Narrator: This program is brought to you in part## through the generous support from: The University# of Hawai‘i Foundation AND The Barbara Cox Anthony## Endowment, Thompson School of Social Work &# Public Health, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.

MUSIC who believed that there is a different# way of living, that there was a different## way of ordering the economic system,# which would make for better happiness,## for better realization of one’s self.

The lesson# should not be lost, that there are different ways## of organizing an economic system, that these# individuals did not live their lives in vain.

Narrator: Ah Quon McElrath## dedicated her life to transforming the# economic structure of the Hawa.. and to elevating the quality of life for# thousands of working class people.

She## firmly believed that a fair economic# system, established through strong## trade unions could create a world where# equality, justice and peace prevailed.

Davianna McGregor,# Ethnic Studies University of Hawai‘i:# of what it meant for collective# bargaining issues, for democracy,## and the improvement of life for# everyone who lived in Hawai‘i.

Franklin Odo/Asian American Studies Scholar: She had an enormous impact.

Because it was so## patriarchal and it was so hierarchical.# No one was going to tell these guys what## to do and how to do it.

So, she had# to do it in more subtle kinds of ways## and I think she succeeded in doing that which is# perhaps even more a credit to her wit and wisdom.

Narrator: She had an unshakable faith in the power of## people working together.

Her passion, her wisdom,# and her words remain an inspiration to us all.

John Waihe‘e/Former Governor of Hawai‘i: But to truly understand the rise of## political reformation in Hawai‘i, and# the role that labor played in that,## you'd have to know Ah Quon.

She was the voice of## that aspect of the labor movement.

It is# important to remember our own history.

(MUSIC) Narrator: Ah Quon McElrath was born,## Leong Yuk Quon, in Honolulu, Hawai‘i in# 1915 to Chinese immigrant parents.

Her## mother had bound feet and barely spoke English.

Gail Long/Ah Quon McElrath’s daughter: My grandmother was the true matriarch.## They came in the late 1800s.

My grandfather was# a laborer, and my grandmother was a housewife.

Narrator: Ah Quon, a diminutive of her## Chinese name, was fondly known as AQ.

The family# lived in Iwilei, a multi-ethnic neighborhood that## included Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Hawaiian# and a few Caucasian residents.

It was one of the## city’s poorest neighborhoods, and also the# notorious red-light district of Honolulu.

Narrator:# AQ’s father died when she was 5 years old,.. Ah Quon McElrath: And for us at that particular time,## life was picking kiawe beans to be sold to the# fertilizer company.

Life was picking dried bones## to be sold to the same company.

Life was very,# very hard for all of us living there in Iwilei.

Narrator: The family earned## money in different ways and always shared in the# household chores, surviving through ingenuity,## enterprise, and collective strength.

From an# early age, AQ learned the value of group unity.

Gail Long/Ah Quon McElrath’s daughter: My sense is, is that her family,## they helped to shape a lot of who she was in# terms of her values and her morals.

I think that## she always viewed herself as somebody who grew up# in poverty, but yet was able to do the kinds of## things that she needed to do to become educated.# That was extremely important to that whole family.

Narrator: AQ was a brilliant and outstanding## student who cultivated a love and passion# for learning that lasted throughout her life.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: And she said to me that school was a respite from## all the poverty.

And so school really was a place# that, not only gave her respite from the world,## but in which she could excel and she could# shine and explore all kinds of worlds.

Narrator: By the time she entered## college in 1934 at the University of Hawai‘i, AQ# had already developed a love for music, theatre## and literature.

She also took a great interest# in social systems, politics, and economics.

Ah Quon McElrath: When I went on to college,## that was when everything burst out in full# bloom.

I took a class in the history of## economic theory.

That was when I had first# learned about Karl Marx.

And I read it with## a great deal of interest.

And of course# in the meantime I had to work every year## that I was in college.

I remember when# I was a senior, I had five jobs going.

Narrator: AQ was stimulated## both emotionally and intellectually by the# ideas she encountered at the University.

Narrator: She graduated## in 1938 majoring in anthropology# and social work.

By this time,## she was firmly committed to progressive# ideals, and to unionism as a way of## uplifting the working class and humanity# in general.

She joined the communist party.

Ah Quon McElrath: My thought processes## were certainly different from# other people.

And you figured,## if these people can think as clearly as they# do, there must be something to the theoretical## resolutions that they have arrived at with# regard to the economic political system.

