The snack bar’s decision to replace its homemade cookies in 2023 has had a noticeable impact on the student experience at Punahou. While the change may seem small, it reflects a shift away from something that many students looked forward to during the school day. As a cookie enjoyer, I find the transition disappointing—not only because the new store-bought cookies taste worse, but because something familiar and meaningful to Punahou Academy students has been lost.

Lucas Perry ‘26, a self-proclaimed “cookie enjoyer,” shared his and many students’ disappointment with the snack bar’s transition away from homemade cookies. When asked his preference between home-made and store-bought cookies, Lucas stated that he would “obviously have to say home-made cookies.” He described the shift as “extremely disappointing,” expressing sadness that the snack bar would resort to such a “malevolent level of cookie,” compared to the traditional cookie that students once loved.  Lucas described the former cookies as the “actually good cookies,” emphasizing the clear difference in quality. 

In contrast to student frustration, Mr. Uyemura, Punahou’s food service director, explains that time concerns and a growing focus on healthier options drove the shift away from homemade cookies. He explained that “it’s all about healthy options,” pointing to items such as the yogurt parfaits, fruit salad, frozen grapes, and acai bowls, food that requires significant time to prepare and package. Because of this shift, staff do not have the time capacity to produce and wrap 500 cookies each day. He states that the current cookie is far more efficient: “We take it out of the box, thaw it out, and we sell it.” While Mr. Uyemura acknowledged that “everyone wants it back,” the reality is that the snack bar staff must prioritize speed and efficiency. As he put it, “There is always a possibility, but until we find a solution that is sanitary and faster,” the return of the original and far superior cookie remains uncertain. 

Another Punahou senior, Kayla Vong, shared how the cookie change has directly impacted her daily habits. Kayla shared that she “no longer buys the cookies” despite previously purchasing one “once or twice a week.” She explains that this is due to a noticeable decline in quality. The original cookie “had a chewy texture but was also dense, but the new ones are crumbly, chewy, and cakey, and the chocolate chips are just bad.

Beyond taste, Kayla shared her emotional attachment t/o the cookie, admitting, “I actually think about them a lot.” While she appreciates the snack bar staff and said they are “wonderful,” she made her point clear, saying, “I’d much rather have the cookie back than have the fruit.” 

While there are valid reasons for prioritizing efficiency and healthier options, the loss of homemade cookies has left a noticeable gap in student experience and tradition. A simple change in how they are sold could bring them back. Instead of individually wrapping each cookie, the snack bar could serve them on trays with tongs to maintain sanitation while reducing prep time. Another option could be handling cookies with gloves and displaying them in a covered case, similar to how bakeries operate.

At the end of the day, the solution feels pretty obvious: bring back the cookie!