More than 4,000 workers are needed every year to make the Punahou Carnival run. Of these, 900+ are Punahou alumni from 39 classes spanning five decades. These alumni were working hard in more than 48 shifts at booths ranging from hamburgers, to Hawaiian plate, to Portuguese Bean Soup. Of those present, no alumni made an effort that is more important to the readers of this blog than that made by Punahou74 at Ewa Malasadas.

Marie Mookini and Ralph Aona were our Carnival chairs in 1973 and, as luck would have it, they both came back to campus to again lead classmates at PunahouCarnival74 +40! Marie’s retired after working for 29 years at Stanford University, primarily at the Business School. Ralph’s serving as a minister with the Community of Christ at various locations on Oahu.

It was a prefect day for making malasadas. Tepid weather prevailed with nary a rain-bearing cloud in sight. The buckeroos were enjoying the rides, the great buys at the White Elephant, and eating corn, gyros, and taco salad as they wended their way through the growing crowds. It was Punahou Carnival at its grandest.

But the best was yet to come. As the sun began its long decent in the west, Punahou74 gathered in the Ewa, the Ewa Malasada tent that is. It was time for the annual Punahou74 Carnival shift and mini reunion.

Despite some last minute drop outs due to illness, insistent clients, and a lack of inertia as well as losses of familiar faces to parental Carnival booth obligations, Punahou74 filled the tent with a fine number of classmates (including three out of Honolulu-ers), spouses, children, and friends. Mahalo PLENTY to all who came:

The “thank you” that appeared in Ka Punahou after PunahouCarnival74. As to what Pudaga means, I have no clue. If you know, please let me, and others, know by sharing via a comment on this blog.

Ralph Aona, Mary Madinger Balding, Lisa Yamaguchi Bowden, Pick Bye, Catherine Bye (perennial spouse volunteer #1), Suzanne Case and friend Gigi Abel, Jeff Chang, Tom Farrell (who shared some very entertaining lawyer stories–yes, there are entertaining lawyer stories!), Robyn Fong and friend Lori Yunson, Lynne Gartley Meyer, Paul Goto (another classmate who just retired. How do you guys do it?), Cliff Halevi, Ann Harakawa (Working on her last evening before flying back to New York City. Now that’s Punahou74 dedication!), Cathy Kam Ho, Linda Howe, Jim Howe (perennial spouse volunteer #2), Fred Hu, Keith Kam, Leighton Lam, Bert Lau, Gene Lau, Craig Leong, Cindy Li Taga (She stayed for the next shift to help a baseball team. Six straight hours of making the malasadas!), Patti Look, Ann Martin, Ashley Metcalf (working again for Punahou74 and, later, for Punahou04), Nancy Dew Metcalf (Thanks, Nancy, for gathering us together again for another wonderful class Carnival shift.), Scott Metcalf, Babs Miyano Young (Who says that shaping the dough is the only shift job she’s capable of. I think not!), Marie Mookini with friend Kaui DeMarzo (a Punahou alumnus), Earl Nakaya, Fritz Rohlfing, Alan Rosehill, Stein Rafto (perennial spouse volunteer #3), Haven Young Rafto, Susan Seto Dolan, Jeff Sia, Dominique Sia (perennial spouse volunteer #4), Ken Sumida, Bert Takushi, Catherine Tompkison Graham (in from San Jose where she runs The Tompkison Group, a public affairs consulting firm), Craig Washofsky, Mike Yee, and Lori Yee Owles (coming to us from San Leandro, CA where she works for California College of the Arts.).

A little fun was had upon check in when those who were PunahouCarnival74 booth chairs were asked if they remembered what they were doing 40 years ago. As might be expected, some knew right away and others took some prompting. Funniest of all was one classmate who was so thankful to learn of her former booth because, when asked the “What did you do in the Carnival?” question by her daughter, she was drawing a blank. Quite the senior moment! She was happy to now know how to answer the question.

The scene of the shift. “Mala-saddles 4-Ewa.” Get it? (Hint: The Carnival theme was “Wild Wild West.”

I know that many of you were looking forward to seeing some of the many pictures that I took during the shift. I am sorry to say that my computer destroyed all but these two photos. (That’s part of the reason for the delay in this post.) The others are hiding on this computer someplace but I cannot figure out where. Apple has this annoying habit of … Well, I digress in my irritation but at least I saved the great pic of our illustrious leaders above. And, if you want to see last year’s pictures, log in to our page on the Punahou Alumni website to view a slide show from last year’s shift.

In closing, I had a lot of fun and was impressed with the great group of classmates with whom I am proud to have shared thirteen glorious years of my life. I think that a short conversation that I had with one of the parent chairs of the malasada booth sums up the regard with which our class is held:

“This your class?”

“Yep.”

“They just come in, wash up, put on their aprons and get to work. Haven’t seen anything like it. You guys sure know what you’re doing.”

And that says it all. We know what we’re doing and nobody’s seen anything like it. You still have it Punahou74! Thanks again for a great effort and, as always, see you again next year!

A post was published earlier regarding Lynne Vuillemot Bosche’s mini reunion with classmates. For those of your with inquiring minds, you might have noticed that something was missing in this post … Lynne’s story! Well wait no longer because here it is straight from Lynne herself.

Lynne with her youngest daughter Lauren. Both were working the Punahou74 shift at Carnival 2011.

I live in Piedmont, California. I am a Nurse Practitioner but, though my credentials are still current, it’s been years since I’ve worked as an NP/RN.  The last time I practiced was three years ago when my husband (John’s a Civil Engineer) and I traveled to Sierra Leone to work at a women’s health care clinic. Otherwise, I’ve mainly volunteered in the East Bay community and, as always, am immersed in the doings of my husband’s extended family.

At our 35th reunion, Lynne showed off her own class ring. It still fits and is as shiny as ever.

