First lady promotes a love of reading
Hawaii first lady Dawn Amano-Ige signs autographs for Wailuku Elementary School students Friday afternoon while promoting reading in the school library. Amano-Ige read the book “Protuditi!” by Chris Van Allsburg and gave each student a book. She visited the school to present 300 books donated by Scholastic for the school’s Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge. Student Council President Adrianah Mercado, 11, said the free books were welcome gifts. “It was really good because a lot of people in our school cannot afford books,” Mercado said. Jameson Apana, 10, said he appreciated the visit. “It was really nice of her, especially coming to Maui to read to us.” Nohealani Pulawa, 11, said reading can grow on a person. “In the beginning, I read a lot of books because my grandmother made me,” Pulawa said. “Now, I love reading. We have a whole bookshelf in our house.” Amano-Ige is a former 3rd-grade teacher and high school vice principal.
SECOND PHOTO: Amano-Ige talks with Wailuku Elementary School students Friday.
The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos