Several elected officials attended the dedication of Ah Quon McElrath’s plaque at the Wisteria Vista Senior Apartments, including U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono, Senate Committee on Economic Development, Government and Housing Chair Donovan Dela Cruz, State House Committee on Housing Chair Mark Hashem, and Representative Marcus Oshiro. (Above l-r) Senator Hirono, plaque designer Momi Cazimero, Ah Quon’s daughter Gail Long, and Rep.Oshiro.

HONOLULU—Ah Quon McElrath (December 15, 1915 – December 11, 2008) spent most of her career as a social worker for the ILWU. McElrath dedicated her life to community service, education and improving the welfare of the working class and poor.

The Hawaii Housing Development Corporation, an affordable rental housing nonprofit organization honored her with a plaque on January 24, 2014. The bronze plaque was commissioned to Momi Cazimero and placed at Wisteria Vista Senior Apartments at 1239 S. King Street.

McElrath lobbied the state Legislature on a wide range of issues including women’s rights, healthcare, education, unemployment and disability benefits, gun control and physician-assisted suicide. She also secured federal funds to build homes for low-income workers.