Narrator: In the mid## 19th century, sugar plantations began# importing laborers to Hawai‘i.

By the## time AQ graduated from college,# thousands of Chinese, Japanese,## Filipino and Portuguese workers had immigrated# under labor contracts to work on plantations.

Ah Quon McElrath: The attitude of the## sugar planters towards the various ethnic# groups whom they had imported to work o.. the sugar plantations was not all that# altruistic, that they looked upon them,## for example, as cattle.

They# looked upon them as jute bags.

Robert McElrath/Ah Quon McElrath’s# husband and former ILWU Regional Director:# but the body of the worker.

Narrator:# For decades, five big corporations, known as# the “Big Five,” had ruled Hawai‘i’s economy.## Low wages, long hours, poor working# conditions and no representation## left working class families oppressed# with little or no hope for the future.

Yasu Arakaki: Oh man,## we have slave pay.

The first j.. And when I was shifted to the mill, I had dollar# and thirty-seven cents a day, not an hour.

So,## if you think about the wages, we were, you# know, really, uh, really starvation wages.

Franklin Odo/Asian American Studies Scholar: The power of these five corporations over the## lives, the total lives of all of the# inhabitants was immense.

All of us,## including those of us who did not work on# plantations were controlled by the Big Five.

Narrator: Workers on## plantations had tried to strike for improvements# but none of the strikes were very successful.

Ah Quon McElrath: At that particular time, all the workers were## segregated in ethnic camps.

We had gone through a# number of strikes, all racially involved which did## not succeed.

The 1909 strike, the 1920 strike, the# ‘24 strike, the ‘37 strike.

And so by that time,## we learned that you cannot do it via one ethnic# group itself.

You had to organize everybody.

Narrator: AQ went to work## at the newly formed Department# of Welfare as a social worker.

Ah Quon McElrath: And I said, “How much## are the other social workers paid?” Told me# a $133 and I says, “Why are we paid $105?"..

So I organized and we were able to# get $133 like the rest of the people.

Narrator: AQ attended meetings## with other Honolulu progressives.# She worked on The Voice of Labor,## a publication that supported workers.

She# volunteered for the ILWU, the International## Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union.

She# gave speeches to longshoremen urging them to## join the union, and talked to their wives# about the advantages of union membership.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: She had had a background in drama,## she had poise, and she could speak.

Narrator: While working## on the Voice of Labor, AQ met Bob# McElrath.

A staunch labor advoca.. Bob had participated in the landmark# 1934 longshore strike on the West Coast.

Ah Quon McElrath: He was a seaman.

He dropped in to## the Voice of Labor because he had met Jack Hall,# on the, in San Francisco during the strike.

He had## a brilliant streak in him.

Bob read so very much.# He was so fascinated by the English language.

Narrator: In August of 1941,## AQ and Bob went to the island# of Kauai to get married.

Ah Quon McElrath: So we ended up arriving on## Kaua‘i the same day, got married the same# day, spent our honeymoon there at Koloa.

Narrator: A few months## after their marriage, the Japanese# bombed Pearl Harbor and the United## States entered World War II.

Hawai‘i was# immediately placed under Martial Law.

Franklin Odo/Asian American Studies Scholar: Martial law impacted everyone.

It was imposed## on Hawai‘i on the day of Pearl Harbor in the# afternoon of Dec. 7th.

The military took over## the courts, the government, the system, and# part of the take over was control of labor.

Narrator: Under the War Labor Board,## it was still possible to organize.

AQ# and Bob worked as a team with the Marine## Engineers and Drydock Workers Association# organizing the Hawaiian Tuna Packers.

Ah Quon McElrath: And we got all the women## organized.

And Sundays, we would go there# and have a lot of fun, and barbecue,## talk to the women about the union, why it# was important for them to have a union.# Bob got interested in American Can.

And# so we got to know some of the people at## American Can through my brother-in-law, and# we organized them and we all talked about## how we could lay out the strategy to organize# Dole Pineapple Company.

So we organized them.

Narrator: AQ and Bob had their first child,## Gail, in 1943.

In 1944, their friend, Jack# Hall, became the Regional Director of the ILWU.

Ah Quon McElrath: Well, Jack was looking## around for people to assist him,# and he knew that Bob McElrath .. worked with him so he asked Bob# to become Information Director.

Narrator: Martial Law## was hard on the community and especially# hard on the working class.

Wage disparity## and oppressive working conditions# created a discontented labor force.

Seiko “Shirley” Shiroma: Well, when the war started,## you know, this clamp down on lot of freedom.# The army was into big construc.. were paying their workers $1.25 cents an# hour, as I recall.

And here we are, work,## working for twenty-five cents, two dollars# a day.

But we couldn’t leave the plantation## because of the threat that if you left,# they would make sure that you got drafted,## and there was a lot of brow beating.

In fact# the manager of the company was himself like ah## the martial law representative.

He had an old tin# hat and he had a 45 slung on the side of his hips## and he would proudly come down to the morning# assembly.

And you know we’re all cowed by that## kind of action, and so you know we were really# emotionally all built up, we felt very oppressed.## And as soon as the war ended and as soon as# the rumors of the union came, we were ready.

Narrator: When the war## and Martial Law had ended, workers were eager to# join the union despite.. Eddie Lapa/Former President, ILWU Local 142: “So now the fun begins” he says, “In order to## get in the union, we gotta sign them up.” He said,# “Here’s a card.” So I told him, “How I going sign## these guys up?” He says, “Well, you gotta do the# best you can, and don’t get caught.” I told him,## “What you mean, don’t get caught?

What happens# if I get caught?” He says, “You’ll get fired.

Narrator: AQ and Bob had a second child, Brett.

In 1946,## after her maternity leave, AQ was not rehired by# the Department of Welfare because of her activism.

Narrator: In April of that same year,## a tsunami hit the Hawaiian Islands,# killing 159 people and causing great## damage.

AQ immediately stepped up# to volunteer and help union members.

Ah Quon McElrath: I went to all of the## islands.

The ILWU had all of the units contribute# to the tidal wave fund.

So we merged those units## with what Red Cross could give, and we# gave the maximum amount to each family.

Narrator: On September 1 of 1946,## the ILWU was put to the test.

Twenty eight# thousand sugar workers went out on strike## and shut down 33 of the 34 sugar plantations in# Hawai‘i.

The workers wanted a minimum wage of## 65 cents per hour, a 40-hour workweek, a union# shop, and an end to the perquisite system.

This## system provided health care, fuel, utilities and# housing, but was used as an excuse to keep wages## low.

The strike was significant not only because# of the issues and the number of people involved,## but also because for the first time in the# history of the labor movement in Hawaii,## striking workers created solidarity# by joining forces across ethnic lines.

Eddie Lapa/Former President, ILWU Local 142:# We didn’t know that we was making history,# we just knew that, we’re the union,## and we’re gonna try our best to see how we can# go ahead.

But the union taught us something,## especially in that ‘46 strike.

That if we# don’t stick together, we’re gonna lose.

Ah Quon McElrath: The bigger picture was## that working people deserved to take control over# their lives, and to have something to say about## the direction of Hawai‘i.

Because the message# that was brought to union organization was not## just an economic message.

It was a political# message.

It was a social message based on one,## interracial harmony, based on one big industrial# organization that organized everybody in one## union, without regard to job classification,# without regard to religion, without regard## to race or any other classification that you# might want to use to separate human beings.

Narrator: AQ organized all of the welfare activities.## Thousands of workers and their families were# affected by the strike.

She helped people## fill out applications for financial aid, told them# what they were entitled to, and assisted in making## arrangements with creditors.

She visited the soup# kitchens with recipes and sanitation requirements## from the Department of Health.

She did this all as# a volunteer for units on four different islands.

Ah Quon McElrath: The union was the important thing.## All of us who had had any plantation experience# recognized the discrimination.

We realized why it## was important to have a lasting organization# that would give us the feeling of strength.

Ah Quon McElrath: I think you would be## struck by all of the things that came out of#.. truck drivers, any job classification, people# who contributed to the accumulation of a vast## amount of records which indicated# that they had just as much ability,## just as much dignity, respect, ability to learn# and these were workers, immigrant workers,## who for example had very little formal education.

Franklin Odo/Asian American Studies Scholar:# The strike, I think, because it was successful,# number one, increasing the wage level by a lot## and number two, ending the perquisite system# and subsequently I think people in Hawai‘i## generally thought that as a result that unions# were a positive force in American Society.

Narrator: While the sugar strike was significant,## it was closely followed by another dramatic strike# that had far-reaching effects.

On May 1st 1949,## thousands of longshoremen walked out in# all the ports of the territory of Hawai‘i.

Robert McElrath/Ah Quon McElrath’s# husband & former ILWU Regional Director:# fort—the waterfront.

They felt if they# could beat the union on the waterfront,## the workers in sugar and pineapple# would run away from the union.

Ah Quon McElrath: People realized that it was a different## strike from that of sugar and had the effect of# keeping ships from entering Honolulu port.

Which## meant that one, you would not be able to get# all the goods that you were able to get at that## particular time.

Two, that there was a possibility# that other industries would be affected.

Narrator: The longshoremen were## demanding wages equal to those of the longshoremen# on the west coast and better working co.. Ah Quon McElrath:# Let’s face it.

We saw the West Coast# .. the same cargo, getting so much more money# than the local longshoremen were getting.

Joe Kahe‘e/Longshoreman: Went out to get equal pay,## equal with the West Coast.

Same company,# same cargo.

The other guy load 'em,## we unload.

Then we loading the cargo, they# unload the cargo.

Same thing they doing.

Henry Walker, Jr./Former# President/CEO Amfac, Inc.:# made a very difficult situation for everyone.# The union was applying its most powerful weapon,## which was the strike, to achieve its# goals.

Some of the goals were outrageous.

Ah Quon McElrath: I continued, personally, the work## that I had begun as a volunteer during the sugar# strike.

I was able to at least able to sharpen up## some of the welfare policies of the union.

I did# a lot of educational work among the longshoremen,## really trained them as to how they could approach# bank mangers to forestall payments on loans.

A## lot of training on how you could talk with school# principals in order to forestall collection on## fees and book rentals.

We also did a lot of work# in keeping up the soup kitchens so that those who## were operating the soup kitchens could in fact# be able to serve nutritious meals to the striking## longshoremen and members of their families.# It was the last big strike where we were able## to provide a sense of rapport with each other# through the process of sharing meals together.

Narrator: The Big Five corporations were clearly threatened.## They employed the tactics of US Senator Joseph# McCarthy, and embarked on a campaign of redbaiting## and communist accusations in an effort to turn the# community against the longshoremen.

Their women## picketed union headquarters in a “Broom Brigade,”# organized to “sweep away communism.” The morning## paper featured a “Dear Joe” column that suggested# union ties with Moscow and Joseph Stalin.

Radio Announcer: Your ILWU reporter this evening is Robert McElrath Narrator: In counterpoint,## AQ’s husband, Bob McElrath, ran a feisty radio## program that stood up for the strikers and# articulated progressive economic ideals.

Robert McElrath radio excerpt: Tonight, we are back on the air## for the first time this week.

Tonight,# we have a shocking surpris.. Henry Walker, Jr.:# at night was the strike, the strike.

That# outrageous man on the radio from the ILWU.

Narrator: But after## 177 days, the strike ended in# a victory for the longshoremen.

Mamoru Yamasaki/Former Hawai'i State Senator: The longshore strike was important because## that was the key to unionism in# Hawai‘i.

They wanted to break the## longshore strike and then break the union.# We uplifted the living conditions of union## families.

And not only union families.# Non-union families benefitted also.

Ah Quon McElrath: And I think what it showed to other## working people and union leaders at the time was,# they could throw everything at you.

But by golly,## if you’ve got a rank and file who believes in what# you are doing, and who are behind the leaders,## then you can go on out and gain the same# kind of power that longshoremen gained.

Henry Walker, Jr.:# And no doubt about it, that they, the# stevedores, got a tremendous increase,## and they won major victory from that# standpoint.

But I think that overall## what it did was to dramatize# how vulnerable this island was.

Narrator: The 1946 and 1949 strikes were a great## victory, but the communist hysteria continued.# Two days after the end of the dock strike,## the Territorial Legislature requested that the# United States House on Un-American Activities,## HUAC, come to Hawai‘i to investigate# and report on subversive activities.## These investigations were aimed at union# leaders.

The hearings began in April of 1950.

Davianna McGregor/Professor, Ethnic# Studies University of Hawai‘i:# that made them vulnerable to the# attacks in the 50s by McCarthy.

Ah Quon McElrath: People were beginning to## raise the question as to whether Hawai'i should# be granted stateho.. we were a communist dominated union# and because we were on the waterfront,## they raised the question of ILWU's having complete# economic control over the Territory of Hawai‘i.

Robert McElrath/Ah Quon McElrath’s# husband & former ILWU Regional Director:# a lot of money and they knew it would# cost a lot more and they had to figure## out a way of getting rid of the ILWU so# they raised the issue of communism.

Of## course the anti-statehood people—most# of them were anti-statehood because of## the oriental population—jumped on# to the anti-communist issue too.

Franklin Odo/Asian American Studies Scholar: The statehood issue, the stereotypes of## combining the Japanese and the Communist# went back to the late 30s and into the 40s,## that the major threats to security# and economic well-being were one,## the Japanese Americans who were untrustworthy,# and two, the communists who were hell-bent on## destroying the capitalist system and if you# put the two together, they’re certainly lethal.

Narrator: AQ had recently## taken a crash course in stenography and was# working for the law firm Bouslog and Symonds,## a law firm that was committed to unionism.

Ah Quon McElrath: The fact that we had won## the strike did not mean that there was an# end to the Red-Baiting that persisted .. which culminated in the arrest of the so called# Hawai‘i Seven in December of 1951 when they were## indicted on the basis of violation of the# Smith Act which was to teach the overthrow## of the United States government# by force and violence.

Narrator: It is not now,## and has never been, against the law to# be a communist in America.

Among the## seven arrested were Jack Hall, the regional# director of the ILWU and Eileen Fujimoto,## secretary at the ILWU Longshore Local# 130.

Richard Gladstein and A.L.

Wieren## were the major defense lawyers, but Bouslog and# Symonds did most of the research and analysis.

Ah Quon McElrath: I was on that particular defense committee at the## time as office manager where we analyzed the daily# transcripts, so that it was a real experience## for those of us who did not have very much# experience with the court system in a formal way.

Narrator: As friends and defenders## of the arrested seven, and supporters of the# ILWU, AQ, Bob and their family found themselves## ostracized by many members of the community# and worried about their personal safety.

Ah Quon McElrath: But I will also tell## you that many of us lost our friends.

I had# people who worked with me at the Department## of Human Services, who went to college with me,# who when they saw me walking down the street,## would cross the street.

And they# called my kids Commie Rats in school.

Gail Long/Ah Quon McElrath’s daughter: And then after the arrests and the trial began,## I mean it got even worse.

My father’s position# was always that of being cautious.

When you pick## up the phone, you cannot say anything# on the phone about where we’re going.## We had a Ford sedan and he would always# make sure before we left, he would open## up the hood and look to see if anything had# been placed under the hood the night before.

Narrator: The Hawai‘i Seven## were found guilty of violating the Smith Act and# the verdict was immediately appealed.

In 1957,## the Supreme Court of the United States# of America overturned the verdict.

Ah Quon McElrath: My personal assessment is that there’s## no doubt there were Communists and members of the# Communist Party in the trade unions at that time,## principally the ILWU.

The Communist Party in my# opinion, as an organization did not have a real## influence over the way ILWU was organized and# run.

But I do think that individual Communists,## with their philosophy, of justice, of equality,# with sharing power, in fact provided the kind## of glue that was important to keeping the# group together, the working people together.

Eddie Lapa/Former President, ILWU Local 142 And the definition of a communist at that time,## the way we understand it, was do good# for the working people.

At that time,## political situation never meant# anything important to me because## the only political situation# I believe in was the union.

Narrator: After nearly## two decades of volunteering, in1954, AQ was# hired as a Social Worker for the ILWU.

For## the next 27 years she devoted herself to the# well-being of the union and all of its members,## and by extension the greater community# of working class people in Hawai‘i.

John Waihe‘e/Former Governor of Hawai‘i: All of a sudden, you got a champion who## feels what you feel, who communicates with# you and then express your feelings in a## way and what your desires are, what# your dreams are, in a way that uh,## is commanding.

Her power was her ability# to speak and she didn’t hesitate to use it.

Narrator:# Keeping union members informed was at the# ..

Membership Services Department, and# closely with the Education Department.

Ah Quon McElrath: So they hired me at that## time and at the same time they had hired David Thompson as educational director and we worked out a program for ... rank# and file leaders, so that we would teach them about ... about the medical pans,# any other benefits which they had not received.

Narrator: One of AQ’s top priorities was healthcare.# She induced officers to think beyond the## benefit package and to realize the importance of# controlling the working environment.

Another long## term goal was to help all members to take# some measure of independent control over## their own bodies and health, an idea that was a# precursor to preventative health care programs.

Ah Quon McElrath: In other words,## the health maintenance factor of healthcare# was something that was missing from almost## all healthcare products.

Everything from the# doctors who had the programs on the plantations,## even to Kaiser.

