Mahalo Punahou School for hosting tonight's ILH cheer competition. Congratulations to all the participating schools, cheer squads, and supporters. Excellent win for Iolani taking all 3 divisions in first place: intermediate, JV and varsity. Love the comraderie of the audience sitting side by side with families of competing schools. The coolest thing was while waiting for the tallying of each school's points, the cheerleaders were in good spirits dancing on the floor to the music. So much aloha encompassed the gym. Smiles, hugs, leis of all kinds and roses being handed out to teammates and friends. A wonderful spectacle to witness and enjoy. read more

Disclaimer: this is a review of the tennis facility. I have played and coached many matches at this school and it has a very impressive tennis complex. In the years since I was competing, they renovated the office/viewing area to include an upper deck. There are 6 courts with lights on the lower side and up a steep road there are 3 more courts. There is also a bleacher area to watch some of the matches from. Parking can be tricky and the one-way setup of the lot is difficult. If you pass an area, you have to go all the way out of the campus and back around the hill to get back on property. If you see a spot, even if it's not that close, take it! Weather is also an issue since it's in Manoa so we sometimes have rain delays/cancelled matches. Yesterday we almost had to postpone but luckily the weather held up enough to finish the match! read more

Went to a play put on by the students of Punahou school and we enjoyed it very much lot of nice scenery and props and sings. The students did a very good job and the Dillingham Hall was very clean and well kept also even with a full house it was very comfortable and temperature was well controlled. Parking lot was well managed for the amount of people and cars arriving and departing everything ran very smoothly. read more

See all

Punahou School. Just hearing the name makes my heart happy! When I'm on campus I feel very nostalgic of my time spent there for 13 years. That may seem weird to other people, but that's honestly how I feel. I really enjoyed the time I spent at Punahou as it helped to make me who I am today. Punahou taught me more than reading, writing, math and science. It taught me how to communicate well with others, that it's OK to be different, and taught me critical thinking skills that have help me throughout my medical career. Punahou teaches you real life skills, that helps you to adapt in the real world. Punahou also focuses on making you a well-rounded student. Their academics program is arguably the best in the state, and one of the top in the country. But they also believe that arts, sports, leadership and service are also important qualities. Yes, Punahou has a world class track and field, Olympic size swimming pool, and even a glass blowing lab, but the things I remember so vividly are my interactions with my fellow students and the faculty. My teachers always made me feel important, and cared about my education. I felt that I mattered. Education has been always the most important thing for my parents. My dad always told me when I was a little girl, that education is something nobody can take away from you. I'm glad they invested in my education, as it was worth every penny. read more

See all

Best School I ever went to. I felt very welcome there unlike any other school I went to.

So I just dropped my son off for a track meet at Punahou School at 215pm. I went in the entrance off Punahou Street right past Richardson Field. 25 minutes later and I've moved a grand total of 20 feet. I understand School is getting out but come on. They have so many security guards/parking attendants...but not all in the right areas. Not sure if it was like this before COVID but they gotta figure this out. If I were a parent who's paying $25k a year for tuition and have to endure that everyday, OMG! I wonder how drop off in the morning is? read more

Wow, after reading Julie B.'s comment, I think it is about time for me to write my Punahou review. Yes, I attended Punahou for 13 years and I am a second generation Punahou student. I don't have any experience attending other schools, so I'm not going to say anything about Iolani or Mid Pac or any other school. I do have to say that I enjoyed my time at Punahou and that I definitely would send my children to Punahou if they got in. I had some great teachers, and some not so great. As a Punahou student, I was fortunate to have the seemingly endless amount of resources at my fingertips. Because Punahou is a college-prep school and has so many noteworthy alumni, the application process is intense. If you are applying your child to Punahou, I would suggest evaluating the needs of your child. If they are going to need extra help, send them to a special needs school like Assets School....and just because your child doesn't get in in KINDERGARTEN (my brother didn't get in until 4th grade, and he's one of the smartest people I know), try again next year, just like the 100+ applicants in the same position you're in. And let's face it, what Kindergarten teacher PREFERS a student who "[throws] tantrums, [refuses] to go into the interviewing room, [cries] or [has] meltdowns" or "acts up before or during the private or group assessments". I don't think these kids get accepted into any of the competitive schools..... read more

My daughter has been attending Punahou Schools now for 3 years. She started off in K-1, have you seen that place on top of the hill?! It makes me want to go to school there. Everything you see is accessible to the children to play with, yes even the water wheel! My daughter had a blast in this area for the past two years. The teachers in the K-1 community is very helpful, kind and very knowledgeable. I like the fact that they were in the same class for kindergarten and first grade, well not the same class but same children all together and just literally moved next door. My daughter caught the school bus everyday.. when the bus came in the morning, the office staff would meet her outside to greet her and then take her into the office where she could have her breakfast she brought. Once it hit a certain time they would send her to her classroom. The transition from first to second was a bunch of anxiety and worry for her. She was afraid to move a little down the hill to the new community, Kosasa. I love the fact that before the school year ended, Punahou Schools offered transition classes so the parents knew exactly what was going to happen, that way we could go back and tell our children what to expect. During that same time, the children also ventured down the hill to Kosasa to play in that area to get them used to the place. Now she's in Kosasa community and it's like she has been there for a long time, she knows her way around, made new friends and has awesome teachers! Thank you Punahou Schools for having great communication with Parents and Students, also for providing an amazing campus for our children to learn at. read more

