The Hawai‘i State Literacy Coalition is a coalition of literacy leaders, representing the public and private sector and organizations across all age groups, who are committed to ensure all learners have access to opportunities to become literate and be contributing members of society. The members are represented by community organizations, early childhood programs, K-12 system, and higher education institution.
Definition of Literacy
The Coalition embraces the International Literacy Association’s definition of literacy. Literacy is “the ability to identify, understand, interpret, create, compute, and communicate using visual, audible, and digital materials across disciplines and in any context.”
Hawai‘i State Early Literacy Guide 2024
The Hawai’i State Early Literacy Guide is grounded in the following philosophical
principles, which are underpinned by both practical and scientific knowledge about
high-quality early childhood literacy education.
Call To Action
- Join the coalition, contact us.
- Read Aloud to a child!
- Read the Hawai‘i State Literacy Plan.
- Get a library card!
- Check out #808Read Reading Challenge.
- Tap a literacy partner to support literacy in your community.
- Host and fund literacy opportunities in your community!
- Support your local literacy events!
Belief Statements of the Coalition
By lifting up the Hawai‘i State Literacy Plan as a shared guide, the Coalition believes that:
- Literacy is the shared kuleana of all stakeholders (e.g., educators, families, businesses, community partners, philanthropic organizations, etc.).
- Literacy empowers individuals and society, as a whole, regardless of cultural background and socioeconomic status.
- Literacy impacts one’s quality of life – self-esteem, personal health, relationship, and life expectancy.
- Literacy instruction that is developmentally appropriate and culturally sustaining can lead to greater awareness of issues, including those of access and equity, and therefore to greater engagement in democracy in general.
Key Areas of Work
- Advocacy and Policy Development – Provide a unified voice to promote effective and equitable literacy practices across the state.
- Capacity Building – Provide professional learning opportunities, share resources, and support programs and schools to foster equity in literacy for all individuals.
- Communication – Create unified messaging and communication campaigns to increase support for literacy.
Publications & Resources
Videos, Webinars & Podcasts
- Promotional Videos
- Webinar
- Podcasts
- Imua Literacy, is a podcast dedicated to moving Hawaiʻi forward with local literacy solutions.
- Sold A Story