Punahou School Athletics ranks #1 in the Nation
Michelle Wie, Sean Kern, Doug Lambert, Parker McLachlin. These are just a few of the first-class athletes and Punahou graduates that continue to make sports headlines both locally and nationally. Now, Punahou School will celebrate being ranked #1 (of nearly 4,000 schools) on Sports Illustrated’s list of Best High School Athletics Programs.
In a way, this should come as no real surprise. In just this year alone, Punahou won 16 state championships, and the program boasts a 65% participation in athletics. Considering how far removed the school is from the national athletic community, locals should be proud to see Punahou among the best in the country.
A major contributing factor to the school’s success is the generous alumni support and fund raising efforts (like the annual Punahou Carnival, held in early February). Punahou’s athletic program continues to grow, and success is qualified not by championships won, but the sense of camaraderie and personal growth experienced through participation in one sports team or another.
Now, I have to be honest, as a Punahou graduate myself, I never once participated in a sport. However, this was probably because I was an awkward, scrawny, and uncoordinated teenager. I do recall school pride that came with winning and even the lessons learned that came with defeat. There is a huge emphasis placed on what athletics can provide to an adolescent’s spirit that must come with experience -- something I wish I had then, but now pursue personally.