What We Do
Read To Me International promotes reading aloud to children through:
- Presentations and workshops for parents, educators and other interested groups
- Read alouds at schools and community gatherings
- National-quality biennial conferences
- Support for parents of young children living in transitional and affordable housing
Our Mission
Share the love and joy of reading aloud.
Goals
- Ensure that every child is read to every day for at least 10 minutes.
- Model good read aloud techniques.
- Promote reading aloud to a broader audience of stakeholders.
Staff
President
Lynne Waihee
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.
Executive Director
Kara Kusunoki
Kara Kusunoki began her career as a public school teacher. Teaching was an invaluable experience that inspires her to support youth and their caregivers. Kusunoki has worked in the education and healthcare industries with a focus on nonprofit administration. Though she studied finance and politics in college, her passion is reading; she is grateful to have supportive family members and teachers who contributed to her library of books growing up. Kusunoki believes in Read To Me International’s mission because she has experienced how reading aloud stimulates children’s emotional and academic development, and can provide readers different ways to see the world.
Development Director
Aileen Shin
Aileen Shin has partnered with several local non-profit organizations to advance their missions and goals. By creating a symbiotic relationship between the Board of Directors, supporters, businesses and the broader community, Aileen has successfully integrated resources to further the missions of these non-profits. Along with creating, coordinating and implementing fundraising efforts, Aileen has worked with leadership teams to meet and monitor financial goals, assist various accreditation processes, and provide guidance for strategic planning.
Executive Administrator
Shannon Murphy
In childhood, Shannon molded her earliest philosophies (and imagination) through the worlds of Dr. Seuss and Maurice Sendak. This led her to consider careers in feline psychology, fox footwear, sailing in the direction of wild things, and other general adventuring. Her quest happily culminated in a career that is a little more exciting – Nonprofit Administration. Having served as Office Manager and Director of Operations with Honolulu nonprofit organizations in the medical research and social service sectors, she comes full circle and turns to her first love – sharing the wonder of reading with a child. She has passed this on to her son (an adventurer in training) and hopes to spread the word to families everywhere!
Mā‘ili Site Assistant
Shondell Palacio
A true Nānākuli home grown resident, Shondell Palacio has spent all of her life in the Nānākuli neighborhood and is a graduate of Nānākuli High School. She has served her community most of her adult life, working with families and caregivers. She is now working part-time with Read To Me International as the Mā‘ili Site Assistant and continues to serve her community by providing tools, tips, and resources to promote reading aloud through the RTM10 Program.
Part-Time Assistant
Leolani Pias
Leolani Pias is a mother of four children whose ages range from one to eighteen years old.
After graduating high school, Leolani attended the University of Hawaii for two years in pursuit of her bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She deferred her educational pursuit to take a position with Aloha Airlines. With its closing, she returned to her passion of working with children. She subsequently opened a family childcare center in her home. While pregnant with her last child, she attended a Read To Me International parent coaching workshop. She fell in love with the tips and tools to enhance her reading to her children. After volunteering with the agency for a year and a half, she became a part-time assistant in the Mā‘ili RTMI office. In her position, she keeps those who have gone through the workshop connected by putting together post-workshops, family education excursions and volunteer opportunities for graduates to read in the classrooms of their community.