Hawaii Division’s main union hall is in Hilo at 100 West Lanikaula Street. There is also a smaller Kona office at 74-5565 Luhia Street Kaiwi Square.

Elmer Gorospe, Jennifer Yadao and George Martin work out of the Hilo office and can usually be reached there at 808-935-3727. Michael Dela Cruz, Roselyn Molina, and Tristie Licoan work out of the Kona office and can be reached at 808-329-2070.

The Hawaii Division Executive Board meets monthly at 6:00 pm. Contact their offices for specific times and locations!

ELMER GOROSPE
 Division Director 

Elmer became an ILWU member in 1994 when he was hired by the Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Corporation as a power plant operator. He served as Unit Treasurer from 2001 to 2003. He was elected as a Business Agent in 2004 to 2011. He was first elected Division Director in 2012.

MICHAEL DELA CRUZ 
Business Agent 

Michael’s membership with the ILWU began in 2000 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. He worked there as a bell captain/supervisor. His active participation in union life - serving as a Shop Steward and Vice Chair - led him to being appointed as a temporary Business Agent in 2014.

From then on, he was elected to Business Agent. He wanted to continue his time as Business Agent because he believes that “being bilingual is a gift [that] can help the Filipino working community.”

TRISTIE LICOAN 
Business Agent 

Tristie’s membership in the ILWU started in 2002 when she was hired at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel as a Cook IV. She served her unit as a Shop Steward in 2009, as Vice Chair from 2010 to 2014, Chair from 2014 to 2017.

In those later years, Tristie simultaneously joined the Business Agent shadow program (2015 to 2016). She was appointed as a full time Business Agent in 2017.

Tristie also worked at another ILWU unit, the Fairmont Orchid from 2006 to 2013 as a Cook III to a Cook II. She firmly believes that “there is never an ‘I’ mentality; it’s always a ‘we’ or ‘us’ when it comes to membership.”

GEORGE MARTIN 
Business Agent

George first became an ILWU member at Yamada & Sons, Inc, then at the Hamakua Sugar Company where he served as a Shop Steward and Unit Chair. 

When the sugar company closed, George was re-hired at Yamada & Sons, Inc, in 1994 as a mechanic, where he also served as Unit Chair and Shop Steward. George was elected Business Agent from 2006 to present.

ROSELYN MOLINA 
Business Agent 

Roselyn is in her first term as a Business Agent and has been a member for 20 years. She ran for this position “to fight for the rights of our everyday rank and file and to protect workers’ rights as the union did for my family.

” She became a member when she started work at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa as a PBX/Front Desk Agent. She served her unit as a Chair, Vice-Chair, Steward, Negotiating Committee member and Editor.

Appointed for this term

JENNIFER YADAO 
Business Agent 

Jennifer has been a member for nine years. She was a full-time cashier at #41 Foodland Keaau. This is her first term as an appointed Business Agent 

As an active member served her unit in various roles: Unit Secretary, Unit Chair, Unit Editor, and served on the balloting committee. “As a BA I would like to encourage members to be more active,” said Yadao. “Take the time to read and know your contract so you won’t be intimidated of management. If we cannot speak up, how are we going to resolve or change things?”