I’m finally allowing/forcing myself to focus more on public health issues from another angle, taking play writing classes. I’m immersed in this new and complex world, following a longtime urge to create on the page.  Wish me MUCH luck! I’m in heaven! I’m also trying my hand at a new writing project and am working on interviewing my mother, who lives at Pohai Nani.

My husband and I have two daughters. Our younger daughter’s at Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs. She’s on the school’s (highly competitive) equestrian team with Chelsea King, a strong rider who wears her Punahou ring (though I’m not sure of her graduation year). Our older daughter’s attended Scripps College, one of the Claremont colleges.

I have enjoyed seeing everyone in Honolulu when I’ve worked at the class malasada shift during Carnival! Hope to see you all there again sometime. Aloha!

“What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.” Is that so? Perhaps you’d want to try it out.

If you can’t come home for the palms in Hawaii, perhaps the palms in Las Vegas will do. I hear they’re “fabulous!”

We’re rounding the corner for when we’re going to start planning for our upcoming 40th reunion. When vacation and travel plans have to be made, June 2014 is really sooner than you think. So the excitement is building. In fact, it seems like it’s so great that there’s a move to reach out to our mainland brethren with a mini 40th reunion at Hawaii’s 9th island: Las Vegas.

What? You’ve never heard of the term “Hawaii’s 9th island?” It’s the name given to Las Vegas because of the number of Hawaii ex-pats who have made it their mainland home: more than 80,000 of them in fact. As luck would have it, two of them are our classmates: Anne Akana and Kekaulike Rosehill.

Kekau’s given some help/suggestions regarding venues and hotels and has offered to help with the logistical challenges. (Thanks!) Very tentatively we’re looking at gathering the weekend of October 10-12, 2014.

yelp gives The Beatles LOVE show 4 1/2 stars. With plenty of Beatle songs performed with elaborate staging and costumes do you think Punahou74 will rock to this beat? You betcha they will!

Possible activities include a meet and greet cocktail party with local pupu, a luau dinner, as well as excursions to see the Beatles: Cirque du Soleil. Of course, there’ll be plenty of extra time for shopping, eating, and just getting to talk story with classmates as well as the spouses and significant others who are also invited attend. Location? Maybe the MGM Grand Hotel depending upon available group rates.

Now the operative word is “tentative” and this is in the touchy-feely stage right now. Any interest in attending? Please let Renee Ahuna Cabrinha know.

Any interest in helping with the planning of this first of its kind Punahou74 mini reunion? Please let Renee know. With the great Punahou74 online community we should be able to put this together with a minimum of face-to-face or telephonic intercessions so please give some thought to offering to help. Great events like these don’t get put together by magic! You’ll be surprised how much fun it is to help out too. (How do you think I came to be sitting at this keyboard writing for all of you guys anyway?)

The more people who attend the better our rates will be so please give this opportunity some serious thought. And for those of you who don’t have the time, money, or will power to make it home to Hawaii for the June 2014 reunion consider this as, perhaps, a more palatable alternative. I would love to see plenty of you Punahou74 ex-pats on the list! As I said above, Please let Renee know … ASAP!!

Saw this story in Giving to Punahou 2011-2012 and thought I’d share it with you if you didn’t receive the publication.

NEW ENDOWED FUNDS: LEIGHTON ’74 AND LANI LAM FAMILY

If you’ve been to the Carnival or to many gift shops around Honolulu, there’s a good chance that you have encountered one of Leighton’s many beautiful works of art. (I have a piece or two myself, natch.) But perhaps you do not know about what may be his most attractive work of art: the endowed fund established by the Leighton and Lani Lam family in 2011.

Leighton is an artist who creates island-inspired jewelry, lighting, and art concepts. As seen in this photo, many of them come with a Punahou touch.

The inspiration for creating this fund arose from the experiences of son Lucas Lam ’09 with Punahou’s Psychosocial Education program and as a peer counselor for Camp Kueana and Camp Paumalu. While Lucas was a highly successful student athlete at Punahou, it was through the camps where he found meaningful ways to meet diverse students and to further develop his leadership, empathy, and communication skills.

Lucas is now a senior at Santa Clara University, majoring in psychology and economics, with a focus on Human Resources management. Leighton says that HR management is an area where the value of Lucas’ involvement with Punahou’s counseling experience has being realized while he has worked for Apple Computer over the last 18 months; currently as a RedZone manager at the Los Gatos Apple Store.

Leighton and Lani appreciated the extraordinary impact of the program on Lucas and hope their fund will provide opportunities for other students to grow personally from similar experiences. The fund supports Punahou’s Psychosocial Education program and student access to the program’s benefits, including providing assistance to students who are unable to attend Academy camp due to financial hardship.

Note: As the parent of four Punahou graduates I celebrate Leighton and Lani’s generosity. Sometimes just squeezing those additional few dollars out for “extras” such as camping are hard to find in the school budget. How wonderful that the Lams are helping make it easier for students in such situations enjoy the benefits of these extraordinary opportunities.

Remember Camp Timberline? Punahou74 was the first class to experience camping as a whole at Punahou. (Punahou73 had one classroom attend the camp to test the concept.) Leighton remembers that, “Some of my best memories of Punahou were at Camp Timberline.” Remarking on the variety of what he calls “student growth retreats” offered at Punahou today he adds that they, “sure made a difference in my son’s life and who knows, if they had been at the level they are today when I was there I might have stuck around and actually graduated with you!”

Check out Punahou’s 2012 Winter Bulletin for another look at the program or watch the dated yet still relevant Punavision video below for additional insight.

Who still has their class ring? Raise your hand! Seems like sharp-eyed Shoji Ledward found one on eBay that you may want to take a look at.

The ring is listed as “Vintage Josten 10K Gold 1974 Class Ring PUNAHOU (Obama) SCHOOL Hawaii Size 5.75.” The seller describes it as “So cute! has some light band wear-hardly noticeable.”

