We’re getting closer to having our Contact Us and Donate pages function as they should. If you’ve tried to contact us, we are NOT ignoring you; we still aren’t receiving notifications and have no way to even view messages. The Donate page only works if you want to download the form and mail to us with a check, but we hope the credit card payment button will work soon.

In the meantime, check out some great books Ms Pillittieri’s third grade class selected at Kalihi Waena’s visit yesterday!

We’ve had many technical difficulties that we hope will be resolved soon. In the meantime…

To kick off a new year of school visitations, RIF volunteers enjoyed another yummy and entertaining get-together. Prospective volunteers met current ones, and everyone shared a bit about themselves. Fred shared the best – another story called ‘The Dragon and the Pearl”. 

Watch the moral 😝 at the end of the 12 minute video 🐉.

As always, much mahalo to our hostess, Janis!

This year’s RIF volunteer appreciation luncheon was held at Natsunoya Teahouse and we were fortunate to have the RIF National CEO and President, Alicia Levi, “crash our party”! 

RIF Honolulu’s 2024-2025 school year has recently concluded. Over 16,000 books were distributed to students at our 18 schools. We love that they express their appreciation to our dedicated volunteers in enthusiastic greetings, hugs, and thank-you notes! 

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!

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!

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?!

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.

At our RIF “Warm-Up” before our school visits begin next week, volunteers were treated to delicious fruit, pastries, coffee, and more .. PLUS Fred’s story-telling rendition of “How the Rooster Got Its Crown”. Fred changes up his stories when he visits classrooms, and the children love it!

View the 12-minute video

Volunteers also shared how they engage students, which was fun and enlightening. Mahalo to our host Janis 💕