A Gift of Belonging
By Morgan Kaya ’00
In 2020, in the midst of the global uncertainty of the pandemic, Jarrod and Celi Dogan made the bold decision to relocate from coastal California to Hawai‘i with their two kids, Lua ’29 and Sol ’33. Despite the challenging circumstances, their transition to island life felt natural. Jarrod originally from South Africa and Celi, from Brazil, immediately connected with the ‘āina because it was reminiscent of their hometowns – beautiful beaches, rad surfing and tight-knit communities.
Fast forward to today, with both of their children thriving in their respective journeys at Punahou – where they have found a deep sense of belonging – the family takes comfort in knowing that relocating was the right decision. To express their gratitude for the School’s nurturing community, the Dogans are providing a heartfelt gift to Punahou and the new Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons. “What we love most about Punahou is the diversity and the lifelong relationships that the students who go here get to have. We just felt it was the right place for us,” Jarrod says.
As an entrepreneur Jarrod knows a lot about the value of relationships, opportunities and resources. He built a global supply chain business and continues to bring his worldwide reach to Hawai‘i. Through his work he also understands the importance of having the resources to prepare our students for this ever-changing global environment.
In the new Learning Commons, innovation and collaboration will be a central focus. There will be Design Technology and Engineering (DTE) labs to support a student-centered, school-wide environment intended to empower the development of technical abilities and design thinking for our students. These resources will allow for the expansion and growth of the programs the students are already experiencing in the Kosasa Learning Commons and Mamiya Science Center lab spaces. The state-of-the-art equipment offers the opportunity to solve real-world challenges and helps engage our students in the kind of deep intellectual discovery that will train them to become the innovators and leaders of the future.
We feel that it’s a total privilege to be living in Hawai‘i, and for our family to be a part of the Punahou community. It just felt like the right thing to do to show our gratitude to the place we are so proud to call home.
The new Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons is scheduled to be completed in 2026. For more information visit learningcommons.punahou.edu.