Sent to me via facebook … Seems that Shoji found that eBay has a Punahou74 ring up for sale. Of course, the obvious question is, “Whose ring is it?”

Take a look at the listing and see what you think. There are some interesting clues to ponder.

1. The ring is a size 5.75 so, obviously, it’s not going to fit most of you guys. This one’s basically for girls only … and those with dainty fingers at that!

2. The ring bears the initials “A. S.”

Per Shoji, the only “A. S.” he can find in the yearbook is Arden Stewart Harrington now of Scottsdale, Arizona. However, Punahou records also show Anne Stone, now of Watertown, Massachusetts, as a classmate. (The seller is located in Stoughton, Massachusetts.)

The inside of the ring has some wording but I can’t make it out. Can you?

Ten years ago I had the misfortune of losing my Punahou ring to thieves. They came into my home, took my jewelry box, and relieved me of my Punahou ring, my Mount Holyoke College ring, and the jade ring I received from my mother when I graduated from Punahou (she had received it when she graduated from Punahou in 1948). The whole episode made me sick sick to my stomach but the loss was sentiment only, not life, and could be endured.  I don’t know if a similar story happened with regard to this ring but perhaps this is a chance for a happy ending (albeit one that costs $300 to console).

Of course, the ring’s owner could be selling the ring herself. Selling it to a classmate may be offer a way to keep it in the class family!

Shoji says that he sent a message to Arden so maybe our inquiring minds will find an answer. For those who are truly curious, the listing does say that a name is inscribed inside. The seller will be willing to answer questions during business hours (which are not current as I write this post) if you really want to know “Whose ring is it?”

Whatever happens, the sale door closes at midnight, Pacific Daylight Time, on March 15. So, if you’re looking to collect this memory, time is short!

We all knew her and can all share stories of what it was like to work with her. But did you really know her?

Mrs. de Holczer with Trustees Thurston Twigg-Smith, left, and Richard Power. (Punahou Bulletin picture and caption)

Here’s what was written about our class dean, Marian de Holczer, in the Autumn 1974 edition of the Punahou Bulletin upon the occasion of her retirement:

–Marian de Holczer, Dean of the Class of 1974, who, after 25 years, bade aloha to Punahou along with her class in June. Her career with the school began in 1941, was interrupted by World War II and resumed in 1950. She has been an elementary teacher, a Junior School advisor and supervisor, and joined the Academy Deans roster in 1965. Understanding, tact and diplomacy have marked Mrs. de Holczer’s relationships with students, parents and colleagues. Graduates of 1969, as well as 1974, share the school’s affection for her.

Mrs. De Holczer was our supervisor in the Winne Units before she moved to the academy. Read this blog post for an early school time memory of her then. When it was announced that she would be our dean in the academy I was somewhat shocked having still associated her with our early Punahou years.

During the Punahou74 commencement ceremony, Mrs. de Holczer had some kind words to say about the class during the graduation ceremony. Because you may not remember them here’s your chance to experience them again. If you are like me, I am sure you will appreciate what she had to say especially now that almost 39 years have passed since the evening she addressed us.

Mrs. De Holczer was born in 1911 and passed away in 1980 at the age of 69. She did not attend our 5th reunion but did send a note of aloha that was shared with those who attended.

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Randy Nishijima’s senior entry in the 1974 Oahun.

Randy Nishijima is one of our Punahou74 classmates who left us altogether too soon. Here is a look at who he was at Punahou plus comments from those who remember him.

Randy Nishijima learned how to play the”Flash” game. Click on the picture to read the full article.

Randy Nishijima was a member of Punahou74′s 13 year club. Entering the class in kindergarten, he was there for the full ride!

In my mementos I found this newspaper clipping from that first year. Randy, Jackie Ching and I were asked to stay after school one day. We had to play a “Flash” game while a man took pictures of us. It was a game that was a grim consequence of the times, especially so soon after the Bay of Pigs. We were truly children of the nuclear age.

Randy sure looks happy in the picture. It is this smile that Mike Woodward remember about him: “I hadn’t heard Randy had passed away. When was that? A fun, warm person with a great smile.” As for Gaylen Lee Ramolete, she recalled that Randy was “nice lookin’.”

Second grade Na Opio photo page featuring Mrs. Devaney’s class.

Barclay Bullock also remembered Randy: “To me, Randy was such a high energy fun guy. My last memory of him was a year or two after high school. I was hanging out over at his house and he had just bought a new Peter Frampton album. We had an intense debate about whether it was too commercial and a sell out to the pop charts or just good rock music. Don’t remember what we decided but I always enjoyed talking with him!”

Jud Haskins had something to say too. When disappointed in the response received to a solicitation for Randy memories he wrote the following:

GEEZ — This is too unpopulated a topic for what a cool guy Randy was. I not only knew and liked him in high school, but later too. My wife and I moved back to Hawaii in ’82 and we connected with him when he was living in Manoa. He resonated across different kinds of people so well. He had a very funny elliptical sense of humor that ‘jams well’ with my decidedly ‘different’ world view. I liked him a LOT. My wife liked him. He was a character and also solid.

Eighth grade posers: Bill McKillop, Kalfred Wong, Randy Nishijima, Steve Goodbody, Galen Kitamura.

I know he want to LA and worked in air traffic control (I think LA). Good guy AND very fun. I remember him fondly and we were saddened to learn of his passing.

It is for him, for Mosi, for Skip Berg, for Ted Lau, and others that the Punahou 74 Club [a facebook club started by Judd] is dedicated. We get to have the connection and fun that only a years-later reconnection offers. They don’t.

For many of us, our final memory of Randy was hearing him speak at graduation. If you recall, our class had the distinction of having six class members stand at the podium that evening. As luck would have it, Randy was one of the speakers. His topic? “Reborn.” But don’t just take my word on it. Watch the video below to hear what he said that evening.

Aloha, Randy and thanks for the memories.