Great school with a wonderful staff and instructors. It's a safe environment for children of all ages

I went to Punahou and my 2 daughters graduated there. My husband is from Boston so he attended Boston Latin. Punahou is like an Awesome Buffet at Bellagio. There is something for everyone: sports with world-class facilities then performing arts like music, theatre, dance, etc., Strong Academics with incredible teachers & faculty. Kitchens that hold Home Economics classes so you can cook a meal for your dad & Shops that have electric saws so you can build a paper towel holder for your mom! Art classes that include ceramics, wheel throwing & glass blowing. No other educational institution can claim all of these & more opportunities!!! More importantly, Punahou is always with you long after you graduate! Punahou Alumni & Ohana is strong all over the world. My daughter who is attending college in NYC just attended a "Carnival" get together last night at a most gracious Alumni host down in the Village. In the middle of winter & so far away from home, she was able to feast on Portugese Bean Soup, Malasadas & Punahou's infamous Caramel Cuts!!! Punahou's traditions such as Carnival & Variety Show can be remembered with past Alumni no matter when they graduated. We all have that common bond! Enjoy the Buffet!!! read more

Facilities are amazing! The students of this school are blessed and fortunate to attend this school. I attended a drama production at the Dillingham Theater. I was in awe at the stage and the whole venue. Not many schools on Oahu have these kind of things to but on productions like, "Wonderful Town" nor do they have the funds to make the sets and crops that were used in the production. Talent is what brought all of these cast members together and they did a wonderful job on their fall production. I can't wait for the spring ensemble. read more

I was fortunate enough to attend a special Chapel Program at Punahou school. My granddaughter goes there and really loves it. She is in kindergarten and had a choice of going to Kamehameha or Punahou and as you can see she choose Punahou. I have read the reviews and I am very familiar with their high cost of tuition (thank GOD for scholarships) the influence of drugs, their awesome sports program and of course their great academic programs. But while I was there I noticed something I have never seen at any other school. All the children and many of the teachers were barefoot and walking around outside the campus!!! This gives a new meaning to our culture of taking your shoes off before you go into your home. I heard one little girl say "it's so you can feel what's around you". I asked my granddaughter and she said "it's optional" " you can or you don't have to". At first I thought it was kind of weird, but then I noticed how comfortable all the children were and it wasn't just the kindergarten children it was children of all ages. I think this shows the warmth and kindness the children feel in their surroundings. If you don't feel comfortable you don't take off your shoes no matter whose house your at. Thank you Punahou for excepting my granddaughter into your warm school. I now know that she is in great hands when we send her to school and that she feels at home..... read more

See all

For context, we are a Kantonk (Google it if you are new to Hawaii) family who started our daughter here her freshman year. My positive impression started with the telephone conference with the admissions officer informing up our daughter had been admitted. I started out asking practical questions about enrollment. The officer focused on telling me WHY they had chosen to admit our daughter. He wanted to make sure that we felt comfortable and that he had answered all of our questions. My daughter literally knew nobody but was warmly welcomed by the student body. I have to also give credit to the cheer coaches for allowing my daughter to shadow the cheer squad even though she missed tryouts and couldn't participate directly. It is important to point out this is not a pure academic school. I was shocked when she came home with her first report card with a "C" and the teacher had not given me a heads up. The school believes in letting each student develop at his or her own pace and is not trying to prop up the students grades. Some of her best classes have yielded her lowest grades. If you child has an opportunity to take any class with the Social Studies instructor Mr. Georgi, jump at it. He will teach them critical thinking and red pen their essays more severely than the English teachers. I like that financial aid is not tied to GPA. The school is trying to be economically inclusive. Do not let money be a barrier. Just remember to file your taxes early because the financial aid deadline in February 15th in 2015. There are a number of things I dislike. Often parents drive dangerously when picking up and dropping off their kids. There are popular classes like Asian History that needed to be assigned by lottery for summer school. The six day rotating schedule makes it tough to keep track of schedules. While most of the teachers are excellent, a few mediocre ones seem to be untouchable. Last, is the stigma attached to graduating Punahou and then attending UH. The $20k/year tuition bill is a killer, but it is still cheaper than the price of a mainland college education. I would be happy to have my daughter go to UH after Punahou. read more

See all

I wish I had children, just because I would want them to go to Punahou! I have spent so many hours at this school and I love it so very dearly. I have watch students grow up, met alumni and have seen many performances that brought me to tears. I once was contracted to work events for the school. I fell in love with the people, the teachers, admin, students, security and the campus in general. It warms my heart to look at the photos posted here. If you have children, do them a favor and send them to Punahou for their education ~ Mahalo, Cynthia read more

