Returning Vice Presidemt Corinna 
Salmo Nguyen expressed similar 
sentiments but highlighted the 
importance of one of the union’s 
most critical forms of support—
Business Agents. “ILWU Business 
Agents keep the administration of 
the union clean and tight. My goal 
in this triennium is to provide the 
Business Agents with the training 
and support they need to do the best 
job they can for the members. I’d like 
to see unity, not only as a collaborative 
and supportive environment across Divisions 
but also as uniformity in our processes and 
procedures.”

2025 will kick off with a Full
Time Officer training attended by 
all Business Agents. The training 
will cover key administrative 
responsibilities of BAs as well as 
strategies for building strong Units.

The Local’s Secretary-Treasurer, 
Michael Victorino Jr., also shared 
his vision for the triennium with 
The Voice. “I’m going to spend this 
triennium working with UEBs to 
strengthen their financial position. Our 
Units can and should be financially 
prepared to support negotiations and 
mobilizing, meetings and events 
that build member engagement, 
and education and training for their 
members. Giving the Units the training 
and support necessary to meet their
    

members’ needs in this way is my 
focus moving into the new year.”

International Impact Members of Local 
142 are sure

to feel the effects of the International 
elections as well. Brandon Wolff, who 
comes from the Hawaiʻi Longshore Division 
and served as Local 142’s Legislative Liaison 
during this triennium, was elected to the office 
of International Vice President, Hawaiʻi.

The International Titled Officers 
include two Vice President positions: 
one designated “Hawaiʻi” and one 
designated “Mainland.”

Wolff shared that he intends to bring 
the International and the Local closer 
together through a three-pronged 
approach. First, he plans to “fortify the 
foundation,” which he defines as the 
membership. Wolff wants to increase 
buy-in and participation by building 
stronger relationships between 
members and their union, ensuring a 
more significant presence in their lives.

Unlike ILWU locals, the 
International Vice President has 
a direct relationship with federal 
political action. Wolff plans to 
maximize this connection to bring 
greater federal support and funding 
to issues important to Local 142’s 
members, as well as to the broader 
public and labor community in Hawaiʻi.

Finally, the International Vice 
President is responsible for new 
organizing, and Wolff plans to 
aggressively expand the ILWU’s 
presence in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific.

When asked what will keep him 
grounded in this new and high-stakes 
role, Wolff responded, “We will always 
remember where we come from, where 
we are trying to go, and our mission to 
fight for this union and for Hawaiʻi.”

New legislature, new Liaison
With Brandon Wolff moving to 
the International, Brenson Wailehua
Hansen will now lead the state PAC 
program. Wailehua-Hansen worked 
alongside Wolff 

during the 2024 legislative session
and the Hawaiʻi state elections.

As the Legislative Liaison, Wailehua
Hansen steps into a legislature that
experienced significant changes in 
the 2024 elections. Nadine Nakamura 
will serve as the House Speaker 
following the electoral defeat of Scott 
Saiki. Additionally, the House of 
Representatives will welcome a sizable 
freshman class of new lawmakers.

Wailehua-Hansen is optimistic about 
the changes. “We always work hard 
to foster a cooperative environment 
to support our members and Hawaiʻi 
at large, and I feel confident that this

approach will be supported by the new 
House leadership and legislators.”

He plans to continue the strong 
government relations work built under 
the Local’s current administration, 
prioritizing bills related to labor, 
housing, and public safety. “Our focus 
continues to be our members. But our 
members all have friends and family, 
which make up the greater community. 
So members and community—that 
remains our priority.”

Success relies on members
Members should feel hopeful as 
the union turns a corner into a new 
year and a new triennium. A second 
term for the Titled Officer team 
brings stability and focus to their 
work. Changes in the 
Maui Division promise to 
continue and strengthen 
the forward momentum 
and energy emerging from 
Maui Units in 2024. A new 
International Vice President 
will provide solid support 
for the Local’s efforts. 
And a new Legislature and 
Legislative Liaison will advance the 
Local’s political action program.   

Ultimately, member engagement and 
participation will define the union’s 
future. The members elected their 
leadership to operate the union and 
implement a vision. But strong and 
effective unions only exist when rank
and-file members are willing to take 
action to improve their own lives.From 
the looks of it, the future is indeed 
bright for ILWU Local 142.   

We know that when the union and community work together, as proven by the fires, together we rise. But “together we rise” doesn’t only speak to the Lahaina fires; it speaks to the labor movement in general.

Leadership is not about asserting power over others. It’s about inspiring and empowering. it’s about the membership, the community, and the labor movement.