About this property
Punahou School (known as Oahu College until 1934) is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school in Honolulu, Hawaii. More than 3,700 students attend the school from kindergarten through 12th grade. The school was established by Protestant missionaries in 1841. From 1853 to 1934, the school was known as Oahu College. Punahou has educated members of the Hawaiian royal family, but is not to be confused with the Royal School. During World War II, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers commandeered much of the Punahou campus. Castle Hall, formerly the girls' dormitory when Punahou had boarding students, was used as a command center, buildings were connected with tunnels, athletic fields were used as parking lots, and the library was cleared to become sleeping quarters and an officer's mess. The cereus hedge on the campus lava rock wall was topped with barbed wire. Punahou students volunteered in hospitals and raised enough in war bonds to purchase two bombers and a fighter (among other airplanes), which were named after alumni who had fallen in service. On August 7, 1972, the campus was added to the National Register of Historic Places listings in Oahu. Many traditional events take place on campus. On the first Friday and Saturday of each February, the junior class hosts the Punahou Carnival. Proceeds from the carnival contribute to the Financial Aid program. The event is an entertainment highlight each year in Honolulu. All 9-11th grade students are required to work at least one 3-hour shift per carnival, and all students are let out of class early on Friday (typically before lunch) to enjoy the Carnival. The Holoku Pageant is an annual celebration of the Hawaiian culture and arts. Students perform Hawaiian dances in traditional costumes, from the hula to the haka. The annual Sustainability Fair began in 2007 and included on-campus conservation challenges and off-campus coastline preservation. On Rice Field, classes set up canopies to showcase sustainable undertakings and projects, often including local produce sales and informational handouts. To celebrate the school's homecoming, students, faculty, and teachers surround a 20-foot letter P, and ignite it at dusk. This event, the "Flaming P", is preceded by a spirit week, where students dress and parade creatively. Seniors write and perform a Variety Show. This play involves most of the class, over 300 students. Seniors also have prom at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Skip Day at the Kikila Estate and Pounders Beach, and senior lunch. With each student attired in either a blue blazer or a formal white Hawaiian dress, senior year ends with baccalaureate ceremonies at Central Union Church, and commencement at Stan Sheriff Center (since 2018).
Location
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Punahou School Campus
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Questions about this property
When was Punahou School Campus listed on the National Register?
Punahou School Campus was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 6, 1972.
What type of historic resource is Punahou School Campus?
Punahou School Campus is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Punahou School Campus?
The period of significance for Punahou School Campus is recorded as the early_republic era, specifically around 1841.
Can I research the history near Punahou School Campus?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Punahou School Campus will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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An Aubrey US report for an address near Punahou School Campus will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.