We Rally!

More than 1,700 attendees ranging from the newest graduating Class of 2022 to the 75th Reunion Class of 1947 attended the June 11, 2022 event on Rice (Middle) Field. The vibe was jubilant, with emcees Kainoa Carlson ’07 and Lauren Chang ’01 Williams, and dancing in the aisles to music by the incomparable Henry Kapono ’67. Trustees, Mike and Jenn Latham, and alumni of all ages shared the dance floor.

Amid the celebration, the fourteen reunion classes expressed their aloha for Punahou by raising an impressive $13.28 million in gifts and pledges. The 50th Reunion Class of 1972 was a fundraising juggernaut with close to 50 percent of the Class participating in the gift and committing a phenomenal $3.88 million to Punahou. Gift co-chairs Ethan Abbott, Tom Witten and Michael Loui led the intrepid Gift Committee, combining major gifts with planned gifts, and inspiring participation to outstrip their ambitious goal. Peer-to-peer fundraising was a successful tool, as classmates embraced the opportunity to reach out to friends. Steering committee member Lisa Morrett Cole enthused, “I loved the chance to chat with old friends. With so much to share about the upcoming reunion, it was not difficult to ask for gifts.”

Virtual committee meetings allowed the Class of ’72 to attract robust involvement by classmates who were never able to participate on Reunion Committees in the past. Enthusiastic off-island volunteers from Illinois, Texas, New Jersey, Minnesota, Washington State and several from California joined veteran Hawai‘i-based stalwarts in event-planning and fundraising, making substantive contributions to ideas and execution.

Reunion Committee secretary Judi Wiens Hahnel kept the entire committee well-informed and on track from California. Michael Loui from Illinois noted that “the class gift resulted from a team effort by the entire Gift Committee,” adding that, “volunteering remotely allowed me to participate in Reunion planning for the first time. I reconnected with classmates that I didn’t know well while we were in school, and I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity.”

2022 Reunion Classes raised an astonishing $13.28 million, providing tremendous support for Punahou’s students and campus!

Other classes were equally enthused and committee energy was as compelling as the dollar amounts raised. Inspired by plans for a pre-reunion on Hawai‘i Island and motivated by the ambitious giving goal of $1,967,000, the Class of ’67 topped $2 million, raising 40 percent more than at their 50th Reunion. Gift co-chair Glenn Umetsu noted: “We had three great currents working for us this year. 1) Planned giving provided a lot of momentum as we septuagenarians weigh the legacies we are leaving. 2)The Required Minimum Distribution from IRAs and 401Ks is just now hitting folks of our age. And 3) the idea of honoring Dean Tiger Tom Metcalf by creating an endowed fund in his name was of interest for many donors.” Dean Metcalf enjoyed a front-row seat at several Reunion events.

The Class of ’97 broke all 25th Reunion giving records with a staggering $3.28 million much to their own amazement, elevating the importance of planned giving opportunities even for younger classes. The Class of 2002 rallied their classmates with inspirational committee work and creative use of gifts of appreciated assets to help the class set a new 20th Reunion giving record of almost $260,000 with 33 percent participation.

Not to be outdone, the Class of ’87, which appreciates a good competition, battled into the night to top the Alumni leaderboard on Punahou’s first-ever Giving Day with 99 donors making a gift to the Punahou Fund in 24 hours on April 7.

Collectively, the 2s and 7s demonstrated their inventiveness, competitive spirit and camaraderie, contributing significant resources to benefit students at Punahou today and through planned gifts for generations to come.