2024 BOOKGIVING

DKAFF Book Giving is another way for teachers to get books for their children. Our donors, chose specific teachers to receive books and this is the result for 2024.

Recipients:

Fern Elementary: 2nd- Arakawa, Jambaro, Taboada and Nojo. 1st- Carr. Nitta and Belmoro. K -Arakaki and Kagesa. PK: Kaa and Mijata.

Kalihi Elementary: 2nd-Shira and Wong

King Kaumualii Elementary: 2nd Marvek, Arakaki, Umakosh, Nitta, Tabonair. 1st- Sandrine, Casseler, Yamamotoya and Taylor.

Lihikai Elementary: PK- Sagano. K-Haia. K- Gouldburn. 1st- Okeuchi, Ramos, Sniffen, Real, Bisera, Fronda. 2nd- Gibuena, Isagawa, Domingo, Bugler, and Orikasa.

Makaha Elementary: PK- Lenchanka and Milligan. K- Laa, Dennis, Bennett Kamaka-Ramos, and Honda. 1st- Iwanaka and Calbero. 2nd- Gilbreath, Andres and Yagi.

Maunaloa Elementary: 5th and 6th- Esaniola. 4th- Fernandez 3rd- Kaulia, 1st & 2nd Bicoy. K- Turah,. and PK- Mollena.

Waikoloa Elementary: 2nd- Cresencia Ker and Mante. 3rd- Unbedacht and Salgado.

Waimanalo Elementary: PK- Clayton and Iwaishi. K- Wilson and Elman. 1st- Nagaki and Kaneshro,. 2nd- Elmasri and Wong. 3rd- Clayton.

Making A Difference Near and Far

 In July, Dayna Santos and her son Regan read to ABCD children in Batavia, New York. The kids enjoyed Regans story so much, they couldn’t help but give him A BiiiiiiG hug.!! Mahalo Kolleen for always welcoming our readers!

Dayna continued the giving for kids at Kilauea and Hanalei Schools on the island of Kauai. Mahalo Ms. Sara D.

Mahalo Dayna and Regan for being part of the giving and making an impact on these young minds!1 GO! READ

Community Day at Camp Erdman

Volunteers participated in the YMCA Community Day at Camp Erdman on Sunday, March 10 that attracted families from all over the island. They engaged guests with literacy activities and also distributed books. Mahalo to Jennifer Holmberg YMCA community Director and 89ner for organizing this wonderful event. Mahalo to Catherine, Cobyn and Madison for your help this day.

RECAP 2023

The 2023 was a year field with events promoting the foundation, from reading to kids, at Kapunaha EL with Lena, publishing our first children’s book “A Beach Day with Pa”, Ekahi event celebrating Pa Akaka’s 99th Bday at Pacific Club, sending books to molokai with Will, distributing books to Kaneole EL kicking-off Aloha Akaka Week, marching in the Aloha Week parade, simply celebrating the gift of reading and learning with the community and with our Ohana! MAHALO to Hawaii Team Pat, Rose, Lena, Will, Olivia, Donalyn, Nick, Nikki, Catherine, Dwayne, Kaeyla, Cobyn, Roxanne, Milton, Everyone who helped with Ekahi (PT89 planning team and volunteers: Brook, Moana, Akoni, Dayna, Tira, Gayla, Courtney, Lloyd and Milton) and mahalo to our Originals Team), we appreciate everyone that helped to make this year a success!! Mahalo again and GO! READ



Aloha Festival Parade

Volunteers participated in the Aloha Festival Parade. It was a 3.5 mile route from Ala Moana Beach Park through Waikiki to Kapiolani Park. Mahalo to everyone for participating in such a short time: Milton Hee (driver), Auto Buyers Hawaii for lending the convertible car, Roxanne Olayan, Mom and Dad Olayan, Roosevelt High School Key Club and Honor Society Members, Nick Akaka, Nikki, Cobyn and Catherine.

Maui Visit

We visited Maui and met with community members, friends of victims from the Lahaina fire. Mahalo Rosa S., Maria B. Margie, Colleen N. and James Q. for all your time. We appreciate the hard work and commitment to servicing families affected by the fires. We send our prayers of comfort and support to you and the Maui communities. We were also able to get books to Maui children.

RECAP 2022

We find ourselves moving back to familiar spaces, where few programs in continued online virtual reading and where our volunteers returned to the classrooms. MAHALO to Aunty Pat, Aunty Rose, Ms. Sandy, Ms. Olivia and Uncle David for reading kids in Hawaii this year. We appreciate you being part of our Ohana Hawaii Team and we appreciate your commitment to literacy. MAHALO also NY Team: Ms. Linda, Ms. Eileen, Ms. Wendy and Ms. Marie for reading to our kids in WNY. We truly appreciate your commitment to the foundation and to children in Hawaii, New York and around the world. GO! READ

RECAP 2021 Hawaii

The giving continued throughout 2021, to Kaleiopuu EL, Haliewa El, Hauula El, Kapunahala EL and Maunaloa EL. Our volunteers stayed connected and read to over 100 children virtually on Oahu and Molokai. They also reached a broader audience around the world, reading stories for our YouTube Channel O100 GO! READ. Since we started in April 2020, our channel has gotten over 140,000 views.

Our Veteran Volunteer Rose Leong was awarded 2021 Outstanding Older American Award for the City & County of Honolulu.

We continued the support of families with the Festival of Hope for Families with Child & Family Services in October.

Mahalo Nui Loa to all our volunteers Auntie Pat, Rose, Kody, Maile, Bel, Katie, Olivia, Donalyn, Melissa, Catherine, David, Emily, Corina for sharing your stories, Roselily, Kawika and Esmenio for helping with distributions and our partners Child & Family Services, LeJardin Students, Ohana Kokua Club for helping to make this year a success! GO! READ

BOOKS FIND HOME IN WAIPAHU

Kalei’opu’u EL was the recipient of 488 gently used books over 522 new books for grades K to 6. Kalei’opu’u EL is located on the Leeward side of the island of Oahu in Waipahu. It is about a 40 minutes drive from Honolulu. These books will continue to bring the joy or reading and learning at home.

This would not be possible without the help from our friends and partner Ohana Kokua Club members who coordinated a gently used book drive from March 15 through April 30th.

Big Aloha and Mahalo to Mrs. Toni Ramirez Carlos and other staff for being there everyday in the classroom! We appreciate what you do for your children! GO! READ

ROSE LEONG Recipient of Outstanding Older American Award

Ohana100’s very own volunteer Aunty ROSE LEONG was awarded The Outstanding Older American Award for the City and County of Honolulu, for her contributions to literacy in our community. Congratulations Rose! We are so Proud of You!

History of Older Americans Month

When Older Americans Month was established in 1963, only 17 million Americans had reached their 65th birthday. Historically, Older Americans Month has been a time to acknowledge the contributions of past and current older persons to our country. Every president since John F. Kennedy has issued a formal proclamation asking that the entire nation pay tribute in some way to older persons in their communities.