It’s been two years since wind and fire mixed to set Lahaina ablaze. The devastation was swift and widespread — entire neighborhoods reduced to ash, hundreds displaced, and a beloved historic town forever changed. But in the months and years since, something else has taken root: the long, uneven, but determined path toward healing and rebuilding. 

The 2025 ILWU Sports Calendar dropped, marking one of the union’s oldest traditions of bringing members together for fun and camaraderie. 

Golf’s Return to Kaua’i 

The season kicks off in Kauaʻi with the Local Statewide Golf Tournament. Tyson Moises, Kauaʻi Division Business Agent is the new Division Sports Coordinator for that island. He is also a 27-year baseball coach and active in the Kauaʻi athletics community. Moises is glad to see the statewide golf tournament to return to the Garden Isle. 

The Hawaiʻi Longshore Division continues a strong investment in its steward program with two more rounds of training. HLD stewards completed part three of their training in April and part four in May. 

Washington D.C. was abuzz with debate as members of Congress prepared to vote on the 2025 budget reconciliation bill. Local 142’s Titled Officers, the Hawai’i Division Director, and a number of Full-time Officers were in the city for the Washington D.C. legislative update. Though in D.C. for updates on the union pension, the Local 142 delegation had meetings with Hawaiʻi’s congressional representatives to discuss issues of concern to the union, including those impacted by the reconciliation bill. 

The ILWU held its Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Institute from April 13-18 in Tacoma, Washington. LEAD is a key component of the ILWU’s education program and is held every three years. It brings together a diverse group of rank-and-file members and elected ILWU leaders to teach them practical skills and provide tools that attendees can bring back to their local unions to develop new leaders and increase membership involvement.

On Wednesday, May 21, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen joined the ILWU Maui Division Executive Board meeting to speak directly with union leadership about a crisis that hits close to home for many working families: the lack of housing. In particular, the Mayor came to provide Maui members with an update on Bill 9, part of the Mayor’s plan to phase out short-term rentals (STRs). This is an issue that the ILWU Local 142 has strongly supported since 2023.

130 Unit Officers recently completed a round of Unit Officer training put on by Local 142. This round of trainings will finish this summer with more rounds possible later this year. This issue of The Voice focuses on the Unit structure covering the training, sharing with readers the fundamental roles within the Unit, and encouraging members to get more involved.

The ILWU Local 142 welcomes Palani J. Simon as the Regional Director of the Inland Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific. Simon stepped into the role one year ago after former Regional Director, Michael Anderson Jr., finished his term. 

There’s an old saying, “you are what you celebrate,” that nicely describes the Hawai’i Division’s annual recognition awards. Held this past February in Hilo, the annual event pays tribute to Hawaiʻi Island’s most active units and pensioners. 

Harry Kamoku Hall was packed inside and out as this event is much anticipated and brings members together from across the massive island for fellowship and to honor the thing that makes the union strong - member activity. 

On March 11, 2025, the Hawaiʻi State Senate confirmed ILWU Local 142 President Christian West to the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) Board, marking a significant step toward ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s tourism industry serves not just corporate interests but the workers and communities that sustain it.