The theme of the LEAD Institute in Seattle was “Taking Responsibility for the Future.” Attendees learned how to address membership with the changing times, union values, union history and solidarity, and member involvement and activation. Can you spot the eight Local 142 representatives that attended the LEAD Institute? First row has Maui Business Agent Bobby Adrion, Oahu BA Brian Tanaka, Local Vice President Teddy Espeleta. Second row has Longshore Vice Division Director Richard Kamoe, Hawaii Division Director Elmer Gorospe, Oahu BA Dillon Hullinger, Kauai BA Jesse Vaughn, Maui BA Joe Aquino.

stressed the need for participants to bring back what they had learned and apply that knowledge to work with their local union officers.

“What will you do with all of this knowledge? What will happen when you get back home? Will your momentum and enthusiasm die out? Will you be on fire when you get home or will you just go back to doing what we’ve always been doing?” Adams asked.

Active members, strong unions 
Local 500 member Joulene Parent, who now works on her local’s Education Committee, said her own experience as a casual dockworker illustrated how important it is to actively encourage new workers to participate.

“I’m one of those people who was pulled into working with our union’s Education Committee before I became a full member,” Parent said. “I used to think that you had to be a fully-registered member to get educated and that it was an exclusive club. But Local 500 members reached out to me, invited me, encouraged me to participate, and made me feel like I had something to contribute. Now I see that our inactive members and casuals are resources lying dormant that could benefit our union.”

Back row L-R: Jasmine Amaral (Maui), Edna Galinato (Maui), Jennifer Yadao (Big Island), Annie Dickenson (Oahu), Dona Hamabata (Oahu), Ruby Shimabukuro (Oahu), Local President Donna Domingo, Kapono Keliikoa (Oahu), Susan Lake (Oahu), Rylan Labuguen (Kauai), Barbara Goto (Kauai), Kehaulani Ross (Big Island), Oahu Division Business Agent Dillon Hullinger. Front L-R: Sierra Delgado (Maui), Ariane Inpelido (Maui). The negotiating committee for Foodland included representation from all departments: cashier, grocery, produce, and courtesy clerks. Their new contract will last three years and covers 1,200 members statewide.

The Sack N Save negotiating committee (above) reached an agreement with management in July after a few months of negotiations. The contract covers 250 members statewide. Standing are negotiating committee members Darlina ManuelSchoel and Cherise Couch (Oahu). Sitting L-R: Anna Ater (Hilo), Wanda Cravalho-Logan (Maui), Ariel Cantiberos (Kona). Missing: Spokesperson/Business Agent Jose Miramontes.

“Usually Foodland negotiations would take 10-12 months. This round was only five or six months. That’s due in large part to the hard work of the negotiating committe at the negotiation table and at their home stores statewide,” said Oahu Business Agent Dillon Hullinger, who got his start in the union as a rank-andfile steward at Foodland in 1995.