Your Insider Guide to the 2026 Punahou Carnival
Check out what’s new and where to find all your favorites at this year’s carnival on Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7.
Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
The longstanding annual event roars back this year with the theme “Welcome to the Jungle.” Over two action-packed days, enjoy entertainment for all ages from kiddie games and adrenaline-pumping rides to local eats, second-hand gems, an art sale and nonstop live music. Don’t worry, the famous fresh malasadas will be on hand too. Here’s what to know to soak up every moment of fun.
Click to the information you want to explore:
- What Is Punahou Carnival?
- Where and When
- How to Pay
- What to Do
- Rides
- Games
- What to Eat
- Entertainment
- Tips
Punahou Carnival, 1932. Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
What Is Punahou Carnival?
A tradition that began in 1932, the campus-wide event welcomes approximately 40,000 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.
Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
Where and When
The Punahou Carnival will take place on Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at Punahou’s lower campus in Mānoa. The address is 1601 Punahou Street. The main entrance is on the corner of Punahou Street and Wilder Avenue.
Where to Park
Parking on campus is available starting at 11:30 a.m. on Friday and 5 a.m. on Saturday, but fills up quickly. 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. 6, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 7, 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- $20 cash only, in-and-out privileges
- Lutheran Church of Honolulu, 1730 Punahou St.
- Available Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- $20 cash only, one-time entry
- Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 1310 Punahou St.
If you’d rather not deal with traffic, consider catching TheBus via routes 4 and 5. For those with limited mobility or arriving via a rideshare service (Uber, Lyft, etc.), the drop-off area is in the Bishop Lot. Drivers may enter Piper’s Pali from Wilder Ave. to access the Bishop Lot.
Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
How to Pay
Admission to the Punahou Carnival is free. Scrip can be purchased with all major credit cards and debit cards, including Apple Pay and Google Pay, across the Carnival grounds. Cash payments for scrip will be accepted at the Box Office in Dillingham Hall only.
This year, each scrip is worth $1, which is up from 50 cents in previous years. With the increase in scrip value, a few of the food items cost 50 cents more this year, but rest assured that the fan-favorite malasadas and Portuguese Bean Soup prices have remained the same. You can estimate how many scrip you need using these food and games price lists.
To pay for E.K. Fernandez games and rides, you must use the FunPass app on your smartphone or a physical FunPass card. To get a new FunPass card, there’s a minimum purchase of $20 plus a one-time $2 card activation fee. Note: You cannot use scrip for the E.K. Fernandez games and rides.
Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
What to Do at Punahou Carnival
With more than 50 booths, everyone can find their type of fun. 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.
Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
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 (it even has its own Instagram account, @punahoucarnivalgallery). 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. 3, 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.
SEE ALSO: Punahou Carnival’s Art Gallery Is a Fundraising Powerhouse
Jewelry
New in 2026, shop for necklaces, rings, bracelets and more from local artists during an exclusive online jewelry promotion from Tuesday, Jan. 20, to Saturday, Feb. 7. You can make purchases directly from the designers’ individual websites using the code: PUNCARNIVAL2026. Participating artists will donate 25% of gross sales from designated pieces to Punahou’s financial aid program.
Silent Auction
The online auction opens at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 4, and closes on Saturday, Feb. 7, 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. 7, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Variety Show: Where the Wild ’26ers Are
Get ready to laugh out loud as the Class of 2026 performs a skit about the dangers of the jungle, including deserted islands, mysterious cloaked figures and survival challenges. Heads-up: The show may contain mature themes. See the one-hour performance on Friday, Feb. 6, and Saturday, Feb. 7, at 1 and 5 p.m. Purchase show tickets in advance. If you can’t make it to the theater, rent an on-demand recording.
White Elephant
Hunt for thrifted treasures at great prices—think books, toys, clothing, housewares and more. Arrive early for the best selection. The White Elephant and Treasures booths will begin distributing entry tickets at 9 a.m. on both days of Carnival. Return to the booths at your assigned entry time.
Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
Rides
Giggle with glee and scream in terror on a variety of rides from E.K. Fernandez.
- Balloon Race
- Carousel
- Helicopters
- Jungle Twist
- Lolli Swings
- Magic Maze
- Seven Seas
- Super Slide
- Zero Gravity
Photo: Courtesy of Punahou School
Games
Challenge your friends to classic carnival games from E.K. Fernandez under the white tent along Wilder Ave. Remember that you must use the FunPass app or a physical FunPass card to pay for E.K. Fernandez games.
Punahou puts on a variety of games in the Kiddie Land and Midway Games areas. Make sure to test your skills at the Frisbee booth, a new game debuting this year, plus many more:
- Air Ball
- Basketball
- Bean Bag
- Bowling
- Ducks
- Fish Swish
- Frogs in the Lily Pond
- Grab Bag
- Kiddie Basketball
- Menehune Strongman
- Mini Golf
- 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 you can sit down, eat and enjoy live music. Here’s the food lineup:
- Beverages
- Corn on the Cob
- Gyros
- Hamburgers
- Hawaiian Plate
- Hot Dog
- Ice Cream
- Malasadas
- Noodles
- Portuguese Bean Soup
- Saimin
- Smoothies: Mango or Strawberry
- Spam Musubi
- Taco Salad and Nachos
SEE ALSO: 120,000 Malasadas and Other Fast Facts About Punahou Carnival Food
Entertainment
Schedule TBA
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.
- 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. 6 and 7, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Punahou School, 1601 Punahou St., carnival.punahou.edu, @punahou_carnival
Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush
