We are children of Ka Punahou, the new spring. From under the hala tree, we weave a mat that seats many, our home to dream and discover our purpose and kuleana to Hawai‘i and the world.
Watch this welcome video and learn more about a Punahou education for your child.
A Punahou education celebrates diversity and inspires excellence all while recognizing the individuality of each child.
Instilling in students a true passion for learning throughout a lifetime is the ultimate goal of a Punahou education.
Students move through their path from kindergarten through grade 12 in developmentally appropriate ways with care from teachers and staff that help make a large school feel smaller.
At Punahou, students are supported through self-discovery and develop character traits and habits of mind that prepare them to make a difference in the world.
Punahou’s Junior School, encompassing kindergarten through eighth grade, is comprised of three varied learning environments: Omidyar K – 1 Neighborhood, Kosasa Community for Grades 2 – 5, and Case Middle School, for students in grades 6 – 8.
Developing a love for learning – whether it be through play, personalization or exploration – along with becoming respectful, empathetic, collaborative members of a larger community, is at the heart of our students’ experience in kindergarten – grade 5.
K – 1
By the Numbers:
150 Students enter Kindergarten each year
6 Kindergarten classrooms
2 Teachers per class
6 First grade classrooms
1 Music Studio 1 Art Studio
2 Playgrounds, shared by all K – 1 students
Watch this video to learn more about Kindergarten – Grade 3 at Punahou.
Junior
School Learning Commons
by the Numbers: 60,000 Books available to borrow by all students
2 Design labs for building and fabrication
2 Music Studios
2 Art Studios
Grades 2 – 5
By the Numbers:
50 New students join the class in fourth grade
1 2
28 Studio classrooms
25 Students per class
Teacher per class with a shared assistant teacher with neighboring studio
Playgrounds, one for grades 2 – 3 and one for grades 4 – 5
As students transition into grades 6 – 8 in Case Middle School, they are eager for more independence, freedom and choice, and at Punahou we try to give them opportunities to choose a path as much as possible.
Middle School is also a time where many new students begin their Punahou journey. New students are offered a free summer orientation program so they are familiar with the campus, routines and teachers before their first day of school.
Punahou's team space model plays a significant role in helping all of our middle school students feel known and cared for in a smaller, more attentive learning environment. In sixth grade, students are assigned to a four-teacher team with an English, math, science and social studies teacher. It is within these team spaces that students have the freedom to move around physically while they build close relationships and familiarity with each other. One dean oversees each grade level within Case Middle School and that dean moves with their class as students progress from sixth through eighth grade.
5 Music choices
Band, Orchestra, Choir, Music Explorations (6 – 7), Hawaiian Music (8)
5 Language choices (7 – 8) French, Hawaiian, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, and Spanish
96 Students in a team space in grade 6
As students move from eighth grade into the Academy, they leave with a set of skills and competencies that will help them through the Academy and for the rest of their lives: time-management, organization, being able to prioritize. And most importantly, middle-school is a time where students can really figure out what it is they love and where their deepest interests lie both academically and outside of the classroom.
88 New students join Punahou in grade 6
80 New students join punahou in grade 7
10 Enrichment Courses
Art, Culinary Arts, Design Technology and Engineering, Digital Photography, Gardening, Health, ‘Ike Hawai‘i Library, Theatre, Woodcraft
Case Middle School Courses: English, math, science, social studies, music, P.E. and language will meet year-round, while Enrichment courses meet every quarter or semester.
Academy students have increasing levels of choice during the four high school years. They select courses from an extensive catalog, personalizing the mix of classes in a modular schedule.
With the student at the center of the Academy curriculum, the goal is to provide students an environment and variety of experiences that will enable them to develop the skills and attitudes necessary for success as independent learners prepared to contribute to their community and make a difference.
As Punahou continues its longstanding excellence in core areas like math, English, and science, our experienced and caring faculty also prepares students for lifelong, adaptive learning. Our students will graduate into a world that is very different from the current landscape. Our goal at Punahou is to prepare them for jobs, professions and careers that do not yet exist.
College preparatory graduation requirements include credits in English, language, mathematics, science, social studies, physical education, and visual and performing arts.
24 Students in the Class of 2022 were National Merit Semifinalists
43
Honors and Advanced Placement Courses Offered in the Academy
Academy students are assigned two dedicated deans and an advisor who stay with them throughout their four years in the Academy.
6
Number of full-time dedicated college counselors
161
Number of different institutions enrolled in by the Class of 2022
99% Of students in a graduating class go to college
College Counseling
Punahou seeks to provide both students and parents with the best information on college choices and admission requirements to aid in the application process.
An extensive exploratory college conference is scheduled for each junior. Follow-up conferences are available to expedite college planning and application procedures.
Punahou college counselors maintain a collegial relationship with the administrative and admission officers of local and mainland colleges and universities. Academy deans and college counselors frequently visit colleges which have major appeal for Punahou students to maintain a close working association and improve communication about our applicants. These visits often include talks with alumni who are enrolled in college about their college choices, courses and activities.
Athletics
Athletics at Punahou are an extension of the classroom, an opportunity to reinforce the values, qualities and skills that are an essential part of a Punahou education. Our general philosophy for athletics affirms the development of the cultural, intellectual and physical potential of each student.
140+
Athletic Teams 21 Sports 3
The Arts
The visual and performing arts have long been signature parts of the Punahou journey from kindergarten through the Academy. The School offers an abundance of opportunities for students to explore the arts through core classes, electives, student clubs and a wide variety of co-curricular options both after school and during the school day.
Centers at Punahou
Instructional Centers have long been part of Punahou’s rich tapestry of educational offerings, providing a wealth of experiences, opportunities and mentorship to students interested in areas such as global education, entrepreneurship, engaged citizenship and Hawaiian studies. Students across all grades gravitate to the centers to explore personal interests or deepen their work in respective areas. Academy students deeply invested in the mission of Punahou’s educational centers are now being formally recognized through the School’s Distinctions program and are eligible to receive an official Distinction on their transcripts, recognizing their work with the center they dedicated themselves to, including:
» Case Accelerator for Student Entrepreneurship
» Design Technology and Engineering
» Kuaihelani Center for ‘Ike Hawai‘i
» Luke Center for Public Service
» Outdoor Education
» Wo International Center
Levels of Competition View athletic schedule online and cheer on the buff ’n blue! Watch this Punahou Athletics video.Admissions Timeline
AUGUST 2023
OCTOBER 2023
Applications Open Open Houses Kindergarten Applications Due
NOVEMBER 2023
DECEMBER 2023
MARCH 2024
APRIL 2024
MAY 2024
Grades 1 – 12 Applications Due Group Sessions and Interviews Begin
Grades 4 – 11 SSAT Hosted at Punahou
Grades 6 – 12 Decisions Announced
Kindergarten – Grade 5 Decisions Announced
Mahalo for your interest in Punahou School. We look forward to sharing our School and community with your family throughout the Admissions process. If you have any questions about your child’s potential Punahou Journey, please don’t hesitate to contact the Punahou Admissions team. Apply
Welcome New Students and Families
Affording a Punahou Education
A Punahou education is a gift and investment towards your child’s future, and students are admitted to Punahou based on their potential to thrive, not on their family’s ability to pay. Our robust financial aid program allows us to attract and enroll the best and brightest students. Supported by the generosity of our donors, we are able to offer approximately $10 Million in need-based financial aid each year.
Financial Aid Application Due: February 15, 2024
23% $11,800
Average Percentage of Students Receiving Financial Aid
Average Financial Aid Award