As a former Punahou parent I think you are onto something here Mr. Oppegaard.  Coming to Hawaii from the east coast (with its top ranked private and public schools), it puzzled me as to why people are so defined by where they went to high school rather than college, job, etc.  Punahou absolutely provided a first class education and is a truly wonderful school (and rightfully ranked as one of the very best in the nation), but there is something bizarre about how local people think and speak about it, as well as pursue it.  It is not a place for the best and brightest to aspire to, but rather a desperate requirement to attend Punahou or Iolani in order to actually BE the best and brightest.  The pathetic condition of most public schools and DOE in Hawaii (which we tried prior to private schooling) is to blame for much of this desperation.  The quality chasm is so huge between public and private education that this is where any discussion must begin - with the public schools.