Throughout Punahou, there is a wide and diverse variety of ethnicities and nationalities, which is what makes our campus so unique. Many students speak a broad range of different languages, and have moved to Hawaii from other countries. However, with limited opportunities aside from language classes, many find it difficult to deeply learn a new culture. In response, Punahou students have taken the opportunity to create “cultural clubs” that immerse partaking students in ethnic, traditional, and even nutritional aspects of their culture. 

Many cultural clubs exist at Punahou, but the two I interviewed are the South Asian Club and the Chinese Culture Club. While both represent different cultures, they have the same goals in mind: working towards achieving a more culturally diverse and aware campus.

The South Asian club, run by Sara Marzullo ‘26 and Vijay Trivedi ‘26, just started this year, and had its first meeting on October 2nd. At their first meeting, everyone collectively brainstormed fun activities for future club gatherings. Members then voted on which they enjoyed the most in a Google form, and some activities included Bollywood Movie Night, practicing Henna, celebrating Diwali, Bhangra Dancing, and Holi, with each meeting being accompanied by delicious South Asian cuisine. 

When I asked why they started the club, Marzullo stated, “We started our club to promote cultural awareness of South Asian countries… Along with sharing our culture with others, we wanted the South Asian Culture Club to also be a place where students like us feel represented.”

 In their eyes, the purpose of this club is not just to encourage others to learn about a new culture, but to provide a familiar and safe space for people to reconnect and immerse themselves with their backgrounds.

“We hope that when students leave Punahou, they have a sense of familiarity with South Asian culture and customs and continue to learn and share their knowledge with others,” Marzullo stated.

As someone of Southeast Asian heritage, I cannot wait to participate in future meetings and to learn more about my culture. The next club meeting will be held sometime in December, and I encourage anyone who is interested to reach out to Sara Marzullo and Vijay Trivedi.

The Chinese Cultural Club also actively participates in fun, traditional activities. At their first meeting of the school year, students participated in making tanghulu, a traditional Chinese treat you may have seen on social media. Before going through the cooking process, students were also taught Mandarin vocabulary and terms, while also learning a brief history of the food.

Hebe Xu ‘25, the current leader of the club, joined in her freshman year. 

“I wanted to reconnect with my culture,” said Xu. “I don’t take Mandarin at school, but I wanted to participate in the cultural activities that I usually don’t get a chance to.” 

During previous years, the club has also hosted many activities and events outside of school. These include celebrating Chinese holidays, cooking traditional foods, and even playing word games near Carnival time to practice vocabulary usage. The club has also participated in on-campus multicultural fairs and multicultural food days. 

However, all of these fun and lighthearted activities accomplish a broader goal. 

“My club aims to show students an aspect of Chinese culture that they usually don’t get exposed to,” said Xu. “While the media often portrays China with stereotypes, I hope Punahou students can recognize the vibrant sides of Chinese culture and not be so biased just based on what they see online.”

By educating Punahou students on every aspect of Chinese culture, Xu hopes to help foster a culturally diverse community around Punahou; a place where everyone respects and appreciates each other’s cultures.

If you want to participate in such traditional Chinese activities, while also learning more about the culture, you can contact Hebe Xu for more information about their next meeting. 

The South Asian Culture Club and Chinese Culture Club are just some of the many cultural clubs on campus that work toward educating students on the unique aspects of each culture. If you want to learn more about your culture, or if you just want to gain an understanding of different traditions, then cultural clubs are a great way to do so. With continued support, these clubs will undoubtedly enhance cultural awareness around our campus, leaving a lasting impact on Punahou School.