NEWS from
REPRESENTATIVE
Mark Nakashima
Recently I made the acquaintance of Lee West who has purchased the old ILWU Jack Wayne Union Hall building in Honokaa Town. Lee’s desire to sensitively restore and continue the traditional use of the Union Hall as a community center is positive for the Honokaa community. His passionate historical research of the ILWU Union Hall and its members is a wealth of established community history. ILWU members worked tirelessly to uplift the working conditions of Hawaii’s labor force and the Union Hall served as a focal point for community and political advocacy as well as family events.
Women Organizing for Change in Agriculture and Natural Resource Management (WOCAN) will have a home base here and their program to train and work in agriculture honors ILWU history and continues the legacy of the ILWU efforts of providing and enhancing vocational opportunities for people. Lee West’s efforts are a fitting and welcome community investment.
