$300 million plus in philanthropic donations to date from the Arrilaga family continues with the opening of a new student center
When students returned to ‘Iolani School for the spring semester on January 20, 2026, they were greeted by more than a new campus building; they were welcomed into the next chapter of a storied tradition of community, connection, and generosity.
The newly opened Arrillaga Student Center, a 60,000-square-foot, three-story hub for student life, represents one of the most ambitious investments in the school’s history—a building designed not merely to house activities but to inspire them.
The $70 million facility replaces a mid-century student center that had anchored campus life since 1959, reflecting both the School’s deep respect for its past and its aspirations for the future.
At its core is a two-story dining and social hall, anchored by an expanded commercial kitchen, which dramatically increases capacity and transforms daily meals into vibrant moments of community. Surrounding this heart of the building are a new Health and Wellness Center, collaborative classrooms, a dedicated sixth-grade suite with its own courtyard, flexible gathering spaces, and nearly 20,000 square feet of rooftop event space offering sweeping views of Diamond Head and the Waikīkī skyline.
The building bears the name of Justine Stamen Arrillaga and John Arrillaga in tribute to their leadership gifts through the Arrillaga Foundation, whose support of $11 million toward the student center helped unlock broader campaign success and stands as the largest single monetary commitment in ‘Iolani’s history.
The gift was never intended as a solitary act but as a catalyst, designed to inspire others in the community to join in shaping the center’s future.
Through the Arrillaga Student Center: Community and Culture Fund, contributions at all levels are honored—$10,000 gifts on a donor wall within the center, and more substantial gifts tied to specific spaces—creating a layered tapestry of collective investment in the school’s vibrant life.
The Arrillagas’ support for ‘Iolani builds on a broader legacy of philanthropy that spans education, health, the arts, and community life.
The family’s foundation holds assets exceeding $31 million and has provided multi-million-dollar grants to institutions across California, Hawaii, and beyond, including support for higher education and community causes in Menlo Park and Honolulu.
Long before the student center’s opening, that legacy was already visible in numerous institutions whose programs and places bear the family’s name.
The late John Arrillaga, a Stanford alumnus and Silicon Valley real estate pioneer, was one of the most generous benefactors in the university’s history, giving more than $250 million to his alma mater over time, including major gifts of $100 million in 2006 and $151 million in 2013—among the largest individual gifts in the university’s history. His contributions underwrote scores of facilities, endowed scholarships, and enabled campus transformation that has touched countless students and faculty.
Equally, his generosity extended to community causes such as the Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area, where his support helped expand facilities serving families with critically ill children.
That deep commitment to giving lives on through family members who have made their own mark on philanthropy. Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen, daughter of John and a director of the Arrillaga Foundation, has built a global reputation as a leader in giving education and strategic philanthropy, founding educational platforms that empower donors of all backgrounds to give with intention and impact. Her work includes creating and teaching pioneering courses at Stanford University and shaping frameworks that connect generosity with effectiveness.
Taken together—through institutional support, community impact, and educational leadership—the Arrillaga family’s contributions now amount to hundreds of millions of dollars over decades of cumulative giving, a testament to a philosophy that views generosity not as an occasional act but as a way of life.
At ‘Iolani School, that philosophy now has a physical home. The Arrillaga Student Center sits at the center of the 25-acre campus not just as a new structure, but as an expression of shared purpose.
Architects describe the design as a “physical embodiment of ‘Iolani School’s spirit and energy,” offering fluid indoor-outdoor movement, shaded terraces, and open spaces that connect every corner of the campus.
As the building glows against the Honolulu skyline after dusk, it stands as a lantern of possibility—welcoming students, faculty, and families into an environment shaped by generosity, enriched by community, and poised to nourish countless future experiences.
Photo: Laura Arrillaga-Andreessen and Iolani School