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 annual 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.
Intern
Christopher Bartolome
Christopher Bartolome is originally from the Big Island, but has found his journey on O‘ahu as he attends Hawai‘i Pacific University and majors in business. At a young age, he found passion in helping the community as he would pick up trash at the park, host recycling drives, and volunteer at care homes. He figures that no matter how busy a person can be, there will always be time to help those in need as he devotes his time to make a difference one project at a time. He joined Read To Me International to inspire children and adults about the power of literacy and to further educate the next generation of leaders in the world. In his free time, he enjoys reading, hiking, cooking, hanging out with friends and family, and trying new things.
Intern
Irene Abut
Irene Abut was born and raised on Maui. After graduating high school in 2016 she spent two years studying at Seattle Pacific University before transferring to Hawai’i Pacific University to complete her degree in English. As a child she has always been inspired by the stories that she read, the lessons that they taught, the places that they allowed her to go and the people that they let her be. She joined Read To Me International to not only share the joys of reading to others but also to show the importance of reading in our day-to-day lives. When she’s not in class or at work she enjoys reading novels, writing fiction and creative nonfiction pieces, traveling and learning new things.