Hawaii Literacy
Hawaii Literacy is a Honolulu-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that delivers five free literacy, English language, digital skills, and family reading programs to children and adults across Hawaii. It serves 5,000+ beneficiaries annually using 400+ trained volunteer tutors.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1971
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Hawaii Literacy does
Hawaii Literacy, Inc. (FEIN 23-7198698) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1971 and headquartered at 245 N Kukui St. Ste 202, Honolulu, Hawaii. It delivers five free programs: the Adult Literacy Program (one-to-one volunteer tutoring for English-speaking adults age 16+ preparing for G.E.D., job applications, and daily literacy), the Bookmobile (mobile library serving Wai'anae Coast, Kalihi-Palama, South Kona, and Oceanview), the English Language Learner Program (free English classes from beginner to advanced at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Kukui Center and online), Family Literacy Libraries (two sites at Kuhio Park Towers and Mayor Wright Homes public housing providing books, homework help, and adult classes), and the Digital Literacy Program (free computer classes launched in 2021). Programs operate across Oahu, Hawaii Island, Kauai, and Molokai, reaching 5,000+ adults and children annually with 400+ trained volunteer tutors and 40,000 cumulative beneficiaries since founding.
The organization has no proprietary technology platform; service delivery is community-based and volunteer-driven. Its revenue model is diversified across donations (individual, corporate, foundation), grants (Aloha United Way, Nareit Hawaii, Atherton Family Foundation, Weinberg Foundation, City and County of Honolulu CDBG, Pizza Hut Literacy Fund, Sotheby's Hawaii Charitable Fund, International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans), event-based fundraising (annual Pau Hana for Literacy, charity walks, book fairs), and a passive affiliate stream via the Books That Give Back program. All programs are free to participants; the organization does not charge learners. Corporate sponsorship depth is anchored by Hawaii-based institutions including American Savings Bank, aio Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, HMSA, Hawaiian Telcom, Bank of Hawaii, Central Pacific Bank, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, and Hawaii National Bank.
Hawaii Literacy is governed by a Board of Directors whose membership overlaps with senior leadership of major Hawaii enterprises (HMSA, American Savings Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, Hawaii National Bank, HECO, Accuity LLC, aio Hawaii, iQ 360, HiEmployment). Executive leadership is Jill Takasaki Canfield, supported by program managers for Adult Literacy (Celeste Oshiro Wong), Digital Literacy (Law Chavez), and Adult Literacy coordination (Lisa Jacob). Recent strategic milestones include the 2021 launch of the Digital Literacy Program and 50th-anniversary celebration, and a May 2026 Adult Literacy expansion to Molokai.
Hawaii Literacy firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Hawaii Literacy
- Legal name
- Hawaii Literacy, Inc.
- Website
- https://hawaiiliteracy.org
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1971
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Hawaii Literacy is a Honolulu-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1971 that delivers five free literacy, English language, digital skills, and family reading programs to children and adults across Hawaii. It serves 5,000+ beneficiaries annually using 400+ trained volunteer tutors.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Hawaii Literacy industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Adult and Family Literacy Services
- NAICS
- Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy (EDAAAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Family Literacy (Parent/Child & Intergenerational) (EDAAAAAE), Basic Digital Literacy (Device, Internet, Email) (EDAAAAAC), Literacy & Numeracy Intervention (Reading/Math Support) (EDAJALAD)
Keywords
Where Hawaii Literacy is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices4 records
Markets served
Hawaii Literacy business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Donations and Contributions: Hawaii Literacy relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations to fund its five free programs. One-time and monthly donations can be made through PayPal on the organization's website.
- Grants: The organization receives grants from foundations and government entities including Nareit Hawaii ($40,000), Aloha United Way, Atherton Family Foundation, City and County of Honolulu CDBG, Pizza Hut Literacy Fund, and others to support specific programs.
- Fundraising Events: Annual Pau Hana for Literacy fundraiser at Murphy's Bar & Grill, charity walks, book fairs, and legacy giving programs generate revenue. Ticket prices for events range from $45-$75.
- Books That Give Back Program: Authors donate a portion of proceeds from book sales to Hawaii Literacy, creating a passive revenue stream while supporting literacy awareness.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Freemium | Others | Free literacy programs for adults and children |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels8 records
Hawaii Literacy product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Hawaii Literacy delivers five free programs — Adult Literacy one-to-one tutoring, Bookmobile mobile library service, English Language Learner classes, Family Literacy Libraries inside public housing, and a Digital Literacy Program — to children and adults with the lowest literacy skills across multiple Hawaiian islands. All programs are free of charge to participants and are supported by more than 400 trained volunteer tutors plus a small paid staff. The organization provides books, mentors, literacy promotion, and the skills needed to achieve life goals such as G.E.D. completion, citizenship, and employment.
Product overview
Hawaii Literacy is a nonprofit organization founded in 1971 that offers five free literacy programs focused on children and adults with the lowest literacy skills. The five core programs are: (1) Adult Literacy Program offering one-to-one tutoring for English-speaking adults; (2) Bookmobile Program providing mobile library services to underserved communities across Oahu and Hawaii Island; (3) English Language Learner Program for adults learning English; (4) Family Literacy Libraries serving public housing residents with books, homework help, and parent workshops; and (5) Digital Literacy Program (launched 2021) providing free computer classes for adults. The organization serves over 5,000 adults and children annually with support from over 400 volunteers.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Adult Literacy Program Free one-to-one tutoring for basic reading and writing skills for English-speaking adults age 16 and up. Learners are matched with trained volunteer tutors and meet once or twice weekly in public locations such as libraries, parks, or cafes, with goals including G.E.D. preparation, job applications, citizenship, and daily living tasks.
