The energy, color and community of Punahou Carnival were on full display this year through a new, student-led initiative: the Punahou Carnival Photo Contest.
Organized and driven by juniors Maile Dunn ’27 and Lana Kimi ’27, the contest invited Academy student photographers to document Carnival through their own perspectives. From vibrant midway scenes to fun, candid moments behind the booths, their images capture the movement, emotion and traditions that make Carnival such a meaningful part of the Punahou experience.
Awards were presented in three categories:
- Best Use of Color: Elsa West ’28
- Best Storytelling Image: Ruyi Lin ’26
- Best Encapsulates the Spirit of Carnival: Rylan Cooney ’27
West’s winning image captures the glow of the carousel illuminated against the dark backdrop of the evening, with the bright lights of Zero Gravity in the distance. “My favorite thing about Carnival is seeing it at night, with the glowing lights against the stark contrast of the night sky,” she said, adding that she was “beyond excited” to learn her photo had been selected.
Lin’s Best Storytelling image freezes a candid moment of two adults laughing together on the carousel. Drawn to the contrast between the warm ride lights and the cooler background, she said the nostalgic setting perfectly matched the joy of the subjects. “It was both unexpected and rewarding,” Lin said of being selected. “It’s rewarding to know that a simple moment captured by me will now be experienced by others.”
Cooney’s winning image highlights the enthusiasm inside the White Elephant tent, capturing a shopper who spent hours searching for treasures. As a longtime White Elephant booth chair, Cooney said he wanted to showcase a side of Carnival that can be overlooked. “I instantly knew I needed to capture his energy and how much he supported Carnival,” he said. Learning he had won was especially meaningful, he added, as he hopes to pursue a future behind the camera.
In addition to the contest winners, a larger gallery features work from eight student photographers who documented the weekend: Enzo Yates ’28, Noah Schonhardt ’28, Brycen Lew ’26, Finn Greenwell ’29, Robby Tamura ’28, along with West, Lin and Cooney.
Together, their images offer a dynamic and authentic portrait of Carnival weekend – highlighting the creativity and talent of Punahou’s student artists while preserving the atmosphere and community that define the tradition year after year.