Allan ’53 and Joan Burns

Allan enrolled at Punahou School in eighth grade on financial aid. He frequently reminisced about his delight and gratitude to transition from a strict all-boys military school to coeducation and creative inspiration at Punahou. At Punahou, Allan was known for his quick wit and ability to craft a story, writing for the Variety Show, and he also contributed cartoons for the Honolulu Star Bulletin. Popular among his peers, he served in student government, including as senior class president; chaired the Carnival; was an officer in JROTC; and played JV football, basketball and baseball.

 

He met his soulmate Joan Bailey in 1963, and they were married nine months later in June 1964. Together, they had two sons, Eric and Matt. Joan had attended summer school at Punahou in 1958, so she immediately understood its importance in Allan’s life. She remembers, “To have something as unique as Punahou in common made us kindred spirits from the start.”

 

Deeply loyal to Punahou, Allan co-founded the Punahou Alumni Association of Southern California, and he and Joan hosted its first lū‘au at their home on June 26, 1982. Allan and Joan continued to host Punahou Chapter events and meetings over the next three decades, including the 175th Anniversary Celebration in 2016. A quintessential people person, he valued the opportunity to make other lives better. The purpose of the Fund is to provide support for students at Punahou who qualify for financial aid, in grades 7 – 12, with a preference for students with a generosity of spirit and an interest in helping others.