One of the top 2 private schools in Honolulu (K-12), the list of applicants outweigh the number of spaces by 4 every year. Potential Punahou Kindergarteners are subjected to 2 tests before they are selected (or rejected) at this prestigious school. At close to $14,000/year, one could say that these Kindergarteners are prime candidates for future CEOs, Presidents etc. The campus is really HUGE for a high school. It actually resembles that of a small college. There is a lily pond complete with koi!!! read more

I have to say that I am impressed with this school. Punahou School is a private school and includes all grade levels. Starting from kindergarten, it proceeds onto elementary, middle, then high school. It's neat how so much happens here. I have only been in the kindergarten/elementary school part of the school, but it is pretty awesome. I never had access to this much when I was growing up. Besides countless learning tools like a pet rabbit, painting, learning toys, multiple playgrounds, a classroom kitchen, and a kid-powered stream, the students also have their own garden that they tend to and keep alive with rainwater that is collected and saved. Field trips happen at least monthly and the students have a birthday party every month. A in-class iPad Pro assists with learning. There is even a large community room and art room for students to learn and create more. In the mornings, curb side drop off is available, and after school care is available too. Parking is plentiful. Tuition is expensive at about $24,000 a year, but it's worth it. read more

I'm going to be honest is saying that I had my doubts about Punahou. I went to the Priory and secretly had a dream that my daughter would one day go there as well because we're so alike. I have the best memories of my all-girls school experience. But her father had other plans and sprung it on me that he wanted her to apply to go to Punahou for the fourth grade. At the time she was attending a good public school and two years in a row both her teachers told us that we should consider sending her to private school so she could be properly challenged. Fourth grade is a notoriously difficult admission year because they only take fifty students but we submitted the applications and to our surprise she actually got in. Did I have a small heart attack at the thought of paying that $22,000 a year tuition? Oh my God yes. Did I cry invisible tears because now my daughter wouldn't be attending my alma mater? You betcha. Did I have an immense amount of apprehension about sending her to a school that I've heard so many different stories about over the years? It ached in the pit of my stomach. But despite our apprehensions we moved forward and enrolled her. She enjoyed a six week summer orientation just for new fourth graders so that she would get used to the campus experience and meet new friends. During their closing presentation for parents they sang Hawaiian songs and did a dance with ipus they handmade themselves. Okay seriously folks, when was the last time you hollowed out a gourd and made an ipu? That's when I knew we were at another level of awesome. Then she showed me the double hulled canoe model she created out of found material with the rope that she weaved herself and I almost keeled over. Then came the day before the first day of school when we ran into another Punahou parent. She exclaimed to my daughter that she was going to love school so much, she'd never want the day to end! My daughter gave her a "you have got to be kidding me" grin. But when I picked her up from her first day of school I asked her how it was and she replied: "Mommy, remember how that lady told me I'd love school so much I'd never want it to end? Well she was right! I reaaaaally didn't want the day to end!" Can I have a tissue now please because I am crying as I type this?! She loves her teacher Ms. Nguyen, who is the kindest, gentlest and most thoughtful woman. She loves her laptop, which she uses to do her homework and edits videos of her friends. She loves the lily pond, where she plays with her little friends and makes her childhood memories. She loves that she gets to talk to her friends during lunch. They never let her talk during lunch at her public school and that's just crazy right? She loves the history of the school and sharing stories with me about haunted buildings. She loves her reading book club and the librarian at her school who makes her so excited about new books that she wants to read every single one. She loves that we made haku leis together for Punahou carnival. A memory we'll make together each year hopefully as long as we live. And do you know what I love? I actually love Punahou because it's making my daughter the best person she can be by giving her all the right tools to understand and grow. She is unbelievably excited about school and learning in general, and I think that's all a parent could ever ask for. I never understood why Punahou kids I know as adults love their school so much, and now I get it. Beyond my daughter's adorable experience I'll list other things I love: -PE every other day. Every school needs to get on this program. -A positive, nurturing classroom environment that promotes independence as well as interdependence. -No need to purchase school supplies, books or laptops for the school year. This is included in your tuition. A pure godsend. -Salad bar and milk during lunch. Can I come to the cafeteria and eat lunch? -Punahou PFA & lectures: They're extremely organized and have featured lectures each month for parents. -Community: This is certainly Punahou's strong suit, in that they do a phenomenal job looping together the web that is Punahou's alumnae network into events (Class picnic, Flaming P Ceremony, Punahou Carnival, etc.), newsletters, calendars, emails, etc. I do community marketing for a living and I bow down to them. read more

