HONOLULU — The ILWU Pensioner Conference happens every two years with a different host island. Over 70 pensioners from all divisions attended the conference from June 12-14, 2018 on Oahu at the Ala Moana Hotel. The pensioners have their own conference in addition to the larger Local Convention that also happens every three years because they paved the way for workers today to enjoy the benefits and job security so many take for granted.

1An ILWU Longshore Retiree Club is now being formed!

The club was officially started in November by three retired longshoremen, who wanted to reconnect with retired longshore brothers and sisters and get involved with Hawaii Longshore Division.

HILO — On February 9, 2019, Hawaii Division held its 42nd Annual Recognition Awards at the ILWU Hilo Hall. Hawaii Division can always expect a large turnout for this event and this year was no exception. This year the event was back at the open air Hilo Hall instead of at Nani Mau Gardens its location for the past six years. “We got spoiled in the air conditioning,” joked Division Director Elmer Gorospe, “but here we are stronger than ever.”

Kauai Division honors its members Statewide Sports Schedule Around the Union Kauai Division held their Recognition Banquet on December 29, 2018 at the ILWU Hall in Lihue. 

The award winners were:

KAUAI — Rain or shine, ILWU shows up to play! On September 29, 2018, four teams gathered to play in the 33rd Annual Statewide Softball Tournament. It did not stop raining throughout all four tournament games at Anne Knudsen Ball Park, but the members remained in good spirits.

Business Agent Teddy Espeleta, Business Agent Cyrus Kodani, Business Agent Steven Lee, Maui Division Director Roberto Andrion, Business Agent Joe Aquino, Arianny Andrion (Business Agent Charles Andrion’s daughter), Emy Andrion (Roberto Andrion’s wife), Isaac Anthony Madriaga (Emmanuel’s Baltazar’s grandson), Digno Castillo from Unit 2520, Fe Cooper Steward from Unit 2520 Grand Wailea, Business Agent and PAC coor

this election. Workers in Philadelphia, Pittsburg, Detroit, Las Vegas and elsewhere turned out in record numbers to reject the greed, cruelty and racism of the last four years” Adams said.

(editor’s note: this has been edited for length. To see the full version, please visit www.ilwu.org)

Biden released his plan to help workers and support collective bargaining rights on his website (www.joebiden.com).

Some highlights from his labor agenda include:

• Financial penalties on companies that interfere with workers’ organizing efforts, including firing or otherwise retaliating against workers.

On June 29, 2020, Local 142 Sports Coordinators decided to cancel all Statewide Local Sports Tournaments for golf, basketball & softball.

The COVID-19 pandemic strained inter-island travel by requiring 14-day quarantines and other social distancing practices implemented by the Governor’s proclamations. If a Division wanted to host a tournament for their Division only, they had the option to do so.

Left photo: Joel Galarse Unit 1403 Hawaiian Macadamia Nut Services, Zachary Tomlinson Unit 4402 Love’s Bakery, Michael Carlos Unit 1518 The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort, Devon Fernandez Unit 1518. Middle photo: Hawaii Longshore Division Team Peter Paulo, Mike Ka’apuni, Froy Smith, Kanoa Yamaguchi.