Star Ka-Uionalani Medeiros was born in Honolulu on November 29, 1956. She was raised on Maui and graduated from Lahainaluna High School.

She started working at Kaanapali Beach Hotel in 1974, in various positions in the Food and Beverage, and Front Office departments, then joined the Maui Surf Hotel as a Front Office Cashier in 1981. When the hotel closed for renovation in 1986, she worked at the Hyatt Regency Maui as a PBX Operator, continuing there part-time until 1994. From 1987, when the renovated hotel opened, and for the next 24 years, Star worked at The Westin Maui Resort, from a job in the Front/Back Office to her latest position as a Rooms Control Lead Agent. Among recognitions at the Westin, she received the Encore Service Legend Award.

Star was an exemplary member of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union for over 30 years, as a rank-and-file member and unit officer of ILWU Local 142. She began as a Shop Steward and Unit Bulletin Editor for the Maui Surf Hotel. At The Westin, she continued as a Steward and was reelected to serve four terms as their Unit Treasurer. Over the past 12 years, Star served as the hard working Unit Chair of The Westin Maui Resort - Unit 2505.

A third generation ILWU member, Star followed in the footsteps of her grandfather, who worked for McCabe, Hamilton and Renny as a longshoreman in Honolulu. Her mother, the late Edwina Smythe, was an outstanding leader of hotel workers in the ILWU.

Star believed in sharing what she learned through the union, especially in giving women the opportunity to develop leadership skills, to learn about concerns, goals, and problems facing workers and union members, both men and women. She attended the Western Regional Summer Institute for Union Women and organized a Maui Women’s Committee. In February 2003, she was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Local Executive Board, to represent the Maui Tourism grouping for that year. She was also an Organizer, and a member of the Local 142 Election Committee and Hotel Negotiations Committee

Star believed that what happens in politics affects working people’s lives every day, so she was very active in the ILWU’s political action program— both as a member of the union committee that makes decisions on which candidates and issues to support, and as a committed political action volunteer who led by example. Star had the ability to educate ILWU members about the connection between electing the right people, and protecting staron-the-job rights, benefits, and working conditions. She was successful in motivating workers to participate in the political process in many ways, including becoming knowledgeable about the issues that affect workers, registering to vote, and volunteering for candidates.

in the triennial ILWU Local 142 Conventions, from 1985 to 1991 as an observer, then as a delegate from 1994 to 2009. She was a delegate to the highest decision-making body of the ILWU, attending International Conventions from 1991 to 2009. At both Local and International Conventions, Star utilized her talents on the Constitution Committees and was known as an outspoken and respected union leader.

Star was active in the community. She was appointed by Goro Hokama to the Lahaina Community Advisory Committee to update the Lahaina Community General Plan and later served as a member and chair of the Maui Planning Commission. She was even asked to run for a seat on the Maui County Council.

Star married Wesley B. Medeiros and was mother to three sons—Casey Smythe and Jansen and Preston Medeiros. As a mother and supporter of sports for youth, Star also found time to serve on the Board of Directors for the Lahainaluna Booster Club and was Vice-President for the Lahaina Pop Warner Association.

Star died on January 16, 2012. She will be greatly missed by her family, friends, union brothers and sisters, and the Lahaina community she called home.