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Hawaii residents struggle to read (meaning they can only read elementary texts). This might be close to the U.S. average, but it’s a stark fall from grace for a region that was the most literate in the world .

Measures to improve the problem have emerged, but one piece of the puzzle has been missing so far: technology.

Although Hawaii’s literacy problem isn’t just about the numbers — it’s the story behind them.

Not everyone on the island speaks English as their primary language; speak a language other than English at home, which is higher than the U.S. average.

Another factor is the prevalence of social issues like homelessness — this problem is improving, with Hawaii no longer being the state with the most homelessness in the U.S. But it’s still much higher than the nation’s average; 44.9 per 10,000 are homeless, compared to 17 per 10,000 in the U.S. as a whole. 

These kinds of problems cause instability and make it less likely children will have access to the right resources or attend school. Not great for literacy.

What’s Being Done So Far

Hawaii’s literacy problem hasn’t gone unnoticed. Fifty years ago, the nonprofit was launched. The organization runs four programs, which aim to help the non-literate of all ages:

• Adult literacy — free one-on-one tutoring for reading and writing
• Bookmobile — a mobile library that takes books and other materials across the state.
• English language learner — free classes in English.
• Family literacy libraries — community centers with books, activities, and homework help.

However, these initiatives function in-person and took a hit during the pandemic. They’re also not making effective use of technology — could this be what Hawaii is missing?

How Edtech Could Help

Although these initiatives are admirable, it’s time to take things to the next level.

Educational technology (edtech) has improved leaps and bounds over the last few years. It now offers the potential to create personalized learning journeys, offer more engaging ways to learn, and use AI to adapt to an individual. 

For example, Simbi’s software narrates stories to readers and uses digital highlights to help the reader identify which words are being spoken and what they sound like. Other tools create games, songs, and interactive exercises to help learners get to grips with texts.

This may also be a preferable solution for adults who don’t want to admit openly that they struggle with literacy. 

It would be tempting to shrug the problem off as inevitable or say that everything is gradually improving, but it would be foolish not to take advantage of the solutions that exist. 

As electronic devices become more accessible and educational technology more advanced, it only makes sense to bring them to the forefront of literacy efforts.