About

PUNAHOU74’S EXPERIENCE WAS A CIRCLE: In what is the last photo printed in the 1974 Oahuan, staff members pose on the jungle gym that was relocated from Frear Hall to Barwick playground. This jungle gym was also pictured (see below) in one of Punahou74’s kindergarten Na Opio pictures. In contrast to the kindergarten photo, only three of these students are alumni children. Do you know who?

The Punahou74 Experience Project is a digital collection of the Punahou School Class of 1974’s past. It is a collection of stories about the classmates who have shaped, and been shaped by, one of the world’s great private schools. It is the story of individuals who, from 1961-1974, were a part of what were thirteen great years in the history of Punahou School.

Like our sisters and brothers who graduated in the sixties and seventies, Punahou74 experienced Punahou during a time of unprecedented change.

Our story began as Baby Boomers who entered kindergarten at the tail end of the idyllic fifties, watched in wonder as older students felt the effects of the Vietnam War and riots raged during the tumultuous sixties, and graduated in the seventies as girls were gaining campus equality in athletics, political representation, and fashion.

During our journey Punahou74 went from a legacy class of 75–including 61 alumni children with parents who knew or knew of each other–to a mixed class of 409 who graduated side-by-side at the Honolulu International Center. We saw the school’s president change from an avuncular man who visited our Winne classrooms asking who each of our parents were to a more remote individual who operated from an office and delivered speeches at Convocation. We saw the campus change structurally as roads were remade and a building relocated to welcome the chapel that forever changed the look and the feel of our beloved Lily Pond.

With these experiences memories were forged that describe Punahou74 and the Punahou of that time. It is through this site that these experiences can be preserved.

By design, the Experiences Project is not the definitive history of the Class of 1974 or its time on Punahou School’s campus. Rather, it is a living resource that will grow and change as Punahou74 and its peers experience life’s journey.

THIRTEEN YEARS EARLIER: That same jungle gym at Frear Hall. This was one of the first student photos shown in the 1962 Na Opio. (L-R) Carolyn Ing, Lynne Gartley, Bill Richardson, Dick Libbey, Mrs. Bush, Assistant to Miss Linton. Each student had one or two Punahou alumni parents. (1962 Na Opio photo)

“The imaginations of Carolyn and I were fired on this jungle gym. Individual ‘boxes’ became rooms in a house. Somersaults were performed on the cross bars. From the topmost spaces we could see far off lands as we traveled the seven seas. I am sure that we were picked for this photo because of the many recess hours spent on the jungle gym. Of course, when I saw it on Barwick after moving to the main campus, I was quite perplexed. My old friend was back. But, without Carolyn and without Frear, things just weren’t the same.”

L.G.M.-attended 1962-1974

how you can help

Punahou74’s experience is not the exclusive purview of this author but is the collective perspective of its alumni and the alumni of sister classes. Presenting this perspective will only be possible if experiences are shared with others. Can you:

  • Write a memory to be included in this site?
  • Share a picture from your personal collection?
  • Share an item with this site or the Punahou School Archives?

Here’s a suggestion to get you started. Anyone in the Oahuan jungle gym want to comment about the taking of that picture and/or their experience on the Oahuan staff?

Tell me! Comment or contact me through this site.

memory book wish list

The Punahou School archives and I could use your help to document Punahou74’s story. Particular interest is currently held for the following:

  • Your identification card. We were among those who received Punahou School’s first student picture identification cards. The Archives doesn’t have one. Do you?
  • Student coupon books for entry into sporting events etc.
  • A copy of your FRESHMAN YEAR modular schedule. (First year of the modular schedule: spring of 1971.)
  • Clothing or fabric from our Carnival. Punahou74 is one of the very very few classes that is unrepresented in the Archive’s carnival fabric collection.
  • Photos/memorabilia from school trips e.g. football and volleyball team mainland trips, band European tour.
  • 1973 Carnival scrip.
  • Boys graduation attire. Do you have your tie?
  • Junior Year talent show program.
  • Pun Power memorabilia.
  • Homeroom pictures of your whole class. These weren’t printed in the yearbooks and were purchased separately.
  • Written schoolwork of interest.
  • Cheer or songleader uniform.

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