A Dictionary of Their Own — Opening Doors for Hilo's Keiki

Youth Service | Literacy & Education

A simple gift. A world of words. A lifetime of possibilities.

Through the Rotary Club of Hilo's Third Grade Dictionary Project, we give local keiki something special — a dictionary they can call their very own. Along the way, we help children discover the joy of words, build confidence in learning, and experience the excitement of receiving a book that's theirs to keep.

Project at a Glance

What We Do: Provide free personal dictionaries to third-grade students and introduce them to the fun and value of using a dictionary.

Where: Participating elementary schools throughout Hilo and East Hawaiʻi.

When: An ongoing annual Rotary program, with classroom visits coordinated with participating schools.

Who Benefits: Third-grade students, their families, teachers, and our broader island community.

Our Partners: Participating schools, teachers, and school administrators. The project is part of a larger effort by Hawaiʻi Island Rotary clubs to support literacy among third graders.

Project Contact: Rotary Club of Hilo — Youth Service / Dictionary Project Coordinator.

How to Help: Club members can volunteer to prepare dictionaries, visit classrooms, help students explore their new books, and support the project's annual distribution.

About the Project

More Than a Dictionary

Imagine the surprise on a third grader's face when a Rotary volunteer hands them a brand-new dictionary and says, "This is yours to keep."

For some children, it may be the first book they've ever owned. And when they're invited to write their own name inside the cover, something wonderful happens. It's no longer just a dictionary. It's their dictionary.

Every year, Rotary Club of Hilo members visit participating elementary schools to personally present dictionaries to third-grade students.

But the real magic begins after the books are handed out.

Together, students and Rotarians explore the wonderful things hidden inside their new dictionaries. They look up words like aloha, care, fair, and respect. They discover fascinating facts about the world, explore maps and information about the states, and even learn how to spell ALOHA using sign language.

Children learn that a dictionary is much more than a place to check spelling or find definitions. It's a tool for curiosity, discovery, and independent learning.

And best of all, it's a resource they can take home, share with their ʻohana, and use for years to come.

A Moment That Stays With You

Longtime Hilo Rotarian Treena Breyfogle has participated in dictionary deliveries for many years. She remembers the surprise and excitement on children's faces when they are invited to write their names inside their new books.

As Treena shared:

"Many cannot believe they have a book of their own."

Treena admits that she once wondered whether children growing up with computers would still find joy in receiving a printed dictionary. But after experiencing these classroom visits firsthand, she discovered something much more meaningful.

Not every child grows up in a home filled with books. For some, the experience of receiving a book that belongs entirely to them can open a door to reading, learning, and new possibilities.

These are the moments that remind us why Rotary's commitment to education matters.

Watch the Dictionary Project in Action

[Embed Hilo Rotary Dictionary Project YouTube Video Here]

See how a simple classroom visit becomes an experience of discovery, excitement, and connection between Rotarians and our keiki.

What Our Volunteers Do

The Third Grade Dictionary Project is a hands-on opportunity for Rotary members to support literacy while connecting personally with young students.

Before the Classroom Visit

Volunteers work with participating schools to coordinate the number of dictionaries needed, prepare the books, and organize delivery dates.

During the Visit

Rotarians personally present each student with a dictionary, invite children to write their names inside, and guide them through activities that make exploring the book fun.

Students discover new words, fascinating facts, and useful reference information. They also learn a little about Rotary and the values of fairness, caring, respect, and service.

After the Visit

We celebrate the experience, thank our school partners, and share stories and photographs that show the difference this program makes.

For many Rotarians, witnessing the excitement of a child receiving their very own book is one of the most rewarding parts of the project.

Our Community Impact — Service in Action

Every dictionary delivered represents an investment in a child's curiosity, confidence, and future.

Throughout the school year, our members visit local classrooms, bringing dictionaries, encouragement, and the joy of learning to our keiki.

Here are some of the people and moments that make this ongoing program special.

October 2026 — A Special Mahalo from Haili Christian School

Hilo, Hawaiʻi | Third Grade Dictionary Delivery

Rotary Club of Hilo members Wally Wing and Treena Breyfogle recently visited Haili Christian School to deliver dictionaries to third-grade students.

The students expressed their appreciation with a colorful, handmade "Mahalo Nui" poster, signed and decorated with their names.

It's a beautiful reminder that the most meaningful part of this program isn't simply giving a child a dictionary — it's the connection, excitement, and appreciation shared between our keiki and the Rotarians who care about their future.

Photo caption: Hilo Rotary members Wally Wing and Treena Breyfogle with a heartfelt mahalo from Haili Christian School's third-grade students, October 2026.

More Classroom Visits and Special Moments

[Add future event photos and short updates here — newest first]

As our members continue visiting schools throughout the year, we'll share more photographs and stories celebrating the students, teachers, and Rotarians who make the Dictionary Project possible.

Each visit is another opportunity to inspire learning and strengthen the bonds between Rotary and our island community.

Who Benefits?

Our Keiki: Students receive a valuable learning resource they can call their own, helping build vocabulary, reading skills, confidence, and curiosity.

Families and ʻOhana: A dictionary becomes a resource that students can share at home, encouraging conversations, reading, and discovery.

Teachers and Schools: The program provides students with an additional educational tool and brings community support directly into the classroom.

Our Rotary Volunteers: Members experience the joy of encouraging young learners and seeing firsthand how even a simple gift can have lasting meaning.

Our Community: Supporting childhood literacy helps create opportunities for the next generation of students, workers, and community leaders.

Help Us Open More Doors for Our Keiki

The Third Grade Dictionary Project comes to life through the generosity, time, and aloha of Rotary members and community supporters.

Whether helping prepare dictionaries, visiting classrooms, or supporting the program, every contribution helps make the experience possible.

You don't need to be a teacher to make a difference. Sometimes all it takes is a little time, a welcoming smile, and a willingness to share the joy of learning.

Come be part of a Rotary tradition that gives our keiki more than a book — it gives them something of their own and the encouragement to discover what's possible.

[Contact the Rotary Club of Hilo] | [Learn About Membership]

Rotary Club of Hilo — Youth Service: Helping Our Keiki Learn to Read and Read to Learn.

DICITIONARY DETECTIVE

Created by Hilo Rotary Club