Vice President of Finance and Operations

Punahou School Vice President of Finance and Operations Position and Candidate Specification ABOUT THE SCHOOL

At the heart of Punahou School’s (the School’s) mission is the desire to nurture individuals with the curiosity, talent, and drive to improve the world around them. Punahou traces its founding in 1841 to the historical and cultural engagement of Native Hawaiians and Congregationalist missionaries and the rich educational heritage that evolved over time with the arrival of peoples from around the globe who attended, supported, and found a home at the School.

Today, Punahou stands as one of the world’s leading independent K-12 institutions.

Along the way, Punahou has made history. Though the largest independent K-12 school in the United States on a single campus—with 3,770 students, 777 full-time employees and a global community of nearly 30,000 alumni, a Punahou education is intimate, guided by a philosophy of learning that emphasizes each student’s personal journey of exploration and self‑discovery. In the words of U.S. President Barack Obama ’79: “There was something about this school that embraced me, gave me support and encouragement, and allowed me to grow and prosper.”

Punahou’s tradition of innovation is committed to realizing the full potential of each child through continual instructional renewal that reflects the changing times. Punahou students are not only accomplished academically; they pursue their curiosities and passions. They are guided by values of social responsibility and moral leadership, ultimately using their talents to lead purposeful lives that help to improve the human condition.

Punahou graduates have gone on to become a U.S. President;
Senators; decorated generals;
Olympic medalists;
Pulitzer, Grammy, Emmy, and Tony award winners; global business leaders and entrepreneurs; educational pioneers; inventors; healers; presidential appointees; and more. Their achievements represent a significant contribution to the economic, cultural, social, and political life of our country and demonstrate how one institution’s educational vision and values can impact the world.

People are Punahou’s greatest strength. From its talented students and passionate faculty and staff to its loyal alumni, families, and friends, the Punahou family is one of Hawai’i’s most enduring and vibrant communities of learning.

Every Punahou graduate remembers a teacher who changed their life. A healthy school attracts exceptional teachers and cultivates their intellectual curiosity, creativity, innovation, and collaboration—qualities that they, in turn, nurture and inspire in their students. Punahou is committed to sustaining a vibrant culture of professional renewal among faculty and staff while seeking new ways to engage a global community of educators, with whom they will reinvent the art of teaching.

A student body that is ethnically, culturally, and economically diverse enables children to question their own assumptions, gain new perspectives, and develop a creative, critical, and compassionate understanding of the world around them. Punahou attracts and admits bright, motivated, and talented students, regardless of their families’ financial circumstances, who will take full advantage of Punahou’s opportunities and who will enhance the School community.

Few schools have a sense of place like Punahou. Sheltered by Honolulu’s Manoa Valley and nourished by the water of Ka Punahou, the New Spring, the breathtaking campus, is a gift, treasured by generations of students and adults for nearly two centuries. The lands of Punahou sustain a timeless connection to Hawai’i and the School’s own history. At the same time, Punahou’s island home in the midst of the Pacific Ocean and equidistant from four continents presents a unique opportunity to embrace a global perspective on shared problems and solutions.

Context is one of the conditions that make a transformative education possible. The diverse learning environments—from open spaces that develop a deep connection to nature, to historic buildings and state‑of‑the‑art facilities—are a physical expression of the School’s educational philosophy.…