120,000 Malasadas and Other Fast Facts About Punahou Carnival Food

Editor’s Note: We’re always staggered by how much food is sold at the Punahou Carnival, both to be eaten there and for take-home. Just the malasada numbers alone—two tents churn out 120,000 over two days, equivalent to about one-eighth the population of O‘ahu—are eye-popping. So we’re marking the 2025 event by republishing this classic, which originally ran a year ago.

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

When it comes to the staggering annual undertaking that is Punahou Carnival, Marcia Barrett Wright is the undisputed general leading the food production. As the school’s food service director, Wright organizes the army of students, parents and volunteers who make, cook and serve beloved goodies from malasadas and teri burgers to gyros and Portuguese bean soup.

This year’s Carnival happens on Feb. 7 and 8. Exactly how much food gets prepared and consumed over the massive event? We asked Wright for the numbers.

Every year, Punahou Carnival-goers buy:

• 33,500 teri burgers
• Roughly 120,000 malasadas
• About 9,000 jars of mango chutney—which always sell out early
• About 5,000 Hawaiian plates
• About 12,350 gyros

and

• That mango chutney? About 3,200 pounds of mangoes are picked for those 9,000 jars.

Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School

What are the five most popular foods at Carnival, ranked in order?
As far as the most popular, I would look at it in terms of number of units sold, so malasadas are the most popular, then technically Portuguese bean soup. (If we sold only an 8-ounce bowl of soup, it would surpass hamburgers, but we sell mostly 32-ounce containers.) Then hamburgers, gyros and smoothies and noodles are about equal.

When do you start preparing the food?
We start prepping the Portuguese bean soup by October, when we have the time to cook and shred the pork and ham shanks. Then most of the prep happens the week of Carnival since they’re fresh items, so you don’t want to prep early and freeze.

What’s the most fun about preparing for Carnival?
Everything is fun about Carnival, but I guess if there is one thing, it’s preparing for the meetings with those in charge of booths, meeting the parents and the students.

And the hardest part?
Knowing how much to order. Every year is a challenge, and the one thing I do not want to do is run out and have to close a booth too early.

How many people come to Carnival over the two days?
I would say tens of thousands as long as it doesn’t rain. But even with rain, we get a lot.

What skills are needed to lead Punahou Carnival food production?
You need patience, flexibility, love working with people, problem-solving and a pretty good sense of humor. Most of all, you have got to love Carnival.

SEE ALSO: From Our Files: See What the Punahou Carnival Looked Like in 1948