I've had family attend Punahou, Iolani, Mid Pac and Maryknoll and I can say without a doubt Punahou ranks first. I didn't grad from there so mine is really an objective opinion but one can start by examining their 76 acre campus whose alums, (Mr.eBay Omidyar and Mr. A.O.L. Case) helped to finance and rebuild. Punahou's strong alums are a diverse club which is because Punahou allows genius to develop in the student's area of talent. You don't have to be a doctor or lawyer anymore. Get it? They employ highly educated instructors whose mindset is that a bit of stress never hurt anyone and that there is little at fault with a competitive environment. They are committed to a level of excellence that does not reward cheating, stealing, lying, smoking etc. that some schools tolerate to preserve numbers of their student body...or football team. Moreover since Jim Scott, an alum of Punahou became president the moral and social obligation to society that Punahou students are strongly encouraged to adopt overrides the past shoddy (but maybe well deserved) reputation that Punahou students were, well frankly, rich brats. It may surprise a lot of you to know that their student body consists of about half local, double (or triple) income, ethical, hard working families who hold education in the highest esteem. Honestly, how many parents are going to pay 18K for 10 months of schooling and not expect or demand a return for their money? Their investment is their child! Both parents and students understand that relentless research, studying and homework are an absolute foregone conclusion. And happily with this generation, that they should play as hard as they work. How many other schools embody this mantra? Also, hopeful or disappointed parents who want their child to gain entry need to understand that it's not about desiring what Punahou can do for your child but whether your child and Punahou meet a cohesive, comfortable and compatible match...and maybe just a little, what YOUR child can do for PUNAHOU. On a personal side, my beloved nephew lost his dad while attending Punahou in the 7th grade. There was from the Punahou community, a bereavement group he attended. Fellow students, teachers and coaches were the veritable, "Wind beneath his wings" during this most difficult time. For that alone I am eternally grateful. read more

I, too, am one of THOSE kids. I believe that education is about being a well rounded person, and this school provides it all. The academics here were harder than those of the mainland university I attended, which eventually helped me get into Stanford for grad school (the top grad school for my particular field). The facilities are far superior to many colleges and included an olympic sized swimming pool, a professional track and field facility, baseball, football, soccer, and softball fields. Since i left, they have a science center (sponsored by Sun Microsystems, i believe), they have a new middle school sponsored by AOL CEO Steve Case (a Punahou Alum), and are reconstructing the kindergarden area into something ridiculously large and almost scary. I loved the freedom and flexibility in the high school scheduling (i attended from 4th grade on up) that made the transition to college a piece of cake. The teachers are great, and though the turnover is greater than i'd like to see, there seems never to be a lack of talent to raise the next generation of scholars and academics in their respective fields. If you didn't go there, you cannot appreciate what the school has to offer...kind of like judging a concert by listening to it on the radio. And only as i look back on it 15 years later can i really comprehend how blessed i was to grow up in such a great culture with such great people...yes...all of THOSE people. read more

Punahou is second to none except Iolani. I don't know how kids get from point A to B because the campus is of titantic proportions. I did apply for admission here back in the day and I remember on the tour my guide said Punahou has an Olympic-size pool and automatic toilets in the Science Center--I'm kind of a germaphobe, so I thought this was neat. Each graduating class has nearly 500 kids. My best friend in college is an alumnus and she claims to not be acquainted with half her classmates. Who knew that many families in Hawaii could afford the $17,000/year tuition? My cousin is currently on a full ride here and loves it--apparently he gets a free iBook. I don't know if this does anything, though, because Iolani still sweeps the Speech and Debate tourneys. =P About half of the people I know from Punahou are successful or getting there--the other half have been high since high school. I met a girl who was kicked out in the 10th grade for dealing, not doing (I don't think there would be enough kids to fill a grade if they were suspended for doing--just kidding, haha). I went on a few dates with a couple of guys here, one of whom I highly respect and the other of whom I could care less if he was decomposing in hell. Anyway, I've also been to some proms and Punahou knows how to throw a good party. It doesn't hold a winterball, though--so much for Punahou kids having more fun than Iolani kids. It's true that Punahou is more laid-back when it comes to post-graduation paths. My friend didn't get threats from the college counseling office for pursuing a career in acting. Iolani, on the other hand, enjoys making sure you end up a doctor, lawyer, or in a safe white-collar profession. 4 stars for Punahou, which is 2 more than I'd give to any other private school on the island with one exception, of course. =D read more

I think that especially since there is a rivalry between iolani and punahou that the heat can boil some blood sometimes, but in ends meet let's face it! We can all be great friends and not think about the rivalry. Some people always say "Iolani has more President Awards...or Punahou was #1 school in the nation for athletics 2 year running." But does that matter in what virtues we value? The people who compare are the people who are most likely to discriminate. Punahou and Iolani are both great schools. It just matters the style that the parents and the students like. Punahou has a rather big campus, well fine go for that! But Iolani also has a great campus that's nice. Comparing the two schools is like comparing a sweet and a salty food. Everyone has a different style they like. So if you think that if you go to Iolani that you'll get super smart, just stop. It matters on what actions you take. It doesn't matter what school you go to. It matters what you learn and how you use the knowledge in the future. Sure Punahou has a pool, but it was due to great donors that we got the pool. Some of those people have kids that go to Iolani. The same goes for people who want to get into Punahou. If you think that if you go to Punahou that you'll suddenly get super athletic think again. I go to Punahou but I am slow -.- I happen to have a great friends that goes to Iolani and just because we go to rival schools doesn't mean that we can't be friends. A person should not be judged on what school they go to. Sometimes in 4th grade I myself would wonder why I didn't try out for Iolani and wished that I went there instead. (Mostly because of the black and red colors.) But at other times I was also happy to be a proud Pun. Punahou and Iolani are different. You just have to deal with it. There are some things that only Punahou can provide. But there are also different things that Iolani provides. You just have to look into it and see what fits you. Everyone is different! So grab a coke and hit the beach. Because if you think about it too much then your head will just explode. read more

