Students at Pāhoa High and Intermediate School recently got a hands-on lesson in skilled trades while helping to improve their own campus through the 2025 Labor of Love: Union Workforce Development project.

The annual initiative, led by the Hawai‘i State Department of Education’s Workforce Development Branch and the Hawai‘i State AFL-CIO’s Labor Community Services Program, brings union professionals into public schools to lead campus improvement efforts and introduce students to potential career pathways.

Pāhoa students worked side-by-side with tradespeople and union leaders, learning about various skilled careers while taking part in meaningful upgrades to their school, including:

• Installing walkway pavers and concrete slabs
• Building new picnic tables and benches for outdoor seating
• Installing water fountains and bottle-filling stations
• Striping and painting parking lots across the campus

Local unions and businesses donated time, expertise and materials valued at $55,000 (see list of supporters below).

“The Labor of Love has been an extraordinary opportunity for the students of Pāhoa High and Intermediate School to work alongside and learn from an amazing group of workers, helping our students to realize that there are great opportunities for training and work right here in our home,” Pāhoa High and Intermediate School Principal Kim Williamson said in a statement. “We are truly grateful for the help, expertise and materials that the unions and businesses have graciously provided to our school and it has been an honor to work with the unions and businesses and to build lasting partnerships for our students and community.”

HIDOE Superintendent Keith Hayashi and Hawai‘i State AFL-CIO President Randy Perreira joined volunteers on site.

“Labor of Love is a powerful example of how we can come together as a community to support student learning in meaningful ways,” Superintendent Hayashi said. “These hands-on experiences help our students see real career possibilities and build skills they can use in the future. A big mahalo to our union partners and all the volunteers who gave their time and talents to support our students and school.”

“Labor of Love is about more than just improving a campus — it’s about planting seeds for the future, exposing students to careers they can thrive in and build a life here at home,” Perreira added.

Past Labor of Love projects include Waimānalo Elementary and Intermediate, Waiʻanae Elementary, Kalihi Elementary, Chiefess Kapiʻolani Elementary, Mountain View Elementary, Wailuku Elementary, ʻĪao Intermediate and Dole Middle.

2025 Labor of Love supporters