ILWU Local 142 is building bridges to the next generation of Hawaiʻi’s workforce, showing young people that good jobs and a strong future are possible when workers stand together in a union.

On Friday, September 19, Local 142 took part in Castle High School’s Career Exploration Fair, an event that welcomed hundreds of students—from freshmen to seniors—to meet with local employers, education programs, and community groups.

This is the second high school the union has engaged with this year, following a successful collaboration with Farrington High School in Kalihi. These efforts are part of the Membership Services program’s ongoing work to strengthen relationships with local schools and to create pathways from classrooms into good union jobs. Employers have welcomed this initiative as well, given that many union companies are currently short-staffed and eager to bring on new workers.

Throughout the day, each grade level and academy at Castle High rotated through the fair in one-hour sessions, giving students the chance to explore dozens of potential career paths.

The ILWU Local 142 table was staffed by the Membership Services Coordinator along with volunteers from the Oʻahu Division. They shared information about the union and distributed flyers highlighting nearly a dozen ILWU-represented companies that are actively hiring. Each flyer included job descriptions and links to applications, providing students with a tangible pathway to employment once they graduate—or in some cases, even while they are still in school.

To draw students in, the table also featured a raffle for union beach gear, including a popular dry bag and towel. But more importantly, ILWU representatives used the opportunity to engage students directly in conversation. When groups of students walked by, union reps often stopped them with a simple question: “What do you know about unions?”

The answers varied, but most students admitted they knew little or nothing. That opened the door for impromptu “Union 101” lessons on the spot. Students learned how unions fight for fair pay, job security, and benefits, and how they give workers a voice on the job. They were encouraged to ask every vendor at the fair whether or not their company was union, sparking a broader awareness of the difference between working in a union shop and a non-union shop. From there, students were invited to explore opportunities with ILWU-represented companies and sign up for the raffle.

What became clear throughout the day is that ILWU jobs can meet students at different stages of their lives. Some ILWU employers can hire high school students immediately for part-time or seasonal work. Others can bring students on as soon as they graduate and are ready to work full-time. Still others, particularly in specialized fields such as medical professions or transportation, can hire students once they complete certifications like a CDL license or post-secondary degrees.

In addition to reaching students, the fair was also an opportunity to connect with Castle’s teachers and counselors. Several expressed interest in strengthening employment pipelines for their students, while others were eager to incorporate more labor history into their classrooms. These relationships will help ILWU Local 142 deepen its presence in an important space: Hawaiʻi’s public schools, where the next generation of workers—and union members—are being educated.

By the end of the day, the Castle High School Career Exploration Fair proved to be more than just an event to hand out flyers. It was a chance to plant seeds about unions in young minds, to spark curiosity about workers’ rights, and to open doors to good-paying, secure jobs.

As ILWU Local 142 continues this work with schools across the islands, the goal remains clear: ensuring Hawaiʻi’s future workforce knows that when workers stand together, they can build not just careers, but stronger communities.