Why the one star is because I think Punahou needs to be more upfront about what is expected from a successful Kindergarten applicant. This would help parents decide if their pre-schooler is a good fit for Punahou. The admissions process is so stressful and time-consuming, so having a much clearer idea what Punahou looks for would have been enormously helpful, as the website isn't detailed enough. Had I known beforehand some of the things I learned at our post-rejection conference, I wouldn't have applied. It costs $125.00 to apply, which is not cheap for most people. For a more detailed account of my experience with admissions, please google "Punahou Puns." If your child has a learning disability (i.e.--ASD, ADHD, ADD, socialization problems) or is of average intelligence, I suggest you apply elsewhere. Such children will not do well with Punahou's cognitive test. For Kindergarten entry, Punahou looks for a 90-95 percentile in: Verbal, Nonverbal (reasoning using nonverbal means), Spatial (visual perception), Memory (visual & auditory) and Quantitative (number concepts). Punahou website states they look for "above-average academic potential as indicated by individual cognitive tests administered by the school's assessment specialists", but 90-95% is way more than "above-average. In addition, your child's teacher recommendations have to be stellar. Your child has to show maturity, poise, independence, perfect behavior during the individual assessment (no crying, tantrums, etc.) and he or she have to interact positively with other children and teachers during their group assessment. Your child cannot have a bad day for either assessment. Since Punahou has so many children to assess, even the smallest mistake or undesirable trait could eliminate your child. Good Luck in finding a great school for your child! read more

I'm not even going to get started on the "Punahou vs. Iolani" argument, all I can say about it is that it doesn't matter once you get out of high school, because Iolani kids and Punahou kids end up befriending each other once you get to college. I'm a recent graduate so, maybe that's just me. I received an excellent education. I'm in university now and Punahou has 10x the resources and support then you'd find at any major university. The teachers really do want to see you succeed. I'll point to myself as a prime example of this: I was doing SO terribly in math in my freshman year, that my teacher REQUIRED me to go to his classroom every lunch (or whenever we had a mutual break) so that he would help me and we could work together. Needless to say, I ended up doing better in his class. Of course, I've always hated math, but for some reason it gets so much easier once you hit "Pre-Calc" because then the teachers become complacent and, honestly... When you're a senior in high school, you just want your classes to be easy. The math department is lacking in super great teachers: they save the best teachers for honors and speciality classes. Once you hit your junior year of high school though, you're given a lot of freedom in terms of what classes to take. Especially in the English department: I took classes like Advanced Writing, "On Lily Pond" (kind of like a spiritual/ethics class, it was really great), and Fiction & Film. And if you're lucky enough to be an AP Biology student with Sweeney (best. teacher. ever. hands down. There's no contest.) then you do a genetic breeding experiment every year involving bunnies (and who doesn't love bunnies?!) There's definitely a sense of competition in terms of academics-- when grades come out, people do compare. To say that I didn't feel stupid while I was here would be an understatement sometimes, but everyone receives a great education. The thing I like most about Punahou is that it churns out "well-rounded individuals." You're required to perform community service before you leave (you get this done in a class, and you can put it on your college application resume if you happen to take the class in the semester before you submit them) and you're given plenty of opportunities to find where you fit in. read more

Punahou is SUCH an excellent institution. I went through elementary, middle, and high school here and have no regrets whatsoever. Sure, tuition is pricey, but you pay for what you get. Elementary: Wonderful social opportunities to make friends. They gave everyone in the grade an Apple laptop on loan, although I think this might have changed since I was in elementary school. The teachers were approachable and helpful, and I think they gave us an excellent academic foundation with a good mix of play time and learning. Middle school: Case Middle School. It's like a dream come true. I did a grad school interview on the mainland, and one of the representatives boasted about their new technology... that I got to see on a daily basis when I was in middle school at Punahou. Middle school was also the time when we had the opportunity to explore our personal interests in electives as we chose courses from home economics, wood shop, choir, orchestra, band, and art. High school: Here's where the super serious schooling begins. The deans are very accommodating and are there for you no matter what. The facilities and security were excellent, and I felt that the faculty truly supported us and tried their best to help us with whatever we needed. Something that I didn't realize other schools didn't have was college counseling. In junior year, students get a semester of college counseling in which the counselors lay out various options and walk you through the application process, how to apply for financial aid, and what your chances are. Many of my classmates got into Ivy League colleges or other highly ranked universities, and I think that it's a testament not only to the individual abilities of the students but the well-rounded education that Punahou provides. Long story short, if I could give Punahou more than five stars, I really would. It's an excellent institution. read more

