What is RIF?
Reading Is Fundamental, Honolulu, Inc. (RIF-Honolulu) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that serves children in areas on Oahu.
RIF-Honolulu:
• Encourages a love of reading through book ownership.
• Provides 16,000+ books a year to Pre-K – 3 students in under-resourced communities on Oahu.
• Is staffed entirely by volunteers.
100% of all contributions to RIF-Honolulu are used exclusively for our Oahu children’s reading program.
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FEATURED STORY:
Kahalu’u Elementary’s Monkeypod Tables and Benches
Many years ago, Uncle Eldean Kukahiko lived across the street from Kahalu’u Elementary School. He attended the school as a boy, and through the years his family stayed close to the school, and his grandchildren also attended.
Uncle Eldean was a pastor and kupuna at the school, befriending both students and teachers, as well as teaching ukulele. Several years ago a large monkey pod tree, planted in the 1960s on the campus, blew over during a storm. Uncle Eldean had an idea.
He got permission from the city to harvest the tree and use the wood. The school’s parent community helped him find a wood worker who sawed and milled the wood into planks. Uncle Eldean decided to teach his best friend, Peter Fields, how to turn the planks into tables and benches.
This was a lucky decision, because half-way through the project, Uncle Eldean passed away. The tables, benches, and poi boards were completed by Peter Fields at the Parks and Recreation area in Kahalu’u.
Now, two lovely long tables and four benches grace the Kahalu’u Elementary School Library with their beautiful shapes and rich grain.
The students sit at them every day, and the RIF volunteers especially like coming to Kahalu’u Elementary to sit at the tables, and to look over books and enjoy the delicious snacks provided by Ms. Kobashigawa and Mr. Nakaoka. Students in every grade pound poi on the beautiful monkey pod poi boards twice each year, led by Uncle Eldean’s wife, Aunty Darlene.outlook india
Latest Posts
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Grade 3 students receive two books end of RIF school year
RIF Honolulu gives third grade students two books at their last visit because, as fourth graders next year, they will no longer be part of the program. Ms. Pillittieri’s students at Kalihi Waena proudly displayed the two they selected. Earlier on, a new student had difficulty choosing a book (it IS difficult because they’re all so enticing!). Another student picked the one he was going to select, so he told that boy that he was thinking of picking it, and walked away. That student immediately gave it to him and picked another. Such a kind gesture from a fellow classmate!
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Pope Elementary’s Hawaiian Immersion Classes Enjoy RIF Visits
Kumu Kanoe’s Grade 2/3 Hawaiian immersion students made good choices in selecting their new books. RIF volunteers speak and read to them in English, while they communicate with their kumu in ‘oleo Hawaii the rest of the time. Love of books is universal and spans languages!
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Linapuni Elementary 💕Their New Books 📚
Ms. Susie Lee, one of our wonderful volunteers, visited Linapuni Elementary on January 24th. These kindergarten and first grade cuties received their second new book of the 24-25 distribution. What’s not to like about new books?!
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In Memoriam
We fondly remember Arlene Kawamura, who served as RIF’s Vice President and School Liaison after joining the team in 1998. Her attention to detail was invaluable, but it was her creativity that truly set her apart. Whether crafting calendars for our volunteers or written communication with her fellow team members, Arlene brought a sense of whimsy to everything she did. She had a special passion for visiting classrooms and sharing her love of reading with students. Arlene will be deeply missed, and her legacy will continue to inspire all of us.