Every two years, members of the ILWU State Pensioners Association gather for a conference to learn about issues and programs that benefit seniors, hear about the state of the union, reunite with old friends and make new ones.

Some of the Maui Division pensioners with their Pensioner Club Coordinators Bill Drury and Virgilio Viernes (back left) and Local Vice President Robert G. Girald (front right).

Attentive pensioners learn about issues important to Hawaii’s elder citizens.

This year’s conference was no exception. More than 100 ILWU pensioners from Kauai, Maui, Hawaii and Oahu met on April 18-20 at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu for a schedule full of activities. 

Pensioners heard from all three Local officers during the conference about the state of the union. Local President Bo Lapenia talked about the importance of this year’s elections (see full text of speech below). Local VicePresident Robert Girald provided an update on the multi-million dollar renovations at the ILWU’s Honolulu headquarters. Local Secretary-Treasurer Guy Fujimura spoke with gratitude for the loyalty and dedication of our pensioners and the challenges of instilling those same values in our members today. 

Also speaking at the conference were Rep. Dwight Takamine, Rep. Roy Takumi, and Laura Manis of the Coalition on Affordable Long-Term Care. Rep. 

Takamine spoke about the challenges he faced this legislative session as chair of the House Finance Committee. Just as Hawaii’s economy was beginning to rebound, the tragic events of September 11 set us back once again. Rep. Takamine assured the pensioners that, despite revenue shortfalls, the Legislature was committed to providing for the needs of Hawaii’s residents. 

Rep. Takumi provided firsthand information about two bills that would provide relief for the high cost of prescription drugs. He noted that only Republicans voted against both bills (just as only Republicans voted against the Prepaid Health Care Act in 1974), saying that we should wait for Congress to enact prescription drug coverage through Medicare. But Rep. Takumi said our seniors cannot wait for Congress; Hawaii’s legislature needs to do something now. Both bills eventually passed this session and were signed into law on May 31. 

Laura Manis educated the pensioners about Care Plus, a proposal to provide long-term care services through a payroll tax of $10 per month. In 1992, when the Family Hope Program was first introduced, nursing home costs were about $40,000 a year. Today, costs average $168,000 a year. Few can afford —continued on page 6