The current generation of children on Maui have been through a lot in recent years. Covid isolated them and forced them into online learning, which many were unprepared for and lacked the resources for. When they returned to campus, they had to relearn how to communicate with others face-to-face. Just as life seemed to be returning to some degree of normalcy, the children witnessed the devastating fires in Lahaina and Kula. In the space of a day, their familiar world disappeared.
Additionally, in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, many people simply don’t read much anymore. In our emoji era, we prefer snappy messages that get straight to the point. We bemoan long emails and skip them if they don’t hold our interest beyond the second sentence. Today’s children are learning the same thing from adults.
Unfortunately, all of this means that many young people lack the education necessary for healthy mental development. This can hinder their academic success and conscious civic engagement.
It’s time to turn the tide and restore the power of books. Literacy skills are critical to academic success and overall well-being. That’s why the University of Hawaii Professional Assembly (UHPA), in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and First Book, a nonprofit organization founded in 1992, provides free books to families to ensure every child has access to new, high-quality books.
Reading helps students of all ages develop language skills and better understand the world around them. Reading also helps develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills. As educators, we know that books also promote children’s mental and emotional health by giving them a break from daily challenges. The stories in books can give young readers time to just be kids. Stories about heroes can also inspire them to dream of new possibilities for their own lives.
UHPA members know that literacy skills are critical to academic success. Access to new, interesting titles and timeless classics opens exciting doors and can prepare children for college. Reading is also a way to encourage diversity of thought, the foundation of academic success and a component of critical thinking necessary in today’s increasingly complex and divided world.
Last May, AFT and First Book celebrated a major milestone: over the past decade, they have distributed over 10 million brand-new books for free to schools, community centers, religious institutions, and union halls to help children discover the joy of reading. Together, the two organizations have hosted over 700 events in 41 states to teach literacy skills to thousands of participants, especially in underserved communities.
We are now introducing the “Reading opens the world” program to Hawaii, starting where the need is greatest: Lahaina. We will gift life-changing books to students on Maui, from kindergarten through high school, with Princess Nāhi’ena’ena Elementary School serving as our distribution site.
This will meet the need for new books in print, create hope, and rekindle passion for life and the future of Maui’s youth. It is our gift to the nā haumāna, the students, and we hope this is the first of many more First Book events in Hawai’i.
Karla Hayashi is director of Kilohana: The Academic Success Center at the University of Hawai’i at Hilo and president of the University of Hawai’i Professional Assembly (UHPA), and Nani Azman is professor of psychology at the University of Hawai’i Maui College and vice president of the UHPA.