I loved my time at Punahou! My deans and teachers went above and beyond their duties in helping me succeed and to work past certain difficulties I was having. I will always cherish the support and dedication of the faculty and staff. The facilities are well-maintained, gorgeous and innovative (and getting more mind-boggling every time I go back haha) and the curriculum is vast. They give you every opportunity to find your calling--it's up to the student to utilize the great resources they provide. I always enjoy going back and talking story with old friends and familiar faces :) Punahou will always be a home away from home for me. If we ever decide to move back to Hawaii and raise our (future) kids here, I will without a doubt want to send my kids to Punahou.(Hey, future admissions board, *wink wink*) hahaha :) ~ Class of 2007 ~ read more

Punahou is an awesome school! However, I'm sad to see that the tuition rates are so crazy expensive that many eligible middle class students may not be able to attend. Although the Punahou v. Iolani debate is age old, in terms of resources (i.e. Glass blowing lab, new Kindergarden, LILLY POND, dance studio, high tech stuff integrated in the classrooms) I think that Punahou takes the cake. If you have the money or can some how get financial aid to attend Punahou you will not be disappointed! read more

Punahou School - From the alumni house - Elementary Schools Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Arguably one of the best schools in Hawaii and the nation. Presidential candidate Barack Obama is a 1979 graduate, then known as "Barry". Holy crap, he's younger than my mom! I think Iolani can be more academically rigorous, but Punahou tends to produce more well-rounded students. Punahou is the only school in Hawaii that offers glass blowing as an elective for credit. Their sports programs rate high. Their orchestra program is unsurpassed in the state, with easy access of the in-house "Punahou School of Music" that offers private lessons to not only to string students, but also to band, voice, and piano students. I know many, many people who have graduated from Punahou and have gone on to great colleges and great jobs. On the other hand, my mom's classmate from Punahou that did too much drugs (reportedly on campus) currently thinks he's Jesus, and I also know of some other Punahou graduates that are not where you'd expect given how much their Punahou tuition cost... Did you know that in the past 10 years a new club has emerged known as "The Meat Club"?! It's a neat club that BBQs and donates their profits to charities. Super cool! Why didn't I think of that in high school?! I want to give this school 4.5 stars. However, sometimes too much change to try to be cutting edge is not always the best thing... Stability is nice too! Also, I've heard campus politics can be pretty vicious. read more

We are very happy with this school. We are from mainland and both products of public school. But when our son surprisingly got in, we decided to send him here. Kindergarten/1st grade: Focus was on learning through play (much like Finnish school system which I've heard is one of the best in the world). Really set the tone for my son to think of school as a "fun" place and learning as a positive experience. 2nd grade: Son is currently in 2nd grade. There's a strong shift to academics. He took some diagnostic tests and now has a lesson plan that is tailored to his specific levels (spelling, math, reading, etc.) This also translates into "customized" homework that is specific to where your child is at. This is important so that each child feels appropriately challenged and not frustrated if the level is too high for him or her because Punahou wants each child to feel that he or she can succeed. However there's also still plenty of free play and recess time according to my son who seemed pleasantly surprised that he still had so much play time! He also gets lots of exercise through hikes and outdoor play. The campus is idyllic and if you can I encourage you to visit and walk around the spacious grounds. In 2nd grade, with after school care, he has daily access to lily pond, Barwick playground and PE pavilion, etc. and never wants to go home, even at 530 when school ends. Each of the students in his class have also created blogs so that the parents, aunties etc. can post comments. Not sure how I feel about him being so technologically savvy at this age, but I guess it's inevitable these days. : ) Also, most of the parents I have met are super down to earth and seem to have values similar to my own. I personally feel that these days, there's too much emphasis on academics and not enough emphasis on raising children who are thoughtful and kind. It's nice to meet other parents who feel the same way and have the same goal of trying to raise our kids to be responsible and sympathetic who hopefully will contribute to society. read more

Excellent school. Very fortunate my son was accepted. Outstanding teachers and the opportunities are endless. Tuition is about $25k a year. One after school class is $450. Great community-safe, nurturing and challenging. read more