“Sustainability” was the word of the day on campus Friday when Punahou celebrated Earth Day with its annual Sustainability Fair. (More on that in a future post.) But did you know of an earlier time when Punahou led the world in showing that yellow + blue truly did equal green?

Architect C. W. Dickey’s sketch of Wilcox Hall.

The need for an improved boy’s boarding facility was apparent. Some boys could be housed in Dole Hall but room was needed for more. To accommodate the growing demand from neighbor island families new accommodations had to be acquired.

G.N. Wilcox for whom Wilcox Hall is named.

Understanding this need, Punahou secured a major donation from the G.N. Wilcox trust ($25,000) and the Wilcox family ($5,000 from Elsie H. Wilcox, $5,000 from Mabel I. Wilcox, and $5,000 from Gaylord P. Wilcox) for the construction of what was to be named Wilcox Hall. Located on Rocky Hill, mauka of Alexander field, the structure would be three stories in height with a lounge, recreation room, and quarters for 32 boys.

Construction began in August 1936. Despite having electrical fixtures and some furniture delayed by a shipping strike, the building welcomed its first twenty-four residents on January 4, 1937.

Cover for the Wilcox Hall dedication program.

Formal dedication of the hall was made on March 5, 1937. Speaking on behalf of her family, Senator Elsie Wilcox commented that, “If this hall, serving as a home for boys who come, as Mr. (G. N.) Wilcox did, from across the waters, can contribute in even a small measure to their development in character, defining of purpose, and preparation for future achievement, we will all be satisfied.” The Wilcox family must have been pretty satisfied with what Punahou was offering because six generations and ninety-six of its members would attend the school by 2008. Three would serve as Punahou trustees.

One of the features of the new building included what is today seen as a standard for sustainability: a solar water heater. In an October 9, 1936 letter to school President Oscar F. Shepard, building architect C. W. Dickey wrote:

I am sending you a drawing showing a cross section of the Dormitory roof and a practical method for installing the solar heater and boiler. If Mr. Mahoney will follow this drawing I think there will be no difficulty about water pressure.

Contrary to the tone of the letter,  John Wolfton Mahoney (Punahou shop teacher 1922-1951) had concerns regarding the heater. The above letter bears his penciled comments regarding the proposal:

“… and an IMpractical method for installing …”

“… will be no difficulty about water pressure BUT PLENTY OF OTHER TROUBLE.”

AS $40,000 WILCOX HALL NEARS COMPLETION … The lowest picture shows “a group of manual arts students at work, putting the finishing touches on the largest sun heater ever built.” (Honolulu Advertiser photo and story)

Regardless, Mr. Mahoney had his shop boys hard at work designing the heater.

The Punahou shop boys have gone scientific for the time being. They are now doing research work on sun heaters. Their object is to gather accurate information in preparation for building heaters for the new boys’ dormitory. They are planning a super-heater with something like 1400 feet of copper pipe in the heating element and storage capacity of more than 400 gallons of hot water.

The boys have been conducting experiments with different kinds of glass and various metals under varying conditions. Their results are being plotted on numerous graphs. Conway Marcellino, Kwai Fook Lee, Jack Locey, and Norman Olstad are doing the work. (“Boys Will Build Heater for Dorm: Shop Classes Make Tests of Various Types of Material.” Ka Punahou. 6 Oct. 1936.)

The heater was ready for installation by November. In a November 19, 1936 letter to W. F. Dillingham, Oscar Shepard explained that:

It does not appear to me that the installation of the solar heater has in any delayed construction work upon Wilcox Hall. The roofer had shingles on only half of the total roof area last Tuesday, at which time we notified the architect’s office that we were ready to install the solar heater. … Incidentally, the roofer is, I believe, quite pleased with the idea of our using five-ply roofing material under the heater in lieu of the shingles since his supply of shingles seems to be insufficient to cover all of the roof area.

Wilcox Hall (c. 1950) is seen behind the Dillingham Tennis Courts.

When installed, the 500 gallon solar water heater was believed to be the world’s largest. Ka Punahou commented that, “There is a larger unit in Egypt, but it is used for producing power and is built on a different principle.” (“Giant Solar Heater At Dorm Thought to Be World’s Largest.” 8 Dec. 1936.) The heater was composed of six units covering a roof area of 22 x 14 feet. An initial test showed that its 300 gallons of water could be heated in three hours to a temperature of 140 degrees Fahrenheit. It used 1400 feet of copper tubing that was fastened to 308 square feet of copper backing.

But Mr. Mahoney’s comments would prove to be prophetic as the solar water heater did not last. Commenting on it in his Punahou School oral history, he said that: “The trouble with it was that in the summer time it used to blow off steam–the water would come out of there 180 degrees and it would turn to steam.”

Records do not show when the system was dismantled but the heater was no longer in use when the last boarding students checked out of  Wilcox Hall in June, 1963.

Wilcox Hall as it appears today.

Today Wilcox Hall is part of the $26 million Omidyar K-1 Neighborhood. Interestingly, the complex received LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum certification in 2012 for energy conservation, water efficiency, and improved indoor environmental quality through its use of the following sustainable features:

• Outdoor creative learning center with Hawaiian educational gardens and indigenous plantings.
• Recycling center.
• Community room/dining hall – healthy food choices, waste management.
• Bioswale for outdoor discovery and to manage water runoff and drainage.
• Photovoltaic panels with Web-based data showing usage, PV system to provide approximately 60 percent of the total energy demand.
• Agriculture plantings of bananas, papaya, sweet potato, etc.
• Garden plots to facilitate the Garden to Market curriculum.
• Classrooms designed to provide a comfortable thermal environment and introduce natural daylight to minimize the need for artificial lighting.
• Cisterns that will reduce water usage by 30 to 40 percent in conjunction with water-saving fixtures.
• Lo‘i for taro and other Hawaiian plants.
• Windmill to demonstrate the power of the wind to produce energy and pump water through the bioswale.
• Energy-efficient lighting and air-conditioning system with occupancy and daylight sensors.

