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Poamoho Camp Residents and ILWU Win Right to Homes (2 of 2)
Community leaders, including retired worker, Vaeleti Tyrell, Poamoho Community Association president, helped organize the residents of the company homes, into a cooperative. The community is a close-knit community with multiple generations and unlocked doors but represent a dwindling way of life in Hawaii. There is now only one other pineapple plantation villages left on Oahu, in Kunia. All workers in Poamoho will work at the Kunia plantation.
The Hawaii Star-Bulletin quoted Junior Natey, 57, who said, "We're just going to stay here for the rest of our lives. I love Poamoho." Residents recently held a celebration with a roasted side of beef, chickens and pupu platters. There was Hawaiian music and hula.
While final pricing of the homes is still being worked out, Savio said he would find another buyer for the other 60 acres of land.
Union Movement and Development Displacement
In helping their workers retain their home, the ILWU is one
union that is moving beyond strict trade union issues of wages and benefits.
For some unions, particularly construction trades, around such an issue
relevant to development, interests conflict. However, to become more
relevant, the broader union movement will also have to take up broader
social issues.
Development displacement is a big issue in Hawaii, as it is in many popular areas of the U.S. However, with the large influx of mainland retirees and others over the past decades, development displacement is particularly sharp in Hawaii. The irrational run-up in housing prices affects the poor and workers the most, particularly low-wage agricultural workers such as the Poamoho residents. These workers are also universally locals or long-time residents in Hawaii. Such residents are often forced to move from Hawaii because of the lack of housing. There is for example a large concentration of Hawaiians in Los Vegas now.
If the U.S. continues to treat housing as a market, and not take responsibility for this basic human need, then builders will continue to build luxury housing and price out workers and poor people. Low-income residents will continue to have to rely on development saviors like Peter Savio, who are the exception and not the rule in the market.
