Punahou School

PUNAHOU SCHOOL IS A PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOL THAT IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE, ATHLETICS, AND EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES FOR MORE THAN 3750 STUDENTS IN GRADES K-12.

PUNAHOU SCHOOL IS A COEDUCATIONAL COLLEGE PREPARATORY DAY SCHOOL ACCREDITED BY THE WESTERN ASSOCIATION OF SCHOOLS AND COLLEGES. PUNAHOU OFFERS EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE WITH MORE THAN 99 PERCENT OF GRADUATES ATTENDING COLLEGE. PUNAHOU IS DIVIDED INTO THE JUNIOR SCHOOL (KINDERGARTEN THROUGH GRADE 8) AND THE ACADEMY (GRADES 9-12). A PRINCIPAL, TWO ASSISTANT PRINCIPALS, AND FIVE DEANS OVERSEE APPROXIMATELY 2,000 JUNIOR SCHOOL STUDENTS. THE JUNIOR SCHOOL IS DIVIDED INTO SMALLER, SELF-CONTAINED SECTIONS FOR GRADES K-1, 2-5, AND 6-8 WHICH ARE DESIGNED TO MEET THE SPECIAL NEEDS OF THESE GROUPS OF CHILDREN. IN FALL 2019, THE KOSASA COMMUNITY FOR GRADES 2-5 WAS UNVEILED OFFERING STATE-OF-THE-ART CLASSROOMS AND EXPANSIVE OUTDOOR LEARNING SPACES TO PROMOTE INTERACTIVE LEARNING. THESE FACILITIES COMPLEMENT THE OMIDYAR NEIGHBORHOOD WHICH WAS BUILT IN 2010 TO SERVE THE 300 STUDENTS IN GRADES K AND 1. THE CASE MIDDLE SCHOOL WAS COMPLETED IN 2005 FOR GRADES 6-8. THIS EXPANDED AREA OF CAMPUS WAS DESIGNED FOR FACILITIES TO BE MORE OPEN TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND CLASSROOM AND GATHERING SPACES TO ENCOURAGE COLLABORATION AND INTEGRATED LEARNING. SUPPLEMENTAL EDUCATION, SUCH AS OUTDOOR AND CAMP EXPERIENCES, ARE ALSO OFFERED IN THE JUNIOR SCHOOL. IN THE ACADEMY, STUDENTS GRADES 9-12 CAN PERSONALIZE THEIR MIX OF CLASSES FROM AN EXTENSIVE CATALOG OF COURSES WITHIN A MODULAR SCHEDULE. COLLEGE PREPARATORY GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS INCLUDE CREDITS IN ENGLISH, SCIENCE, SOCIAL STUDIES, MATHEMATICS, LANGUAGE, PHYSICAL EDUCATION, VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICE. THE PUNAHOU EDUCATION IS ENHANCED BY ACCESS TO LEARNING SPACES AND RESOURCES OFFERED THROUGH THE K-12 LEARNING COMMONS WHICH PROVIDES BOOKS, TECHNOLOGY, TOOLS, AND HUMAN RESOURCES THAT ASSIST STUDENTS WITH THEIR LEARNING AND PRESENTATIONS. STUDENTS ARE ALSO ENCOURAGED TO EXPLORE OTHER INTERESTS AND BUILD SKILLS BEYOND THOSE DEVELOPED IN THE CLASSROOM THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN PUNAHOU'S ACADEMIC CENTERS AND VARIOUS INITIATIVES, INCLUDING THE CASE ACCELERATOR FOR STUDENT ENTREPRENEURSHIP (CASE), DESIGN TECHNOLOGY AND ENGINEERING, KUAIHELANI CENTER FOR 'IKE HAWAII, LUKE CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE, OUTDOOR EDUCATION, SUSTAINABILITY, PARTNERSHIPS IN UNLIMITED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES (PUEO) PROGRAM, AND THE WO INTERNATIONAL CENTER. THESE ACADEMIC CENTERS AND INITIATIVES OFFER MENTORSHIP, HANDS ON EXPERIENCES, AND LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES IN AREAS SUCH AS ENTREPRENEURSHIP, ROBOTICS AND ENGINEERING, ENGAGED CITIZENSHIP AND HAWAIIAN STUDIES, CIVIC AND GLOBAL EDUCATION. STUDENTS THAT DEMONSTRATE COMPETENCY IN THE AREA OF FOCUS FOR THESE EDUCATIONAL CENTERS MAY RECEIVE AN OFFICIAL DISTINCTION FROM THE CENTER RECOGNIZING THEIR WORK AND DEDICATION UPON GRADUATION.

SUMMER SCHOOL OFFERS A WIDE VARIETY OF ACADEMIC, ENRICHMENT, AND TRANSITIONAL PROGRAMS. AT THE JUNIOR SCHOOL LEVEL (GRADES K-8), MOST SUMMER COURSES ARE OPEN TO ALL STUDENTS, INCLUDING THOSE FROM OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY, THE U.S. MAINLAND, AND ABROAD. ACADEMY SUMMER COURSES ARE TYPICALLY CREDIT-BEARING AND ARE ONLY OPEN TO CURRENT OR INCOMING PUNAHOU STUDENTS. THE ACADEMY COURSES OFFERED COVER A VARIETY OF ACADEMIC SUBJECTS, AS WELL AS SPORTS AND THE ARTS.

CO-CURRICULAR AND OTHER PROGRAMS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND REGULAR SCHOOL DAY. CO-CURRICULAR PROGRAMS INCLUDE MUSIC, DANCE, THEATRE, TENNIS, AND PUNAHOU AQUATICS. STUDENT ACTIVITIES RANGE FROM SPECIAL INTEREST CLUBS, HOLOKU PAGEANT, SPEECH AND DEBATE, TO ROBOTICS. THESE CO-CURRICULAR AND OTHER PROGRAMS ALLOW STUDENTS TO DEEPLY ENGAGE IN LEARNING THROUGH COURSES RANGING FROM RECREATION AND EXPLORATION TO ACTIVE INQUIRY, REFLECTION, AND THE PROGRESSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED SKILLS AND TECHNIQUES. THE ATHLETICS PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD AND DEVELOP VALUES, QUALITIES, AND SKILLS THAT ARE AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE PUNAHOU EXPERIENCE. OVER 1,700 STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 -12 PARTICIPATE IN ONE OF THE 21 SPORTS PROGRAMS OFFERED THROUGH APPROXIMATELY 140 TEAMS. PUNAHOU IS A MEMBER OF THE HAWAII HIGH SCHOOL ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION (HHSAA) AND THE INTER-SCHOLASTIC LEAGUE OF HONOLULU (ILH). FOR MANY STUDENTS, PUNAHOU BECOMES MORE THAN JUST A SCHOOL; IT SERVES AS A COMMUNITY, A PLACE WHICH PROVIDES A LARGE PART OF THEIR TOTAL ENVIRONMENT.