Listen to Me! Hawaii
- April 10, 2027

Listen to Me!® Hawai‘i

Five Years of Connection, Learning, and Growth

Since launching Hawai‘i as our first satellite location, Listen to Me!® has brought families and professionals together to support children with hearing loss in developing listening and spoken language. In 2026, we celebrated our fifth annual Hawai‘i conference—and five years of building relationships, sharing knowledge, and growing local expertise.

During that time, Baker has mentored 13 Hawai‘i professionals, helping strengthen the support available to children and families in their own communities. Mahalo nui loa to the families, local and mainland professionals, educators, university partners, volunteers, and community organizations who have made this work possible.

A New Chapter, Rooted in Local Leadership

Listen to Me!® Hawai‘i is continuing in a new format: locally led, one-day family workshops, with continued Baker support.

Beginning in 2027, we plan to offer two one-day workshops each year on O‘ahu, bringing core topics from our multi-day conference into a shorter, more accessible format. Guided by our Hawai‘i Regional Lead, Kimi Perez, MS, CCC-SLP, LSLS Cert. AVT, local professionals will take greater responsibility for delivering the program.

This transition reflects what we set out to accomplish: build local expertise and lasting relationships so Hawai‘i’s communities can increasingly lead and sustain this work. Baker will continue as a partner, contributing funding, resources, and guidance as local leadership and community support grow.

What Families Can Expect

Our workshops will offer opportunities to:

Learn practical strategies to support your child’s listening and spoken language during everyday routines.
Ask questions and connect with experienced professionals.
Meet other families raising children with hearing loss.
Build confidence and discover resources for your family’s next steps.

Workshops are designed especially for families who are new to Listen to Me!, and alumni families are warmly welcome. Our next workshop is planned for April 10, 2027, on O‘ahu.

Growing Together Across Hawai‘i

We are seeking community partners who share our commitment to children with hearing loss and their families. Partnerships with local organizations, healthcare providers, schools, and supporters will help sustain the workshops through funding, space, professional expertise, and other resources.

While we are starting on O‘ahu in 2027, our long-term hope is to bring this one-day program to the neighbor islands, working with local partners to understand and respond to each community’s needs.

Interested in attending, volunteering, or partnering with us? We would love to hear from you as we build this next chapter together.

Who is eligible?

Child must be between 0 and 10 years old.
Child must have hearing loss and use hearing technology to access sound. Children with any level of hearing loss are eligible.
Family must reside in Hawaii.
Family (including at least one parent/guardian) must commit to participating in the full day of the conference (8:30am–3:30pm).

How do I apply?

Apply online here.

After your application is received, our team will reach out to you with the custom registration fee for your family, which is based on a sliding scale from household income level.

APPLICATIONS ARE DUE July 17th.

How much does it cost?

The cost for families to attend Listen to Me! is based on a sliding fee scale. Please note that our top priority is to help families who need this most, so DO NOT LET COSTS PROHIBIT YOU FROM APPLYING. We will work with your family to pay only as much as you are able without it becoming a financial burden to you. Please contact Danielle Bourque for any questions about this policy:
danielle@bakerinstituteforchildren.org.

How are families selected?

The Listen to Me! Conference has a limited number of openings. We currently accept 14 families per year for the Hawaii Conference. Priority is given to families in greatest need of resources, information, and/or access to intervention services. We do keep a waiting list.

When will I know if my family has been accepted?

Accepted families are notified by mail, usually on or soon after August 15th.

After you have received an acceptance letter, you must pay the requested application fee to hold your family's place. If we do not receive your registration fee by the date requested, we will have to give your spot to a family on our waiting list.

What is a typical day at Listen to Me?

LTM Conference Onsite Daily Schedule Sample:

7:15-8:30 am
Breakfast

8:30-9:00 am
Welcome, morning music, children go to class

9:15-10:45 am
Educational presentation (based on daily topics: medical issues, speech & language development, IEPs & IFSPs, bilingualism, parenting/behavior management, expectations & outcomes)

11:00am-12:30 pm
Participate in child’s therapy session/ Skill building videos & group learning

12:00-1:30 pm
Lunch

1:30-2:30 pm
Making It Real At Home (learn how to incorporate your child's goals into your home routines)

2:45-4:15 pm
Parent Support Group/Large Group Learning Session

4:30-5:30 pm
Free time

5:30-7:00 pm
Dinner

Click here for this year’s schedule.

Photo of Kauai by Karsten Winegeart on Unsplash