A student broke into my home with knife or something at daytime. And her mother ( social chair for this school)did the same behavior at nighttime. They climbed up 6 ft wall. I contacted this school about this case because they were very dangerous. This is not first time. They look like zombies. Side effects or something. I contacted this school because the girl is so poor. Her parents made her be burglary. But this school ignored. So the girl is enjoying student and burglary . No Compensation , no apology. Her father graduated this school , too. Her father is a famouse doctor(oncologist )and mother is a celebrity and social chair for this school . They often appear on TV . Far from apologies, they told lies to police. They said I gave the key and permission of breaking into my home at anytime , any way , and get anything they want. Police told me this girl showed the key of my home and mother showed the contract !? If they have the key , why climb up 6 ft wall ?? Contract ?? I had never sighed on such reductions paper !!! It sounds like Medical Violation and Pharmaceutical Affairs Law violation!!! Out of my business about their medical marijuana. I didn't want to write this review. But I was called coward and was blamed by police and prosecutor cause of a Punahou liar girl. Fortunately prosecutor noticed this punahou girl and her mother were liars. This is not first time. They had been looking for something in my yard for a year . To my surprise this coward Punahou girl and her mother told police I treated her cruelly. It's her paranoia Thank (side effect of drug or something???). Absolutely they are not sane. This coward girl will graduate from this school 2017. She should apologize me. things she stole them for punahou marching band (floral parade 2015 ).she stole things not only for herself but also for some people. This Punahou girl told detective I hurt her and made Punahou chair's life short. ..... I can't believe this school ignored such serious problems. I think this Punahou girl and Punahou chair have mental problems. read more

See all

Of course now known as the school that president Barrack Obama graduated from. Michelle Wie also an alumni. It's a large campus with lots of older buildings. The elementary complex however is a modern recently built building. The football/athletic field has recently been renovated. Don't know much else as I just go here for the annual carnival. read more

I agonized between Punahou and Iolani when I was choosing where to go for junior high and high school. I chose Punahou. It was one of the best decisions I have ever made. Locals love to compare Punahou and Iolani, debate which one is better, and regale each other with stories about "typical" Punahou students and "typical" Iolani kids. Both schools, however, are excellent. Their key differences lie in their underlying philosophies and approaches to education. Iolani is a very straight-laced place with a very formal and very rigorous approach to schooling. Students have to stand when a teacher or administrator enters the room. There is a relatively strict dress code. Students are taught with the expectation that they will go to on to become white collar professionals. Classes are demanding. Punahou is a much more laid-back place but yet still expects a great deal from its students. Students are encouraged to think critically, question authority, express themselves artistically, and pursue their interests. While classes are extremely rigorous and challenging (I had, easily, 5 hours of homework a night in high school), there is also an emphasis on being a well-rounded person... on taking art classes, participating in sports, getting involved in the community. As a result, I think Punahou generates more independent thinkers. It CERTAINLY generates more artists, musicians, writers, and dancers. All of this makes Punahou sound like a school better suited for artists than serious scholars, but that is absolutely not the case. For the record, I hung out with a group of 12 people at Punahou, and 10 of us have graduate degrees now: 2 doctors, 2 lawyers, 2 MBAs, 1 architect, 1 film director, 1 political science professor, and 1 professional chef. I'm one of the two lawyers, and my time and training at Punahou has been invaluable to my career. Punahou taught me how to think critically, and, more importantly, how to write well (the curriculum was, and continues to be, extremely writing-focused). I graduated with the ability to generate an intellectually sound, well-constructed, 5-15 page analytical essay basically in my sleep, having written over 50 during high school (I counted). I cannot convey how invaluable that skill was in college and law school. I remain incredibly indebted to Punahou for any academic and career success that I've had since I graduated. More importantly, however, I LOVED my time at Punahou. I loved my teachers. I loved the opportunities that I had. I loved my classes. I loved the way that I was challenged to think outside of the box. It was the most intellectually satisfying schooling I have ever received. At what other high school in America can you take a science course focused on the intersection of quantum physics and human consciousness (one of my senior year science/philosophy classes) and glass blowing at the same time? For an independent, curious, authority-suspicious person like me, it was the perfect place. This is not to say that I would have received a bad education at Iolani. Undoubtedly, I would have received an excellent one. My personality, however, was better suited for Punahou. I would not have thrived as much in Iolani's more formal, more straight-laced atmosphere. It would have grated on me after a while. Other people, however, might need that kind of intense structure and discipline to stay focused. For them, Iolani is probably a better choice. So, the question is not "which school is better?" It's "where are you more likely to be inspired and motivated to learn?" For me, it was at Punahou, and I've never looked back. read more

Ya, I went here. I'm one of THOSE kids. I went here for the entire 13 years and cost my parents a good amount of cash. Got a better education here than at my four years at a private university in the mainland with a double degree. read more

This school provides it's students with a great education, and great facilities. The children are a bit clicky and have been known to ostricize those that have not attended since the earlier grades. Several of my friends that transfered here had mentioned feelings of being 'left out' and even not called on or recognized as much by faculty because of it. As an adult I know of two families that spoke of the same issue. Other than that, Punaho is known for their extra-curricular activities, and their terrific curriculum. If they've gone to punaho chances are they're at least one grade level smarts-wise above other schools. read more

don't hate. if you're not rocking the hawaiian blood and can't go to kamehameha, punahou is the only way to go. though all of hulagirl's more tanned cousins went to kamehameha, i was forced to be a scholarship student (no lie -- they actually have them) at punahou. worst thing ever? not quite. first of all, the education is second to none. i moved to cali before high school and was miles ahead. sure it's clique-ish but what school isn't? all in all, i'd move back to the land of hula just so any hulababies could go to punahou. with nationally-recognized alumni like steve case (he of case middle school and that little company known as aol) and barack obama, it does have a certain cache. i get compliments even now about how lucky i was to go there and i gotta agree. plus, my kumu hula teaches here and she rocks. read more

Being given the opportunity to attend Punahou has been the most fortunate event of my life thus far.

