Hawaiʻi labor leader and social activist Ah Quon McElrath is the focus of a new documentary that will air on PBS Hawaiʻi on October 17, at 8:30 p.m. Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends! will re-air on October 20 at 1 p.m.
McElrath, a UH Mānoa alumna who earned her degree in sociology, helped found the Department of Ethnic Studies at UH Mānoa and also served on the UH Board of Regents. In 2004, she was given the UH Founders Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership in advocating social change in education and improving social conditions throughout Hawaiʻi.
McElrath was a pivotal force in Hawaiʻi’s labor movement and a champion for social justice.
The documentary is a production of the Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) at the UH West Oʻahu. One of the leading donors was The Barbara Cox Anthony Endowment at the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health.
“We are thrilled to 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. We’re so proud to count her as an alumna and recognize her service on the University of Hawaiʻi’s Board of Regents.”
McElrath was born in 1915 and died in 2008, yet her legacy lives on as her contributions extended far beyond the labor movement, advocating for healthcare, education, fair housing, and civil and human rights throughout Hawaiʻi.
By exploring McElrath’s life, The Struggle Never Ends! documents some of Hawaiʻi’s most important history and how her work continues to inspire future generations. The documentary is part of the Ah Quon McElrath Project, which preserves her legacy through rare footage, interviews and educational materials.