And it was because# of what we had done that Kaiser,## in fact began to hire nurse practitioners and,# nurse, uh, physicians aides.

And later on,## that whole consumer council idea which# we had that started began women’s health.

Narrator: Achieving her## goal required continued health workshops, and# among her many skills AQ was an effectiv.. creative teacher.

Reproductive health and# contraception were issues she addressed.

Ah Quon McElrath: Well, I’ll tell you## how I did it.

I bought spermicide.

I bought# condoms.

I.. And I would unscrew the spermicide, press# a little out, pass it around, and I’d say,## “Smells good, doesn’t it?” And this is the way you# use it.” Next, I would pass out a condom, I says,## “For those of you who don’t want to use what is# called a spermicide, here look, here’s a balloon”## and I blew it up and I passed it around.

I said,# “You blow it up and see how big it becomes.”## All of those kinds of things I did because I# figured that you need to bring fun into the play.

Narrator: Casework## was an integral part of AQ.. a charismatic ability to win the# trust and confidence of others.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: She would say things like, “You need to know about## social work.

Because you don’t only have to fight# for whatever the contract is.

But you have to know## how to spot when someone needs help socially.”# She would say, “You are the backbone of a ship## and you might need to stay steady at certain# times, and maybe sometimes you have to sway.” Narrator: In 1966, AQ took## a leave of absence and went to the University of# Michigan for further training in Social Work.

The## University sent her to work with the Tuskegee# Institute in Alabama on a healthcare project.## While working on the project, she lived for over# a month with a poor black family in Georgia and## witnessed the heavy-handed racial discrimination# that black people suffered in the South.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: And she told me that she remembered driving## in a car with other civil rights activists,## and she said it was kind of scary, she# said because whenever we were stopped,## we weren’t sure if we were going to be pulled# out, and beat up, or pulled out and tortured.

Narrator: In addition to## her role as a social worker, AQ engaged in# political action for the ILWU.

Collective## bargaining handled many aspects of inequality, but# the union realized that changes in the law through## elected representatives was the way to protect,# not only union members, but all working class## people in the territory.

The union encouraged and# supported candidates that shared their values.

Ah Quon McElrath: You can organize unions,## and the ILWU did by 1944, but you cannot retain# economic ascendency if you do not use your vote.

Franklin Odo/Asian American Studies Scholar: The ILWU was hugely responsible for the Democratic## party win.

I mean they knew what they were doing,# they were going house-to-house and registering## voters and so on.

I can’t imagine that was not a# significant factor in the election of Democrats.

Narrator: The union primarily endorsed## Democratic candidates as the Republican Party# supported the policies of the Big Five and other## corporations.

AQ gave speeches to union members on# behalf of chosen candidates, and when needed, she## lobbied the legislature for the passage of bills# related to public assistance and human services.

Ah Quon McElrath: It wasn’t just action for ourselves.

We realized## that through our collective strength we were able# through collective bargaining to get those ideas## that would certainly help our membership, but# what about the rest of the community?

That’s## why we went in for improved worker’s compensation,# improved unemployment compensation.

We worked for## civil rights legislation.

We worked for all# of the kinds of things which we were able to## get thru collective bargaining, that outsiders,# people who didn’t belong to a union couldn’t get,## and the only way in which they could# get it was through political action.

John Waihe‘e/Former Hawai‘i Governor: Ah Quon could walk in a room and until## somebody told you, you wouldn’t really have# thought of her as a union representative,## you would think of her more as the representative# of the downtrodden of Hawai‘i.

We saw her more as## being on the side of progressive policy in# Hawai‘i.

You know she would talk about the## working people of Hawai'i, which was obviously# her basic class but she would always be looking## for the disadvantaged.

Traditionally speaking,# the ILWU that she represented was always on## the side of a bigger agenda then just# their collective bargaining priorities.

Narrator: Many credit the AJAs,## the Americans of Japanese Ancestry, returning from# World War II for the revival of the Democratic## Party in Hawai'i, but AQ always maintained that it# was because of the political action of the ILWU.

Ah Quon McElrath: In all of the readings that you do,## you almost never get the ILWU credited with# providing that much needed organization.

When## the AJAs came back and with Jack Burns said that# they had revived the Democratic Party.

That is## a myth.

They would not have been able to do it# had it not been for the fact that the ILWU had## a political action division of the union,# got people to go out to vote.

We went house## to house.

We went from camp to camp to# sign people up in the Democratic Party.

Narrator: AQ became a## powerful and influential force in both# the union and the community.