- Bookmobile Program Mobile library service that travels from the Wai'anae Coast to Kalihi-Palama and surrounding areas of Honolulu, as well as South Kona and Oceanview. Provides families with access to books, educational materials, and literacy-related activities at after-school programs, affordable housing developments, transitional housing, and shelters.
- English Language Learner Program Free English language classes for adults learning to speak English, with services available for speakers at all ability levels from beginners to advanced. Classes are delivered online and in-person at the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Kukui Center.
- Family Literacy Libraries Two community libraries and education centers (Kuhio Park Towers and Mayor Wright Homes) where children can borrow books, access homework help, and receive tutoring. Sites also offer English classes, digital literacy workshops, and financial literacy workshops for parents and adults, and are open to public housing residents.
- Digital Literacy Program Free basic computer classes for adults related to real-life skills, launched in 2021 alongside Hawaii Literacy's 50th anniversary. Designed as an open environment supporting drop-in computer hours or scheduled weekly classes for adults of all backgrounds and skill levels.
Quantifiable outcome
- 40,000 adults and youth helped build reading and writing skills since 1971
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Hawaii Literacy
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Hawaii Literacy technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Hawaii Literacy partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.
- Lanakila PacificsecondaryPartnership in Summer Food Service Program. Lanakila Pacific and Hawaii Literacy provided meals for children at Mayor Wright Homes Family Literacy Library during summer months.
- Hawaii Executive CollaborativesecondaryLynelle Marble, Executive Director, serves on Hawaii Literacy Board of Directors; strategic alignment around executive community.
- Kuhio Park Towers ResidentscorePartnership with public housing residents at Kuhio Park Towers for Family Literacy Library services.
- Mayor Wright Homes ResidentscorePartnership with public housing residents at Mayor Wright Homes for Family Literacy Library services.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Hawaii Literacy competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ProLiteracy: The largest U.S. adult literacy membership organization, supporting a network of community-based literacy programs with volunteer tutors. Directly comparable mission, volunteer-tutor model, and adult basic education focus.
- Reach Out and Read: National nonprofit promoting early literacy among children in low-income families through book distribution and pediatric partnerships. Overlaps with Hawaii Literacy's Bookmobile and Family Literacy Libraries in target population and book-distribution model.
- Reading Is Fundamental: Long-standing U.S. children's literacy nonprofit providing free books and literacy resources to underserved youth. Highly comparable to the Bookmobile program in mission and book-distribution mechanics.
- Literacy Inc. (LINC): NYC-based nonprofit that builds literacy skills in children through community-based programming. Comparable community-led, family-literacy approach and volunteer engagement model.
- First Book: Nonprofit that distributes free and low-cost books to children in need, with focus on Title I and underserved schools. Comparable book-access mission overlapping with Family Literacy Libraries.
- Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP): Hawaii-based community action nonprofit serving low-income residents with education, workforce, and family services. Comparable community-embedded service delivery model targeting similar Hawaii populations.
- Literacy Volunteers of Hawaii (Hawaii Literacy affiliated): State-level adult literacy affiliate delivering one-to-one tutoring to adults across Hawaii; identical program model and target population to the subject company.
Broad incumbents
- Dollar General Literacy Foundation: Large national foundation funding adult literacy, family literacy, and ESL programs. Comparable funding footprint and grantee base as Hawaii Literacy's foundation partners, but operating as a funder rather than direct provider.
- Hawaii State Public Library System: Public library system providing free books, ESL classes, and digital literacy across Hawaii. Overlaps with Hawaii Literacy's library, ELL, and digital literacy programs but as a much broader public-sector institution.
Regional players
- Hawaii Children's Action Network: Hawaii-focused child welfare and education advocacy nonprofit. Comparable Hawaii-based nonprofit ecosystem and shared target population of underserved keiki and families.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Hawaii Literacy social profiles
Digital presenceHawaii Literacy financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Hawaii Literacy leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
Hawaii Literacy funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Hawaii Literacy M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Literacy
What does Hawaii Literacy do?
Hawaii Literacy delivers five free programs — Adult Literacy one-to-one tutoring, Bookmobile mobile library service, English Language Learner classes, Family Literacy Libraries inside public housing, and a Digital Literacy Program — to children and adults with the lowest literacy skills across multiple Hawaiian islands. All programs are free of charge to participants and are supported by more than 400 trained volunteer tutors plus a small paid staff. The organization provides books, mentors, literacy promotion, and the skills needed to achieve life goals such as G.E.D. completion, citizenship, and employment.
Is Hawaii Literacy a public or private company?
Hawaii Literacy is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Hawaii Literacy founded?
Hawaii Literacy was founded in 1971. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Hawaii Literacy based?
Hawaii Literacy is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does Hawaii Literacy make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Donations and Contributions are the primary driver. The others are grants, fundraising Events and books That Give Back Program.
Who are Hawaii Literacy's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ProLiteracy, Reach Out and Read, Reading Is Fundamental, Literacy Inc. (LINC), First Book, Honolulu Community Action Program (HCAP) and Literacy Volunteers of Hawaii (Hawaii Literacy affiliated). Broad incumbents are Dollar General Literacy Foundation and Hawaii State Public Library System. Hawaii Children's Action Network is listed as a regional player.
Does Hawaii Literacy have an API?
No public API is recorded for Hawaii Literacy.
What industry is Hawaii Literacy in?
Hawaii Literacy's product category is Adult and Family Literacy Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAAAAAA, Foundational Reading & Writing Literacy, with a secondary code of EDAAAAAE, Family Literacy (Parent/Child & Intergenerational). Its NAICS code is 611710 and its SIC code is 8200.