Notice something missing? Right. No solar water heating! Mr. Mahoney would be glad to know that, sometimes, history does not repeat itself.

For those of you who do not receive the Punahou Bulletin (and maybe you should take care of that problem by letting Punahou know your address … which will also have the benefit of letting us inform you of reunion plans next year) you may have missed the exciting news that Punahou74 recently had a second classmate make it into the Punahou Athletic Hall of Fame.

Keith Uperesa as he appeared in the 1974 Oahuan.

The Hall of Fame honors individuals who have made significant contributions to athletics at Punahou. Honorees are inducted by ceremony and have their names listed on the Hall of Fame koa plaque that hangs at the entrance of the athletic office.

Keith follows classmate Mosi Tatupu who was inducted into the Punahou Athletic Hall of Fame in 1990.

Here’s what was said about Keith on the occasion of his induction:

Since leaving Punahou, Keith Uperesa has made football his life. The former Buff ’n Blue standout in three sports – football, basketball and track – starred at offensive lineman for Brigham Young, where he was an All-Western Athletic Conference selection in 1977 and also an honorable mention All-American.

After playing in the NFL from 1978 to 1980, Uperesa dedicated himself to coaching, a profession that has taken him from Utah, Idaho and California to as far east as Louisiana before landing back in Hawai‘i. He was the head coach at Snow Junior College in Ephraim, Utah, from 1995 to 1998, where he went 35-8, including a 4-0 record in bowl games.

Uperesa’s personal story is one of perseverance as well. He is healthy again after being diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2009, three years after he underwent treatment for prostate cancer.

“I’ve got medication for the rest of my life, but I’m fortunate,” he told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser last year. “I’ve been blessed to be able to do what I’ve been doing right now.”

This year will mark his second on the staff of Norm Chow – a 2008 inductee to the Punahou Hall of Fame – as the running backs coach for the University of Hawai‘i.

Congratulations, Keith! Best of luck with upcoming UH football season too!

Note: The Hall of Fame induction will be performed on June 3. See the “School Events” calendar in the right column of this blog for more information.

Friday, May 24, 2013 was Senior Skip Day at Punahou. Remember the fun of that day at Kikila, the White Estate, located across from Pounders? Did you know that the gift of this day can be traced back to the antics of members of the Punahou Class of 1941 a.k.a.  Punahou’s “Greatest Centennial Class”)?

Ever wonder how Senior Skip Day came to be observed at Punahou? If you said it was because of seniors skipping class you’d be right. But you may be surprised to learn that the precedent-setting exodus came not at the end of the year, the time at which it is celebrated today, but nearer to its start.

On November 5, 1940  a large group of  students headed for the beach on what was a self-selected holiday. What followed was a situation that caused me to literally laugh out loud while I read Ka Punahou’s coverage of the story. See if you feel the same way.

Not quite the class of 1941 but these members of the class of 1947 are dressed and ready to head out for a day of Hawaii fun and sun. (Source: Punahou School Archives)

ELECTION DAY RETURNS BRING STARTLING UPSETS TO MANY: EIGHTY ‘VOTERS’ STUFF BALLOT BOX AT MAKAPUU BEACH — Ka Punahou, 12 Nov. 1940: 1.

“It was fun, but it sure turned out a lot different from what we anticipated,” was the general remark made by the members of the school who cut last Tuesday morning.

What was intended as a gay lark was turned into a far more serious matter when about 80 boys cut school Tuesday morning and headed out for Makapuu. Because of the unselfish thoughtfulness of Cline Mann (’41)  and Mary Hodge (’41), the truants were encouraged to return to school at lunch time. The boys, failing to realize the seriousness of the situation, had previously disregarded the attempts of Eddie Ching and Stanley Mott-Smith to make them return to school.

1941 swim fashion is the subject of this Jantzen advertisement.

The idea of the whole thing was that the public schools were having a holiday of election day. “Us old men gotta vote, eh?” the boys said. The result was that on Tuesday morning they got together very hurriedly, counted a few noses and “hauled” out to Makapuu. When the last car arrived, the boys were elated to see that there were 18 cars and about 80 boys in the jolly group.

For a while they were quite happy and gay, romping on the sands and swimming in the surf, not to mention a few other forms of entertainment. Suddenly, from the top of the hill horns started blaring and hands started waving. Cline and Mary had arrived of their own accord and spread the news around that the boys had better go back to school or suffer the consequences. Then their whole attitude changed. There was a mad dash for cars and a hurried change of clothes. Some of the boys didn’t even take time to remove their bathing suits. They put their pants on over them and took off for town.

On the way in to town the boys began to contemplate what school they wanted to go to next. They even went so far as to learn the alma maters of several of the other schools.

The whole bunch stopped at the Blue Bird for a hurried bite of lunch and then returned to school. They arrived on the campus sunburned, sandyhaired, barefooted, and a little apprehensive as to what their reception was going to be.

Makapuu Beach became accessible when the highway was extended in the mid 1930′s and quickly became a local favorite. Is it any wonder that it was the preferred destination for the Punahou’s first Senior Skip Day?

Everything went fine until the next morning when Mr. Shepard [Punahou's President 1929-1944] read off a long list of names of people to see him during the day. Mr. Shepard talked the situation over with all the boys, getting their stories and various opinions. Mr. Shepard acknowledged the fact that the whole matter was first a prank, but he said that the seriousness of the matter lay in the fact that the boys took the law of the school by means of mob rule and that was far more serious than just an ordinary cut.

