By Annalisa Burgos and HNN Staff
Published: Sep. 6, 2026 at 11:38 AM HST
Read more: here
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An upcoming Kauai event aims to raise awareness of a little known but significant moment in America’s labor movement that took place in Hanapepe more than 100 years ago.
On September 9, 1924, an ongoing labor dispute about the treatment of sugar plantation workers led to a violent clash between strikers and police, resulting in the death of 16 Filipino strikers and four sheriffs’ deputies, three of Hawaiian heritage and one of Chinese descent according to the county, and many others injured.
After the tragic event, dozens of strikers were arrested and indicted for rioting, with many serving prison time. The 1924 strike laid the foundation for the idea of an industry-wide, interracial union that formed the International Longshoremen and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
—Their strike in 1924 was unsuccessful, but laid significant groundwork with regards to workers’ rights,
said Michael Miranda, a researcher with the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center.
The Kauai Philippine Cultural Center will host a free, public presentation and talk story on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 6 p.m. focusing on the Hanapepe Massacre under the leadership of labor leader and Hawaii’s first attorney of Filipino descent Pablo Manlapit.
Organized in collaboration with ACLU Hawaii and the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association, the discussion will highlight Manlapit’s efforts to organize sugar plantation workers in non-segregated strikes for promised benefits, a groundbreaking idea at the time that inspired labor leaders in California. The event also honors the contributions of “sakadas,” Filipino immigrants who arrived between 1906 and 1946 to work on Hawaii’s plantations.
Although Manlapit was convicted of conspiracy in the aftermath of the massacre, Miranda said he was not on Kauai at the time.
ACLU Hawaii and the Hawaii Filipino Lawyers Association will discuss ongoing efforts to secure justice for Manlapit.
—Although we have made strides in workers’ rights and labor since 1924, we must vigilantly protect these rights as they are constantly under assault,” Miranda said. “Knowing our history helps us protect the promise of America.
said Michael Miranda
The event is free to the public and starts at 6 p.m. at the Kauai Philippine Cultural Center in Līhue. Visit kauaiphilippineculturalcenter.org for more information.
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