I actually really love how everyone writes and says negative things about Punahou School. Its interesting to see how many people really envy this elite school. My philosophy in life is that an insult is the highest form of flattery. So thanks everyone who disses my school. As a current Punahou senior, I feel that I have an incredible amount of knowledge about this school and what its missions and visions are for its students in which it educates. Punahou is the largest K-12 independent school in the nation. And it is like a family. Everyone (faculty, students, parents, etc) work together. I feel that many people hate on Punahou because of the stereo-types it has been given. But I'm here to tell you that those stereo-types of students are false. Everyone thinks that people at Punahou are wealthy. Thats not true because I know that most of my friends arent and that in fact they are on scholarship or financial aid (50% of the students at Punahou are). I mean there are those few that do have lots of money, but isnt that true in every school? Also people think that Punahou students are very rude and snobby... thats not true either. I have met some of the most caring and genuine people ever while attending this school. It does hurt when people start saying negative things about me or my friends, when I know they aren't true. Why you should attend Punahou: Punahou has the best athletics program in the nation. Rated by Sports Illustrated, Punahou school has been #1 for 2 consecutive years. Punahou's facilities are some of the highest in the nation. Punahou is one of the most eco-friendly and environmentally sustainable constructed schools in the world. Punahou has the largest student-run fundraiser in the world. The notorious (Punahou Carnival) Punahou gives laptops to every student, i think 4th grade and up. I think that after all my years at Punahou, It has made me independent and ambitious. I feel that it has allowed me to find who I really am and what kind of paths I want to take on my own. Its college-like schedule, even though some feel that it promotes unsupervised druggy students, has allowed me and my class to fulfill our dreams. We had no restrictions as to who we wanted to become. I think that if you choose Punahou, you won't be disappointed. 99% of students enter very good colleges. At Punahou you are surrounded by a diverse group of students. White, Black, Asian, Hawaiian, Polynesian, Indian. You learn respect while at this school and you are exposed to new experiences that many other schools can't give you. I give Punahou 5 stars, because of two reasons. 1.) I have attended both public school, Mid Pacific Institute, and Iolani School. I always wanted to attend Punahou, all my aunties and uncles and friends and family said that Punahou was the number one school in Hawaii. And so even after attending all the other rival schools of Punahou. I finally realized that Punahou was the best, I liked it the most. 2.) It was ranked the best private school in Hawaii, by the Best of Honolulu Magazine and OC16's best high schools. Not to mention that our current president Barack Obama attended this school. Quote from Sean Yancey, an Iolani 09' alumni: "I feel that Iolani generates great employees for society, but Punahou on the other hand generates Leaders in society." read more

Punahou, College, good job. That's what you'll get out of going to Punahou. Highly recommend it. Thank you mom & dad.

"This is the one. This is where I want to go to. I don't know how we can afford it, sell a car, sell the house, do whatever you gotta, but this is the ONE." ... Ahh the words from my 10 year old son as we took the last of 4 private school tours, and interviews. 2 years later, absolutely the best decision I ever made (coming from a public school alum). Punahou has everything to offer, the doors are wide open, academics are second to none, teachers are far better than college professors, athletics, the arts, community service, you name it, they've got it. We are Native Hawaiian, live in a rented town home and live check to check, I noticed that no matter what income, and despite what others say, Punahou does NOT discriminate based on income, or otherwise. I truly believe that they select the best well rounded candidates based on the whole child. My son carried decent grades, served in student council, and volunteered. He also was active in local environmental groups, and loved being a leader. Although he was accepted to all schools he applied to (including Kamehameha this year and we declined), The reason we selected Punahou was because of their President, Dr. James Scott who, at the New Parents orientation stated "If your child received a letter of acceptance to this institution, they belong here, and no matter what your financial situation is, we will be here to assist you as long as you can prove the need". Could I trust him? This Part -Hawaiian, alum raised in Waimanalo who himself once depended on financial aid and volunteered in the school cafeteria to help pay for tuition? I took his words to heart, and decided to do it. Everything else came in to play. We received a sizable amount of financial aid in part due to the annual Punahou Carnival, and hit up a couple of other organizations, which made our out-of-pocket expenses actually liveable. I thank Punahou, and Dr. Scott for allowing my child to be educated by the very best school in the nation, We continue to volunteer alot at the school, and give back to those who in turn gave us a chance that not many others are fortunate of. My son is currently in the 7th grade, fought us like hell to stay in Punahou (after Kamehameha acceptance) and today, his personal motto is "Service before self". read more

Top-notch school with exceptional facilities, teachers, staff, and academic curriculum. Yes, tuition is high... but you get more than what you pay for in terms of value. We are very pleased with all aspects! read more