Hawaii Literacy

What We Do

Our mission is to help people gain knowledge and skills by providing literacy and lifelong learning services. Hawaii Literacy was founded in 1971 to tutor adults in basic reading and writing skills and hep them achieve their goals for a better life. Hawaii Literacy also operates two Family Libraries in Mayor Wright and Kuhio Park, the Bookmobile program serving 13 high need sites on the Wai’anae Coast, and operates an ELL program at three locations. In total our programs serve over 2,800 adults and children each year.

Who We Are

Hawaii Literacy’s programs work to help local adults and We train and certify volunteers to work together one-to-one to teach adults in need to read and write, and to help parents succeed in their role as their children’s first teachers.

ADULT LITERACY: One-on-one tutoring in basic reading and writing skills is available to English-speaking adults free of charge. This service is available throughout Oahu and Kauai. Volunteers tutors are trained and certified in the Laubach Literacy Method, proven to be the most effective means to teach adults how to read. Volunteers and students are matched up and usually meet weekly at their own specified time and place.

FAMILY LITERACY PROGRAM: Provides literacy programs for caregivers and children to promote reading and lifelong learning. Family Learning Centers at Mayor Wright Housing and Kuhio Park offer books, puzzles, crafts, and computers for children Monday through Friday. Children enjoy Story Hours on select Saturdays.

ENGLISH-LANGUAGE-LEARNER (ELL) PROGRAM AND DROP-IN CENTER: Offers free evening reading and writing classes to non-native English speakers at Mayor Wright Housing and Kuhio Park Terrace, and Kaumakapili Church. Sessions focus on life-skills for adults and their children. The Drop-in Center is available to all who want help with speaking, writing and reading English and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at Kaumakapili Church in Kalihi, Honolulu.

The BOOKMOBILE program makes weekly visits to 13 sites on the Wai’anae Coast, including several housing projects, family homeless shelter and the Boys & Girls Clubs. It offers a full check-out library, computers, games and other literacy activities to people of all ages, with a special focus on children ages 4 to 12.

Cause Areas

Keiki, Kupuna, Special Needs, Gender & Equality, Social Services, Education & Training, Advocacy, Human Rights, Community Engagement