Sadly, many parents can’t read to their children

If you are reading this, you are not among the 150,000 Hawaii adults who are functionally illiterate. An estimated one in six, or roughly 16 percent, of adults in Hawaii cannot read or write the English language. So while we agree with the need discussed in the editorial, "Give kids reading help they need" (Star-Advertiser, Aug. 31), for parents to read to their children — for one in six adults who cannot read themselves — this is not an option. Since 1971 Hawaii Literacy has been transforming the lives of illiterate adults and their children teaching them to read and write.

You might think Hawaii’s illiterate adults are recent immigrants — people for whom English is not their primary language. However, two-thirds of the adults we tutor are native English speakers who fell through the cracks of our education system. Some have learning disabilities that went undetected. Others came from households in poverty that did not place a high value on a formal education. Many have parents who also cannot read. Most simply dropped out of school.

Without basic literacy, problems compound. Being functionally illiterate means an adult is unable to fill out a job application, write a note or send an email. He or she cannot read a medicine bottle or food label, use a bus schedule or read an elementary school assignment. In short, whenever a task depends on using printed materials, he or she cannot function effectively. As a result, 70 percent of adults in Hawaii who are functionally illiterate have no full-time job. Without help, they are trapped in poverty, and most likely their children will be, as well. Underscoring the importance of parental influence, the education level of a parent is the single greatest predictor of a child’s future chances of becoming educated and employed.

Hawaii Literacy provides free one-on-one tutoring for adults that improves their education and literacy level and importantly, gives them the skills to help their own children succeed in school. The program is confidential and very effective. Adults who gain literacy skills find the experience transformative. They report increased self-esteem, pride in reading to their children, and better communications with others, which often leads to promotions and better jobs.

Our 350 dedicated volunteers are key to our program’s success. Adult literacy tutors receive 16 hours of training based on a nationally accredited tutoring certification program and commit to participate in the program for least six months.

This year, thanks to the local support of many individuals and organizations, including the GIFT Foundation and the Honolulu Community Action Program, we have expanded our tutoring to address needs specific to parents, like reading report cards, attending parent conferences and helping a child become a strong reader, even if the parent cannot read well themselves.

Over the last 40 years, Hawaii Literacy staff and volunteers have helped more than 4,500 adults learn to read and write. That is an amazing accomplishment, but it pales in comparison to the need. If you know anyone who would like to improve their reading or writing, or to learn more about being a literacy volunteer, please visit www.hawaii literacy.org or call 537-6706. On Kauai, call 332-5544.

Mike Nauyokas, who submitted this commentary just before his unexpected death earlier this week, was a board member of Hawaii Literacy as well as a lawyer and mediator. He had donated $8,000 to help build a school library in a Cambodian village; it was completed last month.