After the tsunami that caused such extensive devastation throughout Southeast Asia in December of 2004, students and teachers of Punahou responded with aloha. Upon returning to school in January, they gathered in the Chapel to plan what could be done to help in the relief effort. Students soon began to realize that they had great ideas and their actions could make a difference.

Students planned a major school-wide recycling effort which started in February at the Carnival and ran through March. Punahou School arranged to have two large recycling bins placed on campus: one for plastic bottles, and one for aluminum cans. Then students organized groups and teams to collect the empty cans and bottles on campus and bring them all to these large bins. They cleaned, sorted and bagged the bottles and cans. The money (5 cents per container) was collected and sent to East-West Center's Schools-Helping-Schools Initiative to be sent to a school community in need.

While the recycling project was going on, students also decided to create something handmade and personal to let the children in Asia know they cared. They created the Murals of Aloha project to express the love and compassion they felt for others who were suffering extreme hardships and loss. Many individual students dropped by the Luke Center during their lunch hours to draw and paint these murals. Fifth and sixth grade classes also participated in this effort, expressing their aloha through pictures and written words.

Students in second and third grade gathered in the Chapel to bless the murals with their prayers. A candle also burned in every Chapel, to help the whole community remember those in Southeast Asia who need our help and prayers.

The Luke Center recently received a package from a school in Phang-Nga Thailand. Namji Steinemann of the East-West Center had visited this school during her travels after the tsunami, and shared Punahou’s interest in supporting the tsunami victims. Students from this school sent touching stories about experiencing the tsunami and losing their friends, family, and belongings. They also sent drawings that share their stories in a way that could only be expressed by people who lived through this natural disaster themselves. We are grateful for these letters and plan to send the Murals of Aloha to our new friends in Phang-nga!

Carole Iacovelli, Director
Luke Center for Public Service
Punahou School