Punahou School

Punahou School is a private, co-educational, college preparatory school located in Honolulu CDP, City and County of Honolulu in the U.S. State of Hawaii. 3,760 students attend the school from kindergarten through the twelfth grade.Founded in 1841, the school has a rich history and a wide variety of programs. Its most famous alumnus, the 44th President of the United States, Barack Obama, graduated in 1979. Along with academics and athletics, Punahou offers visual and performing arts programs. In 2006, Punahou School was ranked as the greenest school in America. The student body is diverse, with student selection based on both academic and non-academic considerations. In 2008 and 2009, Punahou's sports program was ranked best in the country by Sports Illustrated; currently it is ranked number two in the nation by maxpreps.HistoryIn 1795, the land known as Ka Punahou was taken in battle by King Kamehameha I. Along with Ka Punahou, he gave a total of 225acre of land (from the slope of Round Top down to the current Central Union Church, which included a 77acre-tract of Kewalo Basin) to chief Kameeiamoku as a reward for his loyalty. After Kameeiamoku died, the land was passed down to his son, Ulumāheihei Hoapili, who lived there for twenty more years. When Hoapili left to become the governor of Maui, he gave the land to his daughter, Kuini Liliha.