2026 Fall Newsletter Hawaii
November 12, 2026
Always Dream
Fall Newsletter
A New Chapter of Reading, Celebrating, and Giving Back
A new school year means new stories and plenty of excitement for our Always Reading families!
Across Hawaiʻi, Always Reading is kicking off at 26 partner schools on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island, Molokaʻi, and Maui. From classroom launches to in-person and virtual family orientations, keiki and caregivers are meeting their dedicated Book Coaches and discovering all the ways they can make reading together part of their daily routines.
All smiles at Kailua Elem.! Along with their digital library, students receive hard-copy books to add to their home library.
Program Manager Terrie led an in-person family orientation at Kalihi Waena Elementary in September.
Our orientations also give families an opportunity to ask questions, explore the Epic digital library, and build connections with the Book Coaches who will support them throughout the school year.
Excitement is already building! As one caregiver shared during a recent virtual orientation:
Watch: The Heart of Always Reading
https://youtu.be/hFz9gK69uqA?si=Inr0EpffPelJk96m
First debuted at our Hawaiʻi Dream Gala, this special video offers a closer look at the heart of Always Reading: the relationships our Book Coaches cultivate with families, educators, and young readers. See how personalized guidance, encouragement, and a shared love of reading are helping ʻohana build strong literacy foundations, one story at a time.
Save the Date – 2027 Hawaiʻi Dream Gala! 🌺
Join us at the Pacific Club in Honolulu for our 2027 Hawaiʻi Dream Gala – Saturday, April 24, 2027! Early bird discount on sponsorships and tickets coming January. Stay tuned!
Meet Our New Book Coaches!
Our Hawaiʻi Always Reading team is growing! This summer, we welcomed three wonderful new Book Coaches: Seona and Chan, based on Oʻahu, and Larae, based on Maui!
As Always Reading expands to reach more schools and families across Hawaiʻi, we’re thoughtfully growing our team to ensure every ʻohana continues to receive the personalized guidance and encouragement that makes our program special. Each of our newest Book Coaches brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and passion for supporting children and families, and we’re so excited to have them on board!
30 Years of Stories That Inspire:
What a Night!
https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD8EUz
What an unforgettable celebration of 30 years of Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream in San Francisco this year! Thanks to the incredible generosity of our sponsors, guests, and supporters, our 30th Anniversary Gala raised $778,000 to support our continued work with young readers and their families.
We’re so grateful to everyone who made this milestone celebration possible and helped us turn the page toward an exciting new chapter!
View Our Photo Gallery (https://flic.kr/s/aHBqjD8EUz)
30 Friends for Our 30th Anniversary
As Always Dream continues to celebrates our 30th anniversary, we are looking for 30 dedicated supporters to join us as our 30 Friends for Our 30th Anniversary. If you have ever wished you could do more for the young readers we serve, this is your opportunity.
From now through December 31, each Friend will have a personal peer-to-peer fundraising page and will raise funds on behalf of Always Dream by inviting their own network of family, friends, and colleagues to give, through social media, email, and conversation. By sharing why Always Dream matters to you, you can turn your circle of connection into a circle of support and open the door to reading for more keiki.
Our goal is to welcome at least 30 Friends before year-end, and every person who steps forward brings us closer. Will you be one of them?
To learn more, please contact Ken Levin, Director of Philanthropy, directly at ken@alwaysdream.org (mailto:ken@alwaysdream.org) . He would love to share how it works and help you get started.
https://alwaysdream.org/ways-to-give/
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http://youtube.com/@kristiyamaguchisalwaysdream
https://alwaysdream.org
1150 South King Street Suite 608
Honolulu, HI 96814
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