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Documentary on Ah Quon McElrath to air on public TV stations across the country

Ah Quon McElrath

Ah Quon McElrath, Photo courtesy ILWU Local 142

Ah Quon McElrath, Photo courtesy ILWU Local 142

A University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu-produced documentary about Hawaiʻi labor leader and social activist Ah Quon McElrath will air on public television stations across the country. Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends! was initially released in 2024, and.

Produced by the (CLEAR) at ����Vlog�ٷ� West Oʻahu, the documentary will air on stations in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Oregon. Other PBS stations across the continent will broadcast the program later this year. Exact program schedules are determined by each station.

“We are excited that the AQ documentary will be run six times by WGBH Boston, and six times by Oregon Public Broadcasting,” said producer Chris Conybeare (professor emeritus). “It’s also been picked up by KQED San Francisco and by the WNET Group, which includes Channel 13 NYC, New Jersey Public Television, and Long Island Public TV.” 

A force in Hawaiʻi labor

McElrath, a ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa alumna, earned her degree in sociology, helped found the at ����Vlog�ٷ� Mānoa, and served on the ����Vlog�ٷ� Board of Regents. In 2004, she was given the ����Vlog�ٷ� Founders Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership in advocating social change in education and improving social conditions throughout Hawaiʻi.

“AQ was a pivotal force in Hawaiʻi’s labor movement and a champion for social justice,” said documentary director Joy Chong-Stannard. “Although she died in 2008, her legacy lives on in her contributions to healthcare, education, fair housing and civil and human rights, as well as to the labor movement.” 

CLEAR was established by Act 202 in 1976, enabling ����Vlog�ٷ� to provide labor education to workers, unions, teachers and the public.

“As the clearinghouse for labor education matters in the State, we are thrilled and excited by the far-reaching interest in Hawai'i's labor history,” said Dion Dizon, CLEAR director. “CLEAR has enjoyed decades of producing meaningful labor media and journalism with Chris and Joy leading multiple projects. I am happy that this documentary preserves not only AQ's impact, but also CLEAR's legacy."

Funding for the documentary came from private donations, including major support from at the .

“We are proud to co-sponsor this program about AQ’s life,” said Kathryn L. Braun, Barbara Cox Anthony Endowed Chair of Aging. “This important female leader not only helped democratize the state of Hawaiʻi, but also demonstrated a lifelong commitment to education.”

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