What is## even more remarkable is that she did it# at a time when sexism prevailed and women## had little or no input into important# decisions in organizations or politics.

Ah Quon McElrath: And you have to consider what it is that## one can do in a union where only men determined# what should be done, men who had their hearts## in the right place, but who may not have had the# educational background.

And so I found in all of## the work that I did with the ILWU, I couldn’t# come out and say, “Hey, why don’t you guys do## this?” They wouldn’t listen to me.

I would say,# “Just take a look and see how it works out, you## know it may be to the credit of the working of the# union.” Two months from now, they would say, “Eh,## AQ, we thought about his thing, how about it?”# and it was exactly what I had suggested to them.

John Waihe‘e/Former Hawai‘i Governor: Well, her intellect was, you know,## there would be very few times when she would# not be the smartest person in the room.

Ah Quon McElrath: Let’s face it, generally## men’s attitudes about women is very medieval.# They don’t think that women can do a job.

Richard Tam: We love ‘em all.

Ah Quon McElrath: You can love us but you don’t give us the kinds## of things we need to become leaders.

Secondly# I think that many women, as you know Hawaii’s## workforce is composed of 48 per cent women, many# women still have the kinds of things which men## expect them to do at home.

That is cooking meals,# taking care of the children, seeing that they## get off to school.

And there’s really is very# little equal partnership between men and women.

Davianna McGregor/Professor, Ethnic# Studies University of Hawai‘i:# I think would be very difficult .To me,# Ah Quon is a great example of a strong,## empowered woman who was an example# and a model for myself as a woman.

Narrator: Perhaps one of the reasons for her success## in the prevailing male environment is that she# was completely uninterested in public attention,## or personal recognition.

Her devotion was always# to the larger group of the union and to humanity.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: AQ did likely as much work as Jack Hall did,## but he was the guy.

She was an unsung heroine.

She# was not also a person who put herself forward.

She## basically did the work, day to day, and# she let others take the credit for it.

Ah Quon McElrath: It is only through## unionism that women get a chance at livable,# above minimum wages, fri.. meet their particular station in life and# perhaps the opportunity for promotion.

Narrator: AQ retired## from the ILWU in 1981, but she never# stopped working.

She went to Washington,## D.C. for two years to work at the Villers# Foundation, an organization dedicated to## improving healthcare for senior citizens,# particularly those with low incomes.

(AQ speaking on mic at radio station): “Recent arguments in the legislature## against raising...” Narrator: When she returned home.. activist and advocated for numerous social causes# including, universal healthcare, women’s rights,## human rights, educational opportunities, criminal# justice reform, welfare rights, workplace safety,## better unemployment benefits and disability# insurance.

As a member of the Hemlock Society,## she helped to gather testimony and prepare Death# with Dignity legislation.

She always remained a## staunch champion for senior citizens,# the disabled and the disadvantaged.

Ah Quon McElrath: (on the radio) This has been Ah Quon McElrath## for the Welfare and Employment# Rights Coalition and Viewpoint.

Ah Quon McElrath: My feeling about the## same-sex marriage is that we need a# recognition of the fact that ther.. diversity in the human condition and while# our culture, our religion, our personal## feelings may not countenance these things# then it seems to me that the true civil## liberties stand is to recognize that diversity# does indeed exist in the human condition.

Davianna McGregor/Professor, Ethnic# Studies University of Hawai‘i:# to continue to strive for social justice in# Hawai‘i, to be able to recognize injustice,## and to be able to then feel that you just# can’t walk away from it or ignore it.

Ah Quon McElrath: And who will not say## that globalization in the future would mean# that in fact your wages would come down,## your fringe benefits would come down.

The# job is there for all of us.

Hotel workers## rising.

Rising to keep your working conditions.# Rising so that your children, if they should## work in hotels have the opportunity to have a# quality of life that many of us do not have.

Narrator: In 1995, AQ was appointed to the Board## of Regents at the University of Hawai‘i by the# Governor.

She served on the board for eight years.

Ah Quon McElrath: So it would appear to## me that one of the things which we need to do# is to see .. time what is going to happen to our# welfare mothers when Pell grants go## out of the window.

I would admonish us# to take a good look at that problem.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: So, she would speak both responsibly as a## regent who’s concerned about the budget and as# a progressive.

At one time, some of the Native## Hawaiians were holding a demonstration# at one of the regents’ meetings and she## demonstrated with them and then she went into# the meeting.

