‘Generous’ donors
help Punahou

About $50,000 was stolen from
the school early last month

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By Rosemarie Bernardo
rbernardo@starbulletin.com

Punahou School officials said parents and other donors have come to the rescue after someone stole about $50,000 raised last month at the school's annual carnival.

School spokeswoman Bonnie Judd declined to identify the donors or the amount of the donations other than to say, "It was a generous amount."

"We are very grateful," she noted yesterday.

Early on Feb. 3, maintenance workers discovered an open safe in the business office of the Sullivan Administration Building. The thief or thieves took about $50,000 that was raised from the Feb. 1-2 carnival, police said. School officials would not say how much was raised overall at the carnival.

"There were no signs of forced entry." said Lt. Sherman Chan of the Honolulu Police Department's Burglary and Theft Detail.

Someone may have had a key to the office and the combination to the safe, Chan said.

Police are continuing their investigation and are questioning Punahou employees and others. "It's a long and arduous list," he said.

No arrests have been made.

Fingerprints and shoe prints were found, but "the results are inconclusive," Chan said.

Since the theft, Punahou School officials have assisted police in their investigation. "They've been very forthcoming and cooperative. They want to solve this as much as we do," he said.

Most of the money raised at the carnival supports scholarship funds and financial aid. Remaining funds assist juniors with graduation expenses and yearbook costs.

Traditionally, the Punahou School junior class organizes the event with the help of parents and faculty members. About 4,000 people volunteer to work at the carnival.

Judd said about 10 percent of students who attend Punahou School benefit from financial aid.

"The kids worked so hard on it," Chan said.

Two days before the carnival started, a number of stuffed animals were stolen from a tent while students and volunteers prepared for the event. However, Chan said the two thefts are unrelated.