Who We Are

Mission

Our mission is to help people gain knowledge and skills by providing literacy & lifelong learning services.

Vision

We believe that well trained volunteers can teach adults to read and write, that adults need relevant curricula and material for learning, that parents are their children's first teachers, and that literacy is vital to full participation in a democratic society.

History

Hawaii Literacy began in 1971 when two people who had received Mainland training in the Laubach method (Harry Chun-Hoon and Myrtle Lee) contacted Laubach Literacy Action in Syracuse, New York for help in organizing a volunteer tutoring program in Hawaii. The first workshop was presented by a tutor trainer from New York.  The newly-trained tutors began tutoring in the Kalihi area.  The program was incorporated in 1972 and received tax-exempt status in 1973. The emphasis was on English as a Second Language (ESL.) By 1979 there was a total of over 80 tutors who had worked with more than 250 students on Oahu and the Big Island.  Since then Hawaii Literacy has offered various services on many of the islands in our state.  There is now an Adult Literacy program on Oahu and a fledgling Adult Literacy program on Kauai which provide assistance to more than 80 students at any given time; a Family Literacy program begun in 1990 which provides libraries other services to families in a few housing projects in the Kalihi area; an ESL program which offers small classes to adults in the housing projects in Kalihi;, a bookmobile (the “Classroom on Wheels”) which offers books, literacy-related activities, and computer use to several groups on the Waianae Coast; and an Adult Literacy Drop-in Center in Kalihi for adult students who have various literacy needs and/or are seeking ESL instruction.  Hawaii Literacy is seeking to expand its services to people on all of the islands; the emphasis is on working with the under-served adult population.

Officers and Board of Directors

Officers

  • R. Scott Simon, President, Assistant General Counsel, Hawaiian Telcom, Inc.
  • Rebecca Knuth, Vice President, Professor, Library & Information Science Program, University of Hawaii
  • Daniel Ho, Treasurer, President, Hawaii Self Storage
  • Suzanne Skjold, Secretary, Executive Director, Hawaii Literacy, Inc.

Board of Directors

  • Mitchell Kaaialii, Assisant Vice President, First Hawaiian Bank
  • Sean K. Knox, President, HI Employment, LLC
  • Marc Okumura, Vice President, Administrative Solutions
  • Bradston M. Sakamoto, President, OD Solutions
  • Brett Seitman, Founder & President, It’s All About Kids, LLC
  • Ryan Takaki, President, Direct Support Resources, Inc.
  • Shaun Salvador, Vice-President, Marketing & Communications, Hawaii Self Storage
  • Jason Masaki, Hawaii Pacific Health
  • Gary R. Baumer, Retired Senior Officer, JPMorganChase
  • Rachel del Rosario, Owner, All Radiant, LLC

Financial Resources and Funding

We are tremendously grateful for the strong and continued support of the following corporations, foundations, agencies, and individuals, for the vital financial and in-kind support and donations they provide to our programs and organization, and for the trust they place in us to bring greater literacy to those we serve and to help make our communities in Hawai’i stronger, better places for this and future generations. Mahalo!

  • Aloha United Way
  • Aloha Petroleum
  • Atherton Family Foundation
  • Barnes and Noble Booksellers
  • Border’s Books & Music
  • City and County of Honolulu
  • Executive Women International
  • G.N. Wilcox Trust
  • The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Fund
  • Hawaii Community Foundation
  • Hawaiian Telcom
  • Honolulu Community Action Program
  • The Koaniani Fund, an advised fund of Silicon Valley Foundation
  • Kahuku Community Fund
  • Knudsen Memorial Fund
  • The McInerney Foundation
  • Murphy's Bar & Grill
  • Okamura Family Foundation
  • Pizza Hut Literacy Fund
  • Pi Beta Phi Alumnae of Honolulu
  • The Plaza Club
  • The Rose Perenin Foundation
  • Rotary Club of Windward Oahu Sunrise
  • Servco Foundation
  • Shidler Family Foundation
  • Target Corporation
  • Waianae Coast Rotary Club
  • Weinberg Foundation
  • The Wong Foundation

For Annual and financial reports please contact our main office.  For IRS Form 990, visit www.guidestar.org or contact our main office. Hawaii Literacy, Inc. is a private non-profit corporation with 501(c)(3) status. All donations are tax-deductible (Federal ID# 23 - 7198698).

Partnerships

Hawaii Literacy is pleased to partner with the following agency’s in our communities, and are grateful for their continued collaboration.

  • Aloha United Way
  • Family Literacy Coalition
  • Hale Kipa, Inc.
  • Hawaii Statewide Literacy Network
  • HeadStart Project
  • Heald College
  • Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP)
  • Kuhio Park Terrace Family Center PACT (Parents And Children Together)
  • Mayor Wright Housing Tenant Association
  • Palama Settlement
  • Pro Literacy Worldwide
  • Read To Me International
  • Three Paths
  • YMCA Honolulu- Weed & Seed Safe Haven Program

Privacy Policy

Hawaii Literacy does not knowingly collect, track, distribute or maintain any personal information from visitors to our website.  Our site log may generate certain kinds of non-identifying site usage data, such as the number of hits and visits to our site, which may be used to provide better services to the public and may also be provided to others, but these statistics contain no personal information and cannot be used to gather such information.  For complaints or questions regarding our privacy policy, you may contact us at the above address.

Programs