’s going out of their way to support me, even if it costs them a lot of time and energy.”
At the conclusion of her Spotlight Session, Leong unveiled a sweet surprise for the entire class; distributing more than 500 cookies which she had personally baked to show her appreciation for the support she had received during her challenging time. It was a touching gesture as her grandmother, Diantha Leong ’59, was affectionally nicknamed “Cookie.” It was an experience Leong will always carry with her.
“I strongly believe that because Punahou provides an environment where students like me can grow and express their ideas,” she says. “We can unite and build relationships that will last for a lifetime.”
My classmates make me feel supported in countless ways. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a smile or providing a listening ear.
-Kenton Chan ’27
Main Article: The Punahou Network A Hui for Life