Hawaiʻi Public Libraries and Kristi Yamaguchi Launch Winter Reading Challenge Feb. 6-22

Hawaiʻi State Public Library System and Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream program launched the Read for the Gold Winter Reading Challenge to keep keiki reading alongside the 2026 Winter Olympics. The statewide program invites students in grades K–12 to sign up, log minutes and earn collectible stickers and prize entries between February 6 and February 22, 2026.

Students register and track reading through the Beanstack Tracker app or the library system’s winter reading page. Program materials note, "Every 50 minutes participants read will earn an entry for a chance to win." In addition to prize-drawing entries, readers reach milestone rewards: bronze stickers at 50 minutes, silver at 250 minutes and gold at 350 minutes. Stickers can be picked up at a student’s local public library across the system’s 51 branches.

Prizes include a limited edition READ poster autographed by Kristi Yamaguchi, a special edition Kristi Yamaguchi Barbie doll and an exclusive virtual meet-and-greet with Kristi Yamaguchi. The challenge frames reading with Olympic themes of dedication, perseverance and achievement and aims to sustain literacy habits when school routines and schedules can shift.

State Librarian Stacey A. Aldrich emphasized the program’s goal: "This challenge is designed to keep students engaged in reading while connecting with the excitement and inspiration of the Olympic Games." Kristi Yamaguchi added the initiative’s educational focus: "This statewide challenge with the Hawaiʻi State Public Library System is a fun and meaningful way to encourage young readers across the islands to build confidence, develop a love of reading, and set themselves up for success in the classroom and beyond."

Beyond prizes, the effort carries public health and equity implications. Early literacy is closely tied to educational attainment, which in turn affects long-term economic stability, health outcomes and civic engagement. Libraries in lower-income neighborhoods often serve as critical access points for books and learning supports; offering free participation through existing library services and a mobile app helps reduce barriers for families who may lack home resources.

Practical details matter: the program runs through Feb. 22, but all public libraries will be closed for Presidents’ Day observance from Saturday to Monday, February 14 to 16, 2026, which may affect in-person sticker pickup. Families should check local branch hours and plan sticker collection around the holiday closure.

For keiki and caregivers across the Big Island, Read for the Gold is both a chance to celebrate the Olympics and a nudge toward constructive screen-free time that supports school readiness. Sign up via the library system’s winter reading page or through the Beanstack Tracker app on Google Play or the Apple App Store, log minutes, pick up earned stickers at your branch and enter drawings for the special prizes during the February challenge.