Staff

Lynne Waihee
President - lynne@readtomeintl.org
As a youngster, Lynne Waihee found magic in her otherwise mundane life through the world of princesses and princes, fairy tales and fables. In real life, Read To Me International President Lynne Waihee has led a charmed life as a former First Lady of Hawai‘i, during which time she served as the Honorary Chair for the Governor’s Council for Literacy. A former high school English teacher, literacy was a perfect fit for her role as First Lady, and Waihee has now championed childhood literacy’s cause for over 23 years. She recalls with fondness reading in bed to her own children, John IV and Jennifer, and anxiously awaits the day she has grandchildren to whom she can read. Meanwhile, she finds great joy in reading aloud to anyone’s children, and to adults as well . . . including husband John.

Liane Akana
Executive Director - liane@readtomeintl.org
Liane Akana has served as the Executive Director of Read To Me International since 2000. As a child, she experienced the joy of being read aloud to by her mother and passed along the tradition with her two sons, Kevin and Aaron. Liane put her passion for books and reading to good use at the University of Hawaii at Manoa and the University of Oregon, School of Architecture and Allied Arts, where she received a B.A. in Sociology and an M.S. in Public Affairs, respectively. A recovering binge reader, Liane rediscovered Newberry Award books and can finally attend to the demands of family life.

Monica Coldwell
Community Outreach Director - monica@readtomeintl.org
Monica Coldwell has been the Community Outreach Director of Read To Me International since the summer of 2008. With a B.A. in Theatre from the University of Hawaii, she is a 15-year veteran actor and improviser of the local theatre community. Monica, a less-than-reluctant reader, finds ways of working reading, both non-fiction and fiction, into most aspects of her life. A past chapter of her life includes a starring role as the Community Relations Manager at the Barnes & Noble – Ala Moana, where she was surrounded by the books and information she loves.

Pat Mizuno
Program Director
Dubbed the “Read To Me Goddess,” Big Island-born Pat Mizuno serves as Program Director of Read To Me International. While still a mortal, she received a B.S. in Speech Pathology and Audiology from the University of Hawaii, and then an M.A. in Education. Not satisfied to rest on her laurels, she also became a Certified Trainer for the National Center for Family Literacy, and is one of only a handful of trainer-practitioners. Pat’s extensive experience in family literacy includes 17 years at Lanakila Elementary School, Liliuokalani Elementary School, and Likelike Elementary School. Currently, Pat puts her goddess-like talents to use on inmate parents in four Hawai‘i correctional facilities and teaches for and oversees Read To Me’s award-winning Fathers Bridging the Miles program.