Labor Leader, Activist McElrath Dies

Written by Brooks Baehr - bbaehr@kgmb9.com

December 12, 2008 06:41 PM

A legendary Hawaii labor leader has died. Ah Quon McElrath, 92, was a social worker, educator, and progressive activist who worked to better the lives of others. McElrath began to make a difference in Hawaii when she volunteered to be a social worker for the ILWU in the late 1930's. She fought for higher pay, better working conditions, and counseled union families during tough times. McElrath stayed with the union until 1981, and did not slow down after leaving. In 1995 Governor Ben Cayetano appointed McElrath to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents where she served until 2003. In recent years she continued to campaign for social justice and spent time working on behalf of the Honolulu Symphony. Talk to people about McElrath and you are likely to hear about her devout sense of social conscience. "If you look at her life, she's been a renaissance woman in the sorts of things she's participated in and advocated in social work and education," said ILWU Secretary - Treasurer Guy Fujimura, a long time friend and co-worker. "I think it's important for people to understand that she was, as some people would say, selfless and that what she was about was making sure that life was better for other people, particularly those people who were always kind of unseen and unheard by the powers that be. Her goal was to try to bring their voice to the table," said McElrath's daughter Gail Long. "She's one of those people that when you say, there won't be another like her or you say that she made a difference, I think there would be wide agreement," added Fujimura. Governor Linda Lingle issued the following statement. "The people of our state owe her a debt of gratitude for her tireless efforts to improve the lives of Hawaii's residents." McElrath passed away Thursday afternoon at Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center. She had been battling cancer and kidney failure. McElrath is survived by her two children, two grandchildren, and a great grandchild. A celebration of her is being planned for late February. McElrath would have been 93 Monday.

Last Updated ( December 16, 2008 06:00 PM )