Connie Hee ’70 Lau

When Connie Hee ’70 Lau walks into a room, she brings with her not just decades of groundbreaking leadership and experience, but also a quiet strength and warmth that immediately puts others at ease. As one of the first women to rise to the top ranks of Hawai‘i’s corporate world – leading Hawaiian Electric Industries as president and CEO – Lau didn’t just break glass ceilings, she built new paths for others to follow.

Lau, a Punahou trustee for nearly 30 years, was awarded this year’s “O” in Life Award by the Punahou Alumni Association. The award is the organization’s most prestigious honor, given to an individual who exemplifies the ideals of service to Punahou and the community. A luncheon in her honor was held on May 5 at the President’s Pavilion. Fellow trustees, past “O” in Life awardees, school administrators and family members were present to celebrate her.

“Connie was among the very first trustees that I met when I interviewed for my current job,” recalled Punahou President Mike Latham ’86. “Here was, I realized, a brilliant and experienced leader who was also extraordinarily kind. She encouraged me to stretch myself and really to stretch the School to pursue the goals that matter. And she was always supportive and encouraging.”

As a trustee, Lau has chaired several committees, including the investment and governance committees, and also served as board chair for two years. One of her legacies, according to Latham, is Lau’s commitment to building a culture of leadership within the board of trustees and thinking carefully about the future of that group.

“She is knowledgeable and skilled,” said fellow trustee Ethan Abbott ’72. “She always has an insightful and interesting view.”

A Yale graduate, Connie received her MBA from Stanford and a J.D. from University of California Hastings College of Law. She began her career as a corporate attorney in San Francisco, and then returned to Hawai‘i to join Hawaiian Electric Company. She and her husband, Russell, a fellow 1970 classmate, raised three children, Jennifer ’04, Gregory ’06 and Eric ’10, who also attended Punahou. Nationally recognized in her sector and celebrated locally, Lau took on leadership roles when very few women had risen to that level. As a board member for Kamehameha Schools and the Consuelo Foundation, she has been a champion for fairness and pono, fearlessly stepping up during challenging times and rising to positions of extraordinary influence and impact.

“I am really, really proud to be alum of this school. Punahou indeed made me the person that I am today, including that deep sense of responsibility for the community,” said Lau. “We know our school is special because when we talk with alumni, some of whom have moved far away from this wonderful place, they remember their years here with great warmth and emotion. It really is a community. And this is us. This is our community here.”

“I see a strong link between Connie and Punahou’s new mission statement,” said Trustee Wendy Crabb. “I think Connie is someone who, throughout her lifetime, has weaved a mat that seats so many.”