Hawaii Literacy

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.

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

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

• Adult literacy tutoring
• English language learning
• Family literacy programs
• Mobile library services
• Digital literacy training

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core 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

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered secondary and core.

• Lanakila PacificsecondaryStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2021Partnership 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 CollaborativesecondaryStrategic or Co-development PartnerLynelle Marble, Executive Director, serves on Hawaii Literacy Board of Directors; strategic alignment around executive community.
• Kuhio Park Towers ResidentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with public housing residents at Kuhio Park Towers for Family Literacy Library services.
• Mayor Wright Homes ResidentscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with public housing residents at Mayor Wright Homes for Family Literacy Library services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/hawaiiliteracy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hawaiiliteracy

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles19 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Literacy