Your Ultimate Guide to the 2025 Punahou Carnival

Find out what to eat, buy, see and play at this year’s carnival on Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8.

January 31, 2025

Laura Dornbush,

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

The beloved annual tradition continues this year with Pā‘ina Paniolo: A Country Carnival celebrating Hawai‘i’s rich cowboy heritage. There’s something for everyone at the two-day event: kiddie games, thrilling rides, local food favorites, secondhand treasures, an art sale and live music, just to name a few. Oh, and of course, plenty of fresh malasadas! Here’s everything you need to know to enjoy the festivities to the fullest.

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Aerial view of Punahou Carnival 1932 (black and white photo)

Punahou Carnival, 1932. Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

What Is Punahou Carnival?

A tradition that began in 1932, the campus-wide event welcomes tens of thousands of carnival-goers each year. Hosted by the junior class with support from students, faculty, staff, parents and alumni, the event raises funds for Punahou School’s financial aid program, benefiting nearly 700 students.

Punahou Carnival 1 - Crowds gathered under a big top (black and white striped tent) with stalls and vendors

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

Where and When

The Punahou Carnival will take place on Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, 2025, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Punahou’s lower campus in Mānoa. Note: this year, the carnival ends an hour earlier than previous years. The address is 1601 Punahou Street. The main entrance is on the corner of Punahou Street and Wilder Avenue.

Where to Park

Parking is hard to come by on campus, so plan accordingly. Street parking is available, but not easy to find either. However, Punahou School has partnered with neighbors to offer parking for a fee that supports their individual fundraisers:

Central Union Church, 1660 S. Beretania St.
- Available Friday, Feb. 7, 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- $10 cash only, one-time entry

The Episcopal Parish of St. Clement, 1515 Wilder Ave.
- Available Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
- $20 for 4 hours, $50 for all-day parking
Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou St.
- Available Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- $20 cash only, one-time entry
Maryknoll School
- Grade School Campus (1526 Alexander St., enter from Dole St.):
  - Friday, Feb. 7, noon to 12 a.m. and Saturday, Feb. 8, 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
  - $50 all day, $25 for 4 hours, cash only, one-time entry
- High School Campus (1402 Punahou St.):
  - Friday, Feb. 7, 4 to 11:30 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 8, 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
  - $30 all day, $10 for 4 hours, cash only, one-time entry
Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 1310 Punahou St.
- Book your space via Eventbrite for Friday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- Two options: one-time entry ($20) or a reserved spot with in-and-out privileges ($50)

If you’d rather not deal with traffic, consider catching TheBus via routes 4 and 5 or take a rideshare.

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

How to Pay

Admission to the Punahou Carnival is free. Scrip can be purchased with all major credit cards, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, across the Carnival grounds. Debit cards will require a PIN. Cash payments for scrip will be accepted at the Box Office in Dillingham Hall. Estimate how many scrip you should purchase using this price list.

To pay for E.K. Fernandez games and rides, you must use a FunPass via the app or a physical card. Purchasing a new card costs $20 cash. Note: You cannot use scrip or old FunPass cards.

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

Rides

Giggle with glee and scream in terror on a variety of rides from E.K. Fernandez.

Open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Balloon Race (54″ max height)
Dizzy Dragons
Helicopters (54″ max height)
Magic Maze

Open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Carousel
Jungle Twist
Lolli Swings
Seven Seas
Super Slide
Zero Gravity

Punahou Carnival Crowd By White Elephant Tent

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

What to Do at Punahou Carnival

Everyone has their favorite must-dos at the carnival. Keiki love the games, prizes and rides. Shopaholics can go thrifting in the White Elephant tent, buy plants and invest in a new art piece. If you’re a foodie, snack your way around the food booths and score a jar of homemade mango chutney (hurry, they sell out fast!). Here is a map to help you plan your route.

Art Gallery

The Punahou Carnival Art Gallery is the largest art show in the state with more than 1,000 pieces by nearly 300 Hawai‘i artists. Shop for paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, ceramics and glass during the Carnival. For an exclusive first look at the collection, the public is invited to an opening night event on Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Bishop Learning Center on campus. Sales from each art piece will support Punahou Carnival’s fundraising efforts for student financial aid, with proceeds evenly shared between the artists and Punahou School.

White Elephant

Hunt for second-hand treasures at great prices. Think books, toys, clothing, housewares and more. Go early for the best selection!

Silent Auction

The online auction opens at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 5, and closes on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 4 p.m. During carnival on Feb. 7 and 8, view some of the items on display at Luke Lecture Hall in the Wo International Center. Pick up your purchased goods at Luke Lecture Hall on Saturday, Feb. 8, between 5 to 7 p.m.

Giddyup to the Galaxy: Mission 2025 Variety Show

Get ready to laugh out loud as the Class of 2025 performs this skit about a ragtag team of bounty hunters who are tasked with an out-of-this-world mission. The shows are on Friday, Feb. 7, and Saturday, Feb. 8, at 1 and 5 p.m. Purchase show tickets in advance. If you can’t make it to the theatre, rent an on-demand recording available for viewing from Feb. 9–23.

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

Games

Keiki and adults of all ages can enjoy plenty of fun games, including:

Air Ball
Basketball
Bean Bag
Bowling
Ducks
Fish Swish
Frogs in the Lily Pond
Grab Bag
Kiddie Basketball
Menehune Strongman
Mini Golf
Photo Booth
Puka Horseshoe
Ring Toss
Sand Pile
Splat Trap
Tic Tac Toe
Wheel of Fortune
Whirlpool

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

What to Eat at Punahou Carnival

The piping hot, fresh malasadas may be the main draw to Carnival, but don’t overlook the rest of the menu. There’s a cult following for gyros and Portuguese bean soup too. Make your way up to Dole Hall for the Hawaiian Plate, where about half the kalo used for this year’s poi was grown on campus by the third grade class. Here’s the food lineup:

Beverages
Corn
Gyros
Hamburgers
Hawaiian Plate
Ice Cream
Malasadas
Noodles
Portuguese Bean Soup
Saimin
Smoothies
Taco Salad and Nachos

Entertainment

Friday, Feb. 7

Noon Kai Malo‘o

1 p.m. Imu Jam

2 p.m. Kanikapila ’73

3 p.m. Hanaha‘uoli Bus Boys

4 p.m. Ke‘olu

5 p.m. Rugger Stringz

6 p.m. George Kuo Quartet

7 p.m. Mānoa DNA

8 p.m. Kapono Na‘ili‘ili

9 p.m. O‘ahu College Jazz Band

Saturday, Feb. 8

Noon The Denny Ono Duo

1 p.m. The Art Kalahiki Band

2 p.m. Kualoa

3 p.m. The Band Tantalus

4 p.m. The Rocky Hillbillies

5 p.m. I Ku Mau Mau

6 p.m. Jenny Yim

7 p.m. TBD

8 p.m. Kailua Moon Band

9 p.m. O‘ahu College Band

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

Tips

Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared for sunny and/or rainy weather.
Rides are discounted on Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Tune in to the live Malasada Cam to see the magic happening.
Bring a reusable bag to carry all your purchases. Want a useful souvenir? Buy a reusable Punahou Carnival bag from the Carnival Wear booth.
After shopping, stow your bags at Will Call while you enjoy the rest of Carnival.
If you lose something, check the Sound Booth’s Lost and Found. The Sound Booth is in front of Mamiya Science Center on Chamberlain Drive.

Punahou Carnival, Feb. 7 and 8, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Punahou School, 1601 Punahou St., punahou.edu, @punahouschool