CAROL ROCKFORD

After spending 40+ years in the financial workplace with an exhausting schedule plus a family life to maintain, I found myself retired with a lot of empty time!  I embraced the quiet time for a while until it became too quiet and too empty! 

Looking for meaningful volunteer work I came across Ohana 100 through the Clarence  Senior Center and it sounded very interesting.  After my first reading experience with them, I became very interested in the program and have continued volunteering. 

The children are amazing, fun and enthusiastic.  I was overwhelmed when recently reading and a child said "Miss Carol, I love you",  and other children wanted us to read even more stories.  It does truly warm the heart.  Some of my favorite stories are about  Elephant & Piggy, a series by Mo Williams.  The series is about two good friends and their daily adventures with attention to love, friendship and acceptance. 

I have definitely gotten way more out of this program then the time I've put into it~I'm so proud to be part of Ohana 100!!!.  

AVA ALDERS

I am a student at UH West Oahu and a member of the U.S. Coast Guard. I am currently in a scholarship program which allows me to go to school full time, participate in cool training and exposure with the Coast Guard.  Eventually, I will commission into a Coast Guard Officer.  

I have been so lucky to have met so many incredible mentors who have guided me, and I can see how directly those mentors shaped my dreams and helped me believe in myself -  this is why I wanted to volunteer with young kids!  I love what I get to do, and I am so grateful to all the people and experiences which have helped me on my path here.

My reading experience prior to Ohana 100 was reading to my little brother when we were both kids. He is 3 years younger than me, so for the short period of time when I could read and he couldn't, I would read him stories before bed. I used to mess with him and change some of the words to his favorite stories, because I knew he would notice. I used to replace peoples name's with French Fry and Hamburger and silly words like that and he used to laugh so hard. I really cherish those memories!

I am currently reading to a group of 60 Head Start kids at Aiea Elementary.  I have two favorite things about reading to kids:  First, I get to read kids books again! Children's books are often hilarious, and I really enjoy going to the library and picking out funny books to bring to the school. Sometimes I think I enjoy the books more than the kids do. 

Second, I love talking to the kids when I'm reading and asking them questions. During a dramatic moment in our story I will ask them: "What do you think is gonna happen next?" - The answers they give me crack me up! Sometimes the guesses and predictions they make about the stories are so creative and funny! Its really always a surprise and I love hearing what they have to say. 

Overall, working with Ohana 100 has been awesome!  I think reading is SO important for kids, and being read to in a really engaging and fun way for kids to practice their focus and critical thinking skills. I feel really lucky to have found this awesome opportunity. 

HILDE SMITH

As a youngster who could read at an early age I loved to read to other kids, recite poems and act out stories. My teaching career started in the American Dependents School in Frankfurt, Germany where I taught German to 2nd and 3rd grade students for two years before I came over here and ended up as a German teacher in High School. I loved my job and found it very satisfying. I fondly remember the younger children who were so responsive and attentive, and due to their younger age parroted my speaking with no accent noticeable when they spoke German. They even sang "Silent Night" in German on the  American Forces Network ( Radio).

So -- when I learned at the Senior Center that they were looking for readers, I volunteered. Furthermore I wanted to find out about Ohana 100, since I knew that "ohana" means family.  I learned that on our trips to Maui.  

I have enjoyed my reading with you, often the children respond actively, wanting more than one book, and the best is when some step forward and give you a hug or wave to you.

LOIS TAGAMI

 “Hi, Aunty!  Hi, Aunty!”  The voices of 20 preschool students filled the air as I entered their classroom.  “What books are you going to read us today?”  “Are you going to read us the one about the penguin again?  I liked that one!” 

Once a month, I visit the classrooms of four Headstart Programs across the island --- Wahiawa Elementary, Kaala Elementary, Kipapa Elementary, and Salt Lake Elementary.  As a retired elementary school librarian, I cherish the opportunity to be able to continue to share the joy found in reading and books by reading aloud to classrooms of three to five year olds.  I capture their attention, hearts, and minds by pairing up a fiction book with a nonfiction book.  In November, the children listened to A House for Hermit Crab  (Carle), then shared what they knew about crabs and learned some other facts about them from a nonfiction book about crabs.  In December, the children listened to A Christmas Wish for Corduroy (Freeman) and learned more about bears, then got an extra treat:  free books to fill the shelves of their home libraries.

Ms. Lois from Ohana 100 Reads to Head Start Children

https://www.hcapweb.org/hcap-weekly-may-30-2016/

I am so thrilled and fortunate to be a part of the Ohana 100 family that provides the gifts of literacy to the children of Hawaii through read-alouds and book giveaways.   As I pack up to leave, the clamor of little voices fill the classroom,  “Bye, Aunty!” “Bye Aunty!” and the students rush in to give me a big hug.  In return, I call out,  “Goodbye, my friends!  See you next month!!  

Mahalo to our volunteers for your dedication and continued commitment in helping Hawai'i and New York keikis! We are honored that you are part of our Ohana!