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From Press Release News Exposure Empowering Students and Strengthening Communities Pāhoa, Hawai‘i Island – April 12, 2025 – The Hawai‘i State AFL-CIO’s Labor Community Services Program (LCSP) proudly announces the 2025 Labor of Love: Union Workforce Development project at Pāhoa High and Intermediate School. This annual, service-based learning initiative connects union professionals with Hawai‘i Department of Education (HIDOE) schools to offer campus improvements and meaningful career exploration opportunities for students and educators. With many Pāhoa students preparing to enter the workforce immediately after graduation, Labor of Love offers them hands-on learning alongside skilled tradespeople. This year’s improvements at PHIS have been completed through the combined efforts of students and union volunteers, and include: ● Installation of walkway pavers and concrete slabs ● New picnic tables and benches to expand outdoor student seating ● Water fountains and bottle-filling station ● Parking lot striping and painting throughout the campus ● Students participating in shadowing filming professionals These enhancements improve the school's physical environment and serve as a living classroom for students. The project’s success has been made possible thanks to the generous support of unions and local businesses, which donated time, expertise, and materials. The total estimated value of contributions to PHIS is $55,000. Key Features of the Labor of Love Program: ● Career Exploration Panels: Union leaders and skilled tradespeople speak directly with students and educators, offering insights into various industries and clear pathways to enter them. ● Service-Based Learning: Students gain practical experience by working alongside union professionals, seeing firsthand what a career in the trades can be like. Community Collaboration: The initiative fosters partnerships among unions, union contractors, local businesses, and nonprofits, all united in their commitment to investing in Hawai‘i’s next generation. "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," said Randy Perreira, Hawaii State AFL-CIO President. PHIS Principal, Kim Williamson, says, “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. We ar