A faculty meeting was held and then a special meeting of the board of trustees to decide on what was to be done. Meanwhile all sorts of ugly rumors were spreading around. Two weeks suspension was the most frequent one. Finally, on Friday morning, Mr. Shepard spoke before the assembly on the matter; but he explained the whole situation, and then delivered the long-awaited-for decision. All of the people who cut were placed on probation and the whole bunch of them will have to go to school the day after Thanksgiving. There were sighs of relief all over Dillingham Hall. The boys all admitted that the punishment was very fair and just.

But was the punishment so easy? Not really. Read the next blog post for more on that.

Editor’s Note: The Blue Bird was an ice cream shop in Waikiki. A few girls were also involved in the escapade.

For those of you who haven’t made the trek recently, the Punahou class reunion experience has become something beyond the mere gathering of classmates. It is no longer just “Reunion.” It is now Alumni Week: “a concentrated week of opportunities to celebrate and connect, both for reunion year classes and for all alumni.” (Source: Punahou School website)

2013 reunion classes

One event that is open to all alumni is the “Alumni Celebration and Class Gift Presentation.” This evening celebration welcomes alumni back to campus to showcase Punahou and alumni achievements in various fields. Among the available distractions are a Living History Display, alumni author and artist exhibits, musical entertainment, great heavy pupu (kalua pig sliders, chicken wings, manapua, wine, beer, and more) as well as the presentation of the Reunion Class Gifts to the school. All of this is free and without charge.

Of course, the majority of tonight’s participants were, as we will be in 2014, reunion class members. Regardless, there’s plenty to do and, when evidence of one’s own class comes to light, moments to bask in the pride that comes with the knowledge that, yes, Punahou74 is still making its mark at Punahou.

How so? Take a look at the slide show below.

Although not pictured, Linda Sutton Torres was there too. She was hard at work in her post as Alumni Relations Officer. This is one of her busiest times of the year!

On a lighter note, I attended the event with my son Richard. Having graduated from Punahou in 2008, he was there for his 5th reunion. Unfortunately, his classmates did not seem to know about this opportunity and there was nary a one of them with whom he could reconnect. Hope the rest of Alumni Week goes better for them.

Alumni, alumni everywhere nor any 2008er with whom to drink.

Many prayers to classmate Mike Hopfe upon the death of his 31 year old daughter, Trisha. She was the mother of two children and lived in the East Bay, California.

For those of you who are friends with Mike on facebook know that he regularly posts messages that, quite frankly, make you wonder why you can’t take upon a more positive outlook. He really makes you think. Here is one of his messages that made me take on the day with a broader smile upon my face:

Mike, here’s hoping that you hold on your positive heart during the unbearably difficult days that await you. Prayers to you, Trisha, and the rest of your family during this trying time. May God (and the Dogs) be with you.

Update from classmate Richard Botkin regarding Mike Hopfe …

On September 20, 2012 Mike Hopfe posted this sunny day landscape to his facebook timeline saying, “Okay, don’t laugh! This is my first attempt at painting with my mouth.” Here’s to future sunny days for Mike following this stormy period.

FROM RICHARD: Have spoken twice with Mike; once Saturday and then again yesterday afternoon. Left you a voicemail but, in the event you missed it, here’s what I learned from Michael:It is still undetermined how Trisha died. Her body is being held by the authorities for more forensic work. Mike thinks she will be released by Tuesday or Wednesday.

The services for her are likely to be sometime next week. It might be nice if any Punahou friends in the Bay Area could go to the services to show support for Mike. Here’s how:

• Phone: 925-689-2168
• Email: michaelhopfe@gmail.com
• Snail Mail: 4348 Satinwood Drive, Concord, CA 94521

I believe that it is critical he hear from friends. Tell the folks they should not be afraid to call. Michael appreciates hearing from them.

Editor’s Note: So you’ve all heard it here. It’s one thing to offer your thoughts and prayers, quite another to let Mike know about them. Let him know if you are so inclined.

In a previous post, the students who decided to skip school on November 5, 1940 had received their punishment. All had breathed a sigh of relief believing that the sentence was very fair and just. Indeed, it was. But was it a slap on the wrist? You be the judge.

CLASSES FRIDAY FOR 80 ‘CUTTERS’: ELECTION DAY VACATIONISTS TO ATTEND SCHOOL FROM 8 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M. — Ka Punahou 19 Nov. 1940: 1.

While the other students of Punahou are enjoying their Thanksgiving Holiday, eighty students will be attending school.

What did you do for Thanksgiving vacation, Grandpa and Grandma?

The eighty boys and girls are to report to Bingham Hall at 8 o’clock, Friday, November 22. The session will last until 2:30. Some of the students, by the request of the teachers, will have classes, others will have assignments, and others will study.

The school cafeteria is going to be closed, so the students will have to bring their own lunches.

No excuse for absence from this session will be accepted except illness, certified to by an attending physician; but if absent, the student will have to come to school the next coming holiday.

Violation on the students’ part in probation during the school year will mean suspension or withdrawal from school. An unexcused cut will be considered reason for terminating their probation. The entry of probation upon the permanent records will not be made if the students’ attitude and actions during the year show that such an entry would be unjust.

Editor’s Note: According to an alumnus who was part of this “party” everyone made it to the Thanksgiving school. Nobody wanted to be on the hook during Christmas!

For those of you who will be in the Bay Area this Saturday …

Trisha Ann Punahele Hopfe

Classmate Mike Hopfe has announced that the Services and Celebration of Life for his daughter, Trisha Ann Punahele Hopfe, have been set:

First Presbyterian Church, Livermore, CA

When: Saturday, June 29, 2013

Time: 4 p.m.

Where: First Presbyterian Church, 2020 5th Street, Livermore, CA

There will be a gathering immediately after the funeral for all who wish to attend.

While time and distance will keep me away from this celebration, I hope that all classmates who are able will find the time to pay their respects to Mike and his family during this difficult time. Prayers and love to the Hopfe family.

Are you familiar with that old line, “I can make you a star!”??? Maybe, in this case, it’s more than just a line … at least for your little corner of Hawaii.

