Point 2

 “An injury to one is an injury to all.” That's the ILWU’s motto. Welcome to point number 2 on the Lihue Loop Audio Tour, the International Longshore and Warehouse Union’s headquarters on Kauai. The union was formed to provide representation on the job and make sure the rights as a worker and an individual are protected. It used to be called the Men's International Longshore and Warehouse Union, but Hawaii had female leadership as well so in 1988 they removed the ‘mens’ part of it. The building has been used for all sorts of things since it was first built. Farmers Insurance and United Public workers used to have offices in the building and it also has a patio in the back for weddings, parties, and baptisms.

You can see that the shape of the building is very unique. Alfred Preis, the architect, designed the Arizona Memorial on Oahu with the same idea as this; take advantage of the tradewinds. Because of the shape, the building isn't hot on the inside. The wind is able to blow through, cooling the building. Most of the building is made of mahogany, and the walls are coated with overlays of coral from Mahaulepu. Pries designed it with the intention of ‘bringing some outdoors inside’ and provided a garden in the back.

Today there are about 2,000 members who live and work on the Garden Island, and over half of them work in tourism. The Hyatt is the largest employer of ILWU members on Kauai. The second-largest employer is Princeville Resort, followed by Wilcox Memorial Hospital. The ILWU continues to be used for administrative work, union meetings, home loan programs and they also provide some offices in the back for union workers.

Thank you for listening! From Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School, I’m Lohgan Hanna.