HONOLULU—On January 16, 2017, more than 80 ILWU Local 142 members and officers, HOWU members, retirees and their family and friends marched in the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Parade with other unions and community organizations for a strong showing in support of Dr. King’s enduring message of social justice. Dr. King was made an honorary member of the ILWU Local 10 in September 1967 because of his efforts on behalf of working families and the labor movement. ILWU Local 142 passed out lollipops attached to cardstock emblazoned with Dr. King’s powerful words: “I don’t feel like a stranger in the midst of the ILWU. We have been strengthened and energized by the support you have given to our struggles. We’ve learned from the labor movement the meaning of power. The struggle in the civil rights movement is to transform powerlessness into concrete power, which means the ability to affect change.”
KAUAI -- Unit 3515 St. Regis Princeville - Halele`a Spa workers in negotiations. L-R: Unit Secretary Rain Cruz, Business Agent Calvin Corpuz, Unit Chair Juan Pablo, Hawaii Division Director Elmer Gorospe.
On February 23, 2017, Senator Mazie Hirono held a breakfast at Unit 4526 Pacific Beach Hotel for Hawaii’s labor unions. “I want the opportunity to meet with your members, especially the pensioners. The whole time I have served I have depended on the support of people in unions.” Front row L-R: Darryl Miyashiro, Shari Yamashiro, Linda Kawahara, Senator Mazie Hirono, Moises Cadelina, Reuben Ramos. Back row L-R: Eric Ishihara, Business Agent Paris Fernandez, Business Agent Wil Chang, Raymon Aunjon, Carlito Samuel Lapitan, Antone Texeira, Paul Aquino.
Happy retirement, Joanne Kealoha
Joanne Kealoha: true believer. The phrase “true believer” gets thrown around often, but Joanne Kealoha has stubborn beliefs and her aim is true.
“She has a take-charge kind of attitude that some may call meddlesome,” chuckled Secretary-Treasurer Guy Fujimura. “But she does because she believes in the union as a movement.”
As she retires from Local 142 after 31 years as Social Services Coordinator, we want to commend her vision of and commitment to justice that has guided so many of us, members and staff included, at this organization.
Kealoha majored in Sociology at UH and worked as a pineapple packer and hotel maid to put herself through school.
She earned her Masters from UCLA in Social Welfare. After working for a few years in California, she came back to Hawaii and was hired by the ILWU as Social Services Coordinator in 1986 to take the place of Ah Quon McElrath.
In her role as Social Services Coordinator, she proved that it is possible to have compassion and be ruthlessly efficient at the same time.
“We call her the Uber of ILWU,” laughed some HOWU (Hawaii Office Workers Union) staff members. “Any pensioner or member needs a ride, she’ll pick them up! There was no such thing as too ‘out of the way’ for her. She did her job for sure, and she put in so much too in terms of off-hours dedication. Off-hours is when she really showed that commitment to ILWU principles. Very few people will do that.”
The fight for justice never sleeps and she was tireless in her efforts to provide a better quality of life for all members, young and old even if it meant sacrificing time with family.
husband Peter and her two children and three grandchildren graciously understood that her commitment to the organization meant less time with her.
“This picture is so Joanne” said Fujimura. Joanne Kealoha at this year’s Martin Luther King, Jr. Parade with two of her granddaughters.
Former Local President Fred Galdones said, “She worked long hours and spent many days in the office, including the weekends…She was not shy about speaking her thoughts and aggressive in accomplishing her goals.”
This kind of tenacity is necessary for the range of responsibilities she covered: advising the union and its members, and pensioners on medical coverage, Medicaid, workers’ compensation, immigration and naturalization, life insurance, social security, family court, retirement, FMLA, substance abuse and providing personal counseling.
Working with members on such a wide range of issues requires a personal touch; it cannot just be business as usual. When companies and even industries reached their end, she would be there to guide members through the emotional, mental and financial upheaval.
“It takes a certain resilience to take that much sorrow in,” said Fujimura. “You need strength to take in so many sad stories. She has tremendous empathy. To process all that intake, listen to people’s problems and needs...that takes great strength to not only do that, but to continue and go on to help the next person.” said Fujimura.
“I remember when Pioneer Mill closed, and so many people had a hard time losing their jobs, facing that life outside of sugar,” reminisced former Maui Division Director William Kennison. “But she was there. Negotiations? She was there. Meetings with membership? Every single one, she was there. To help explain to employees and answer questions about social security, medical. They knew they could always go to her, and she was always happy to assist. I always felt that she is a fantastic person.”
Task master. Social justice warrior. Meddlesome (because she cares!). It takes courage to care. And Kealoha cared from the depth of her heart about the values of this union and channeled her aloha through every interaction and stand she took on behalf of the members.
Thank you so much for understanding that we are all part of the whole and that we are always better together. We will miss you being a part of our “together,” but know you won’t be too far.