She always held on to her beliefs.

Narrator: In her personal life, AQ often found herself## in the role off caretaker for various family# members.

She and her husband, Bob, separated, but## when Bob was diagnosed with cancer, it was AQ who# cared for him in his last days.

He died in 1995.

Gail Long/Ah Quon McElrath’s daughter: You know, there was as in anybody’s family,## there was pain and sorrow, you know.

Clarie Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: You sort of have to go on with a sword in your## heart, and I think she had to do that,# and she carried on very, very well.

Narrator: During her later years,## AQ received numerous awards and# honors for her lifetime of service.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: And she did say once when she was given an award,## “When you’re young and you’re fighting them# tooth and nail, they call you all kinds of names,## they red-bait you, they talk about how# terrible you look and then when you get## old and toothless they give you awards# because they think you can’t do anything## anymore, but she said they don’t know# that I’m gonna still keep on fighting.” Narrator: Throughout her life, AQ never## lost her love for literature, theatre or music.# She loved the Honolulu Symphony and rarely missed## a concert.

She helped to save the symphony when# financial difficulties threatened its closure.

Ah Quon McElrath: And for those of us who read the papers## every day, alas, we feel that so much is happening# to our lives that if it were not for a symphony## orchestra filling in those little crevices,# that life would not indeed be worth living.

Claire Shimabukuro/Ah Quon McElrath’s friend: She loved life and she lived life fully.

She## gardened, she brought food for people,# she had social engagements.

As you know,## she loved going to the Kapahulu Poi Shop to eat.

Gail Long/Ah Quon McElrath’s daughter: So Ah Quon was a poker player.

Used to## play poker and have a potluck.

I don’t think it# was serious money.

I think it was like a nickel,## you know but, yeah there was a light side# to her, there was a light side to her,## that and the music, and the# reading, you know, and the swimming.

Narrator: In her early 90s,## AQ’s health began to decline.

In her last years,# she actively continued to endorse a single-payer## universal healthcare system, and gender# equality was also one of her major concerns.

John Waihe‘e/Former Hawai‘i Governor: Her most consistent message was that,## we gotta bring everybody along.

So she knew that# if we just made life better for one segment of## society it wouldn’t work.

The whole place# was needed to be changed.

She personified## an era when Hawai'i was truly committed# to try to make the world better.

Franklin Odo/Asian American Studies Scholar: We’re all heavily influenced by Ah Quon and## her commitment to labor and to justice,# and social justice.

She had an enormous## impact on the union and had to do it# very quietly and with a lot of dignity.

Davianna McGregor/Professor, Ethnic# Studies University of Hawai‘i:# and among women.

She was a visionary,# articulate, dedicated, committed woman## who was instrumental in improving the lives# of everyday working people in our islands.

Narrator: Ah Quon passed away peacefully on December 11th,## 2008.

According to her wishes, her family held# a private funeral service.

However, in February## of 2009, the ILWU held a memorial service that was# attended by hundreds of her friends and admirers.

Narrator: Ah Quon’s life will forever## remain an example of courage, compassion,# and boundless humanitarian goodness.

She## was dedicated to improving the lives of others,# and she never gave up her belief that a fairer## economic system through unionism would be the# key to equality, justice and peace in our world.

Ah Quon McElrath: And that is a determination for you## to make, to think with clarity about your ideas,# to understand why it is that you are where you are## but for the organizing of workers at the lowest# level in agri-business.

That’s for you to decide,## that we would not have the rights which we# now enjoy here in this state: free mostly from## race prejudice, cultural prejudice, sexual# orientation prejudice.

Name it, we had it,## and the only reason why we pretty much don’t have# that stranglehold over our lives is because at## one time, those workers were courageous enough# to take on the bosses, and to fight the battle,## and to realize that the good which they brought# in fact emanated to the rest of the neighborhood,## and to the rest of the territory, and# to the rest of the State of Hawai‘i.

(Music) Ah Quon McElrath (as credits roll):# And there is absolutely no way in which there# can be any improvement made in our lives until## everyone in this room will go on out and recruit# another person so that in fact that which promoted## the labor movement years ago with a dream of a# world with peace, a world without war, will not## occur unless you go on out and act to work with# one other person and say will you work with me?

Narrator:# This program is brought to you in part# thro..

The University of Hawai‘i Foundation# AND The Barbara Cox Anthony Endowment,## Thompson School of Social Work & Public# Health, University of Hawai‘i at Manoa.