Lokahi Connect is a nonprofit educational organization advancing equitable literacy through meaning-first, structure-based instruction grounded in Structured Word Inquiry (SWI) and Integrative Neurodevelopmental Theory (INT). We support learners, educators, and families by replacing fragmented, rule-based literacy instruction with coherent, linguistically accurate approaches that honor neurodiversity and assume competence in all learners.
Founded to address persistent inequities in reading, spelling, and vocabulary instruction, Lokahi Connect centers its work on the scientific structure of English orthography, including morphology, etymology, and grapheme function, rather than memorization or sound-first rules. This approach is especially effective for neurodivergent learners and those underserved by traditional literacy models.
Lokahi Connect serves children and adolescents from kindergarten through grade 12, as well as adults, with a particular emphasis on learners with language-based learning differences, ADHD, and autism. Our programs include curriculum development, educator professional learning, parent education, and direct instructional support designed to improve literacy access, confidence, and long-term learning outcomes.
Lokahi Connect advances equitable literacy by providing meaning-first, structure-based instruction grounded in Structured Word Inquiry (SWI), Integrative Neurodevelopmental Theory (INT), and developmentally aligned narrative and seasonal rhythms. Our work supports learners, educators, and families by replacing fragmented, rule-based literacy instruction with coherent, linguistically accurate systems that honor neurodiversity and assume competence in all learners.
Across educational settings, many students struggle with literacy not because of lack of intelligence or effort, but because they are taught through fragmented systems that emphasize memorization, exceptions, and sound-based rules that do not reflect how English spelling actually works. These approaches disproportionately impact neurodivergent learners, multilingual students, and children from under-resourced communities.
Educators and families report high levels of frustration as students fail to generalize decoding, spelling, and vocabulary knowledge. Traditional interventions often increase instructional intensity without increasing conceptual clarity, leading to cognitive overload, disengagement, and diminished confidence.
Organization name
Lokahi Connect
other names
Meaning-First Literacy
Tax id (EIN)
33-3985311
Categories
Education
Geography Served
Bainbridge Island, Silverdale/Central Kitsap, Poulsbo/North Kitsap
Annual Revenue
Under $50,000
BIPOC Leadership
Board Members
BIPOC Serving
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, Multiracial
Address
367 COSGROVE ST NW