The Stories We
Weave Together

Philanthropic gifts from the Punahou donor community are critical to providing our students with the knowledge and experiences that will allow them to become leaders in Hawai‘i and beyond. The spaces in which our keiki learn directly affect their future outcomes, and, since our founding, the creation of our beautiful campus has been driven by the desire to have an exceptional and innovative educational environment. For almost two centuries, generous donors have made these hopes and dreams for our campus a reality.

During the 2023 – 2024 school year, the generosity of Punahou donors allowed us to begin construction of the new Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons, named in honor of a great Hawaiian scholar, historian, visionary and Punahou teacher. Situated in the heart of the Academy, the project is a complete overhaul and expansion of the School’s Cooke Library, with a projected opening in 2026. The new LEED-certified sustainable design will create collaborative new spaces for learning and innovation, dramatically increase indoor and outdoor gathering areas and facilitate project-based learning. The new building will feature the Academy library, a grab-and-go food kiosk, a culinary lab, design labs and classroom spaces, a gallery and our Punahou Archives.

“The Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons is set to be a transformative space at Punahou School, inviting students to immerse themselves in emergent technologies while enhancing the arts, design and interaction across labs, supporting a broad spectrum of classes in science, math and engineering. This innovative environment will be a cornerstone for student creativity and technological exploration, preparing them to fully explore the opportunities to gain the most advanced skills. The building reflects our vision of education at Punahou, drawing on the School's traditions while looking toward the future," says Academy Principal Gustavo Carrera.