Punahou Carnival is an annual fun-filled fundraising event with food, local arts & crafts, games, rides, and live entertainment. It is produced by the current junior class and supported by thousands of volunteers, including students, parents, faculty/staff, and alumni. Vendors at the carnival offer everything from Hawaiian Plates and hamburgers to malassadas and ice cream, plus haku lei, local products, Punahou merch, and much more.
Since its inception in 1936 as a fundraiser for the Punahou student yearbook, the carnival has become a valuable opportunity to work together as a team, to develop next year’s leaders, and to support financial aid. People from all over Oʻahu flock to the carnival each year for family fun.
The Variety Show is an integral part of the Punahou Carnival. It is a decades-old tradition that showcases the immense talents of the senior class. Seniors write, construct costumes & sets, design choreography & staging, and perform in the highly anticipated annual show.
Punahou Carnival FAQ
- The carnival is a fundraiser held over two days in February.
- Thousands of volunteers produce the Carnival each year.
- Animals are not allowed on campus.
- Punahou Carnival includes food, games, rides, free live entertainment, and local arts & crafts (more info below).
2024 Punahou Carnival
Grab your flip flops, throw on those shades, and slather on your sunscreen as the Junior Class of 2025 invites you to “Explore the Shore ’24: A Coastal Carnival!”
- When: Friday-Saturday, February 2-3, 2024 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Where: Punahou’s lower campus in Mānoa, 1601 Punahou St (main entrance at Punahou Street and Wilder Ave).
- Parking options include some with reserved space: Parking | Punahou School
- Scrip is used for for purchases at food & specialty booths, games, and rides. No cash. Purchase scrip with a major credit/debit card, including Apple Pay and Google Pay.
- Haku Lei: purchases from the haku lei specialty booth requires a numbered ticket, distributed beginning at 10 a.m. each day. Walk-ups are possible with no guarantee of purchase.
Highlights of Punahou Carnival 2024
Haku Lei: At this year’s Carnival, purchasing an item from the haku lei booth will be a little different than in previous years: Haku Lei | Punahou School
Carnival Rides: The E.K. Fernandez FunPass will be needed for all rides and E.K. Fernandez games: E.K. Fernandez Rides | Punahou School
Art Gallery: Shop in-person or browse online to view and purchase nearly 1,000 works by 220 Hawai‘i artists, featuring a wide range of mediums including paintings, photographs, wood bowls, ceramics, sculpture, jewelry and more.
Silent Online Auction: The silent auction is online again this year and accessible to the entire community! Select items will be displayed in Luke Lecture Hall in Wo International Center during Punahou Carnival. Online Bidding Opens Wednesday, January 31 at Noon.
PLUS: Punahou logo items for sale, Variety Show, Entertainment, and more.
More info: Carnival 2024 | Punahou School
Punahou School, 1601 Punahou St, Honolulu, HI 96822
