It is always my pleasure to bring Hawaiian music to Punahou alumni events in New York City. It’s a great group and a lot of fun seeing friends and meeting new ones too.
Thank you for having me, Punahou School!
New York Alumni Celebrate the 175th Anniversary
Punahou Communications Staff
November 18, 2015More than 150 alumni from the classes of 1954 – 2015 gathered in midtown Manhattan to celebrate Punahou’s 175th anniversary PAANY-style. An aloha army from Honolulu, including Punahou President Jim Scott ’70, Director of Alumni Relations Doug Rigg ’84, Director of Advancement Initiatives Kikilia Fordham ’82, Punahou Alumni Association President Andy Bunn ’86, Academy Principal Emily McCarren and Senior Director of Development Noe Archambault ’91, greeted attendees with lei flown in for the fete.
The formal program started off with the 175th anniversary hula danced by Kim Davidson ’05, Kulani Jenkins ’08, Amy Marcus ’07, Fordham and Archambault, accompanied by well-known musician Andy Wang, with a vocal assist by Bunn, PAANY Co-Chair Allen Murabayashi ’90 and Scott. Following an oli (Hawaiian chant) to welcome the crowd, Scott updated the attendees on the capital improvements including the extensive rebuilding of the grades 2 – 5 neighborhood, as well as reiterating the School’s commitment to financial aid, much to the delight of the crowd.
Bunn and McCarren followed Scott with brief updates. Murabayashi was then joined on stage by PAANY Co-Chair Michelle Yoshida ’07 and board members Leslie Morioka ’64, Ann Harakawa ’74, Karen Elizaga ’88, Evan Wong ’01, Kyle Morgan ’03 and Kulani Jenkins ’08 for a 175th toast.
“The region doesn’t exist without the leadership of the Board, but more importantly, it doesn’t exist without the support of the alumni coming out to events, spreading the word and helping to build community so many miles from Punahou,” said Murabayashi.
“We continue to be thrilled with the strong showing of alumni around the region and, especially, with the enthusiasm of the current undergraduates who came out in force from as far away as Providence,” said Yoshida. “We are excited to carry the enthusiasm into 2016 to continue to celebrate the wonderful legacy and people that make up Punahou.
For more, visit www.punahou.edu.
Photos credit: Robert Caplin Photography
