HONOLULU — Over 130 attendees of the Labor Institute flanked Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa as ILWU announced their official early endorsement of her candidacy for governor on February 1, 2018. “We know that Colleen understands the hopes and needs of the workers of Hawaii,” said Local President Donna Domingo, pictured above.

at the 2018 Labor Institute

Members from all islands came together to learn from some of the best instructors from labor education centers across the United States. The institute culminated on the last day in moments like this: moving shows of solidarity, backed by new ideas and strategies they learned and shared with each other all week.

The last time the Local held this statewide program was over ten years ago.

 Whether the rank-and-file attendees had an idea of what to expect from institutes past, or were fresh to the union, everyone was hungry for knowledge. 

“These are professional educators with all their material organized just for us,” said Matthew Britt of Unit 2523 Ritz Carlton Kapalua Spa. “What more could you ask for?”

(see inside for more Institute coverage!)