From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Punahou school was founded in 1841 as Oahu Men's College, a school for children of congregational missionaries. The first class had 15 students, although the existing school has 3,700 students, K - 12. The land was a gift on behalf of Queen Kaahumanu to the Reverand Hiram Bingham.
The school is named after a local legend surrounding the school's water source. An aged Hawaiian couple lived on the land, and had to travel far for water. As this was difficult for a couple of their age, they prayed for a spring. In a dream, they were told to uproot the stump of an old Hala tree. Upon doing so, they discovered a spring which they named Ka Punahou (the New Spring).