Timmy Chinn pictured outside of his office at the Hawaii Film Studio near Diamond Head.

Seems like you could have an inside track with the new Hawaii Five-o Locations Manager, especially when he’s a Punahou74 classmate. According to the Honolulu Star-Advertiser (6/23/2013), Timmy Chinn is looking for a few good locations to star in upcoming episodes of Hawaii Five-o.

And don’t think that, just because you don’t live in what could pass for a five-star hotel, that you’re out of luck. Seems that many different kinds of property are needed for the show: “We need everything,” said Chinn. “Houses are always a big thing for us. We are always using houses. The whole range, from low income all the way up to beachfront homes. Houses in the jungle. We run the whole gamut.”

The aim is to create a sense of place, a look that spells “Hawaii” for the viewer.

“There’s nothing hard and fast except we want to show Hawaii and what’s beautiful,” Chinn said. “Sometimes we will want a remote shack. Sometimes we will want a millionaire’s house. Sometimes it’s a regular family house. But we want them all to show Hawaii.”

Timmy became a part of the Hawaii Five-o crew in its second season as a key assistant in the locations department. This season he’s moved up and is now the boss.

The path to the show was a round about one for him. Following college he earned a law degree; but his law license has been gathering dust for the past ten years. Several years were spent as a mechanic working on exotic cars.

Timmy moved back home by 1997 and periodically commuted between Hawaii and Los Angeles until 2004 when he began living on Maui. He was there when the third sequel in the Pirates of the Caribbean franchise came to town and the door opened for his current career path. Since then, he’s honed his skills working on other Hollywood efforts that have included Princess Kaiulani, The Tempest, The Descendants, Soul Surfer, and Battleship.

As you can see, the location for the shot can make a big difference in the look of a show.

Timmy’s already started formulating a slate of places for the upcoming season and your home, business, office, apartment, warehouse or ranch could be on that list. Full production starts July 10 so time is of the essence. Of course, payment will be give for the use of your property but, as to how much will be paid, that’s a subject that’s up for negotiation.

Being a local guy, Timmy will look out for your property: “I have to look out for these things to make sure, in my own small way, that we treat the locations right.”

So, if you have a lead for the next backdrop for the stars of Five-o email Timmy at Five.o.locations@gmail.com. Good luck and let us know if your place has what it takes to be a star!

Did you check your mailbox recently?

2014 Punahou School Reunion Postcard

If you did you would have seen the first of your reunion announcements! (And, if you didn’t receive this card please make sure that Punahou has your current contact information by updating it online. We don’t want you to miss out on any future reunion updates!)

If you received the card you can see that it’s time to mark your calendar! Our 40th reunion is scheduled for the week of June 9-15, 2014. Although class-specific activities will likely be held June 13-15, earlier dates offer a chance to enjoy all-alumni events such as a community service project.

You Can be a Part of Reunion Planning

Now, speaking of class reunions, they don’t just magically occur courtesy of the reunion fairy. No, they need the help of many talented Punahou74 hands which, if you don’t know it by now, means help from YOU!

Punahou74′s 35th reunion was largely manged by an intrepid gang of four: Lynne Gartley Meyer, Babs Miyano Young, Lisa Yamaguchi Bowden, and Fred Hu. There is room for more!

Seriously … much of our 35th reunion was put together by a core committee of just four classmates who labored long and hard to put the event together. We can do better than that! Here’s how you can help.

1.  Join the Reunion Events Committee to plan the gatherings, let people know about them, and help out when we get together.

2. Join the Class Gift Committee to decide where our donations will go, appeal to classmates, and represent the class when the gift is presented.

In addition to the need for help with overall planning, specific talents are also needed. At our 35th, for example, we all benefited from Renee Ahuna Cabrinha’s party planning skills, Ralph Aona’s prayer offering, and Paul Goto’s emceeing with Jay Higgins’ side kicking. There were also others who helped bring reunion items (thanks, Scott Metcalf, for the class banner), offered a picnic site (thanks, John Morgan, for Secret Island), ordered lunch (thanks, Alton Komori, for feeding us), and played gathering music (thanks, Shoji Ledward, for your soothing guitar playing). Hey, even if it’s only checking in classmates to our Friday night gathering (great chance to meet everybody, BTW), we want to talk to you!

Another consideration? You will get to work with the best Punahou Alumni Office rep there is: classmate Linda Sutton Torres!

Remember … many hands make light work!! So, when the call come, please consider where you might fit in. And remember that today’s technology could mean that remote classmates can be a part of the fun too!

P.S. I’ve just added a reunion countdown clock to the right column of this blog to keep us on track. Eleven months to go!!

When I received the news from Linda Sutton Torres that our class had just a single Punahou74 child graduate from Punahou this year my response back was, “We’re getting old!” Her reply? “We are!”

One of several signs on the campus congratulating the newest members of the Punahou Alumni Association. This one is by the Alexander Street exit.

Well, do the math.

To have a child graduate this year he or she would have been born in 1994 or 1995 … when most in our class were 38 or 39 years old. Perhaps this is not a problem for you guys but it is a consideration for us girls, modern medicine or not.

Given the biological realities, we’ve largely moved out of high school children and are even starting to see the end of the tunnel for college costs.

What’s next? Well, to paraphrase a schoolyard taunt: “First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes a Punahou74 classmate with the baby carriage … of the grandchild!” (And I do know that there are quite a few of you who can already tell us how to do this!)

So who’s the classmate with the 2013 graduate?

Craig and Lisa Yamaguchi ’74 Bowden and their daughter Marissa

Lisa and her daughter, Marissa, pose while taking a break from selling their ono pineapple juice and other products at Punahou’s Sustainability Fair last April. Lisa and her husband are the owners of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company.

