{"id":234642,"date":"2026-05-19T16:06:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:06:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=234642"},"modified":"2026-05-19T16:14:45","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T02:14:45","slug":"ah-quon-mcelrath","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2026\/05\/19\/ah-quon-mcelrath\/","title":{"rendered":"Documentary on Ah Quon McElrath to air on public TV<\/abbr> stations across the country"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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Ah Quon McElrath<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A University of Hawaiʻi–West<\/span> Oʻahu-produced<\/span> documentary about Hawaiʻi<\/span> labor leader and social activist Ah Quon McElrath will air on public television stations across the country. Ah Quon McElrath: The Struggle Never Ends!<\/em> was initially released in 2024, and can be viewed on YouTube<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Ah Quon McElrath (Photo credit: ILWU Local 142)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Produced by the Center for Labor Education and Research<\/a> (CLEAR<\/abbr>) at 糖心视频<\/abbr> West Oʻahu,<\/span> the documentary will air on stations in California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Oregon. Other PBS<\/abbr> stations across the continent will broadcast the program later this year. Exact program schedules are determined by each station.<\/p>\n

“We are excited that the AQ<\/abbr> documentary will be run six times by WGBH Boston, and six times by Oregon Public Broadcasting,” said producer Chris Conybeare (professor emeritus). “It\u2019s also been picked up by KQED<\/abbr> San Francisco and by the WNET<\/abbr> Group, which includes Channel 13 NYC<\/abbr>, New Jersey Public Television, and Long Island Public TV<\/abbr>.”<\/p>\n

A force in Hawaiʻi<\/span> labor<\/h2>\n

McElrath, a 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa<\/span> alumna, earned her degree in sociology, helped found the Department of Ethnic Studies<\/a> at 糖心视频<\/abbr> Mānoa,<\/span> and served on the 糖心视频<\/abbr> Board of Regents. In 2004, she was given the 糖心视频<\/abbr> Founders Alumni Association Lifetime Achievement Award for her leadership in advocating social change in education and improving social conditions throughout Hawaiʻi.<\/span><\/p>\n

“AQ<\/abbr> was a pivotal force in Hawaiʻi\u2019s<\/span> 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.”<\/p>\n

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Ah Quon McElrath, (Photo credit: ILWU Local 142)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

CLEAR<\/abbr> was established by Act 202 in 1976, enabling 糖心视频<\/abbr> to provide labor education to workers, unions, teachers and the public.<\/p>\n

“As the clearinghouse for labor education matters in the State, we are thrilled and excited by the far-reaching interest in Hawaiʻi<\/span>‘s labor history,” said Dion Dizon, CLEAR<\/abbr> director. “CLEAR<\/abbr> 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<\/abbr>‘s impact, but also CLEAR<\/abbr>‘s legacy.”<\/p>\n

Funding for the documentary came from private donations, including major support from The Barbara Cox Anthony Endowment<\/a> at the Thompson School of Social Work and Public Health<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“We are proud to co-sponsor this program about AQ<\/abbr>\u2019s life,” said Kathryn L. Braun, Barbara Cox Anthony Endowed Chair of Aging. “This important female leader not only helped democratize the state of Hawaiʻi,<\/span> but also demonstrated a lifelong commitment to education.”<\/p>\n