Every production you see starts with a book, said musician Hank Curtis, who provided a variety of music from movie scores as well as “Green Eggs and Ham” to celebrate the birthday of Dr. Suess during the Read Across America celebration and giveaway on Saturday at Kukui Grove Center.
“Statistics show that reading skills and literacy play a huge role in the future success of Kaua‘i kids, so the goal was to celebrate reading throughout the day and make it cool by adding live readings by community members,” said Melissa McFerrin-Warrack of Kukui Grove Center.
“The true hero of the day came late, after helicoptering back aboard Air 1 from an actual rescue at Hanakapi‘ai and reading about being a fireman. This was a great way to break into educational programs that will be happening at the Kukui Grove Center,” McFerrin-Warrack said.
Taylor Shigemoto, of Hawai‘iUSA Federal Credit Union, one of the big sponsors of the Read Across America celebration, was one of the live readers. Shigemoto was joined by KQNG Radio on-air personality Ron Wiley, Kaua‘i County Council Member Dr. Addison Bulosan, Alice Luck of the Kaua‘i Planning &Action Alliance, Vance Pascua of Ainofea, and Kaua‘i County Council Member Bernard Carvalho Jr., who brought his grandson on stage to read about garbage day.
The Hawai‘iUSA FCU team of Taylor Shigemoto, Karen Shigemoto and Morgan Lopez distributed more than 200 tickets for a free book up to a $10 value. They also distributed countless numbers of poster sign-ups for the Spring Reading Challenge that could possibly earn young readers more free books when completed during spring break from March 11 through 18.
“This was the biggest participation we have seen for the book giveaway. All 150 tickets were redeemed by 12:30 p.m., so we had to print an additional 75 tickets so more students could benefit,” said McFerrin-Warrack.
“All of the students who performed with the Kapa‘a Middle School Choir and ‘Ukulele Band under Mary Lardizabal were presented with a ticket by Lopez, and Sheila Bradley of Sheila Bradley Books was overjoyed to see the middle school students selecting chapter books.”
Bradley partnered with Kumu’s Cupboard for a sales fundraiser where Kumu’s Cupboard earned a book for every two books sold at the large offering of children’s books.
The Kaua‘i Association of Family and Community Education team of volunteers, including Laurie Ho, Bev Pang and Daphne McClure, had keiki making bookmarks and notes on “The Places You’ll Go” for pasting onto the selfie station.
Kaua‘i Ocean Discovery also had keiki making ocean-themed bookmarks, and added a supporting cast that included Capt. Geoff Wall getting the in-person reading started. Wall was later joined by kupuna volunteers Doris Pina and Kawaihine Kaui, who brought a supporting cast of ocean puppets to their reading.
The Showtime Characters leprechaun jumped the wall to join the stilted Cat in the Hat to provide shoppers with the first glimpse of spring break activities, as well as St. Patrick’s Day, March 17.
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Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 808-245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