As Lisa told me while we were planning for our 35th reunion, this graduation may have never happened. You see, it was Marissa, and her acceptance into Punahou, that precipitated the family’s return to Hawaii from California. Talk about dedication to the Buff Nation! Guess that now, with the graduation in the books, it all worked out for the best.

Congratulations!

On March 17, 2012 I ran a post that gave the Punahou School recipe for Chicken Stew. Interestingly, this story was 2012′s most-viewed post. Time for a second round. Let’s see how this recipe works in 2013.

Betty Shimabuikuro’s “By Request” column publishes an annual booklet in which its five 2012 recipes are reprinted to raise funds for the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s Good Neighbor Fund. In reading the contents for 2012′s booklet, I found a recipe that I had missed and should have caught earlier: the one for “Punahou Beef Stew.”

The recipe was originally printed on May 9, 2012 right on the eve of my departure to see my son graduate from college. Needless to say, reading the newspaper was not on my mind that evening when I returned home from work.

The column states that the recipe was requested by Meredith Prock ’61. Given her class year, one might believe that this culinary treasure could have been around when Punahou74 was pushing its trays down the Dole Hall serving line. But one never knows.

Do you remember eating this beef stew? If so, I’d love to know if you would place it in the pantheon of great Punahou lunch “must haves.” Either way, please let me know what you think.

SIDE NOTE: As many of you know, I regularly interview Punahou alumni, faculty, and staff for the school’s oral history program. During these interviews I often ask alumni if they had any favorite cafeteria foods. For those who graduated in the 30′s and the 40′s there is a #1 cafeteria dish that is regularly mentioned: rice and gravy!   Seems that these students could only get this special treat at school; their mothers would be aghast knowing that precious lunch money was spent on such “food.” Wow. Imagine what these mothers would say about today’s plate lunches!!

Anyway, I digress. On to the what you’re here for. On to the recipe.

PUNAHOU SCHOOL BEEF STEW  

4 cups water
5 pounds boneless beef short ribs or chuck roast, cut in bite-size cubes, rinsed
1 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons beef bouillon (4 large cubes)
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 (8 ounce) cans tomato sauce
1/4 cup cornstarch, dissolved in 1/4 cup water
3 large red potatoes, peeled and cut in large pieces (don’t cut pieces too small or they will disintegrate while cooking)
16 ounces pearl onions, peeled (see note)
2 cups diced carrots
1 cup diced celery

Bring water to boil; add beef and salt. Cover and simmer over medium heat 1 hour. Meat will be cooked through but might be tough. Do not be alarmed.

Add bouillon, garlic and tomato sauce. Cover and simmer until meat is tender, about 30 minutes for short ribs, up to 1 hour for chuck roast.

Add cornstarch mixture gradually, stirring to thicken sauce to desired consistency (you may not need all the cornstarch).

Add potatoes, onions, carrots and celery; simmer another 20 to 30 minutes until potatoes and carrots are tender. Serves 10.

Note: Fresh pearl onions can be found in bags near the onions in the produce section of supermarkets. To save having to peel, buy frozen onions and add in last 10 minutes of cooking time. Or substitute a large regular onion, cut in wedges.

Approximate nutritional analysis, per serving: 550 calories, 24 g fat, 10 g saturated fat, 135 mg cholesterol, greater than 1,500 mg sodium, 35 g carbohydrate, 5 g fiber, 7 g sugar, 48 g protein

One of the great things about modern technology is the ease with which it can bring long lost friends back into our lives. The Punahou74 blog has had a hand in such reunions, and here’s the latest one. Do you remember these two classmates who left our class all too soon?Received this email from Eric Carr recently and he was gracious enough to allow me to share it with all of you. What an interesting story of reconnecting again and again. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

FIRST GRADE 1963: This picture shows (L-R) Frank Izuta, Lisa Matsumoto, Winslow Cuthbert, Gaye Miyasaki, Mark Yamane, Mrs. Ruyffelaere, Kevin Marder, Janet Kemble, Mark Fukunaga, and Molly Gunther.

Fall 1964
Win Cuthbert and Eric Carr are both in third grade at Punahou. Neither remembers if they were in the same class but each seems to recall having Miss Affleck as a teacher–so it’s possible. (Heck its been about 50 years. Literally.)  Eric also remembers Mrs. Ford and Mrs. Hansman as instructors. Both Eric and Win remember having to go get crackers and juice for break time — that was a great experience! Eric’s family moved to New Jersey in December 1964 and Win moved to California about the same time.

SECOND GRADE 1964: (L-R) Sharon Loomis, Debbie Rosen, Billy Richardson, Eric Carr

Fall 1974
Eric and Win learn about their Punahou connection as freshmen fraternity brothers at Kappa Sigma at MIT in late 1974. What a small freaking world! Both graduate and go their separate ways but do manage to have a vacation in 1981, spending six weeks in Europe.

IT’S CHAPEL TIME (2ND GRADE 1964): (L-R) Ann Hughes, Frank Izuta, Winslow Cuthbert, Tanya Yamada, Virginia Chalmers, Tucker Dacey, Bill Ferrier

Summer 1999
After 18 years of no contact between the two, Win reconnects with Eric. The boys find that they work in San Francisco, across Beale St. from each other. This is kinda eerie, eh? A year later Eric coerces Win into installing a satellite dish in the Middle Of Nowhere, California for an Internet speed test. At that time Win’s house is off the grid and running on batteries. But that’s a different story. The guys drift apart yet again.

Eric sent along this picture of him today. He comments, “All of my hair is growing south.” As it is with other classmates, Eric!

Spring 2012
Win once again finds Eric  — this time on LinkedIn. The guys realize that they’re tired of solving other people’s IT problems and want to have some fun with technology.

Spring 2013
Finds two of your (formerly) lost Punahou classmates working on something in the services for mobile devices space. That’s all we can say. We could tell you more, but then we’d have to kill you. Or worse, make you sign an NDA.

We send a warm Aloha to all of our classmates and greater Punahou family.