This message is for pre-merger Hawaiian Flight Attendants
A Message From the LEC 43 President
Aloha nui kākou,
I am both excited and humbled to write to you all as the AFA-CWA Local Executive Council 43 President in Honolulu, representing our Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.
Now that my time as your Vice President has come to an end and I begin my new role today, I would first like to say mahalo to everyone who has supported the work and efforts of our leadership this past term. It has been quite the experience and journey, to say the least. We faced significant challenges very early in our term, but I look back with gratitude for how far we have come, what we have persevered through, and the opportunity you gave us to do meaningful work on behalf of our members. Together, we have made a real difference in strengthening our Union.
I would first like to recognize our Local Committee Chairs and committee members who stepped forward to get involved and make a meaningful difference through their dedication and engagement. Their work has strengthened our membership and helped us better serve and support our Flight Attendants. Without the hard work and commitment of our committees, Martin and I simply could not have accomplished what we did. Union work requires more than its elected leaders. It requires a unified effort from everyone involved to keep our Union strong, moving forward, and present for our members.
I also want to express my aloha and mahalo to Martin for his work and dedication this past term as President, not only for our Flight Attendants, but for our Union as a whole in helping establish a strong foundation for future generations. Martin has been an incredible resource and a wealth of knowledge. He has been a trusted mentor, helping me and many others involved in committee work navigate difficult situations with the Company while deepening our understanding of our Contract and the intent behind its language. I could not have asked for a better leader to serve alongside throughout everything we experienced this past term. The progress we have made as a Local Council is a direct reflection of his trust in me and the work we accomplished together. I am especially grateful that Martin has chosen to continue serving in our leadership as Vice President this term. His continued support and partnership mean a great deal to me. While neither of us could have imagined when we first started this journey that we would be where we are today, I am grateful that we are still here together, living, working, and continuing to serve as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants.
In addition to our leadership team in Honolulu, I would like to welcome our newly elected LEC Secretary, Soon Kim. Soon has been a tremendous asset to our Communications Committee this past term, working alongside Committee Chair Miki Vericella and committee member Joyce Foley to centralize communications for Honolulu and expand our Zoom webinar series. Soon’s passion has long been centered on human rights, workers’ rights, and advocacy for organized labor. Her experience working with nonprofit organizations, combined with her organizational skills and ability to lead digital initiatives, will be a tremendous asset to our leadership team. I am also pleased to announce her appointment as the Human Rights and Equity Chair for Honolulu in recognition of her dedication to ensuring every Flight Attendant has a voice and representation within our Union.
Looking ahead to this upcoming term as President, my focus will continue to be on serving our Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants in Honolulu. As I have shared before, I intend to build upon the successes we have achieved while strengthening the areas where we can improve our service, support, and representation. The strong foundation our leadership and local committees have built will continue to grow through the collective efforts of everyone involved.
There is a great deal of work ahead of us as we continue this next chapter. We must maintain the progress we have made while remaining vigilant for the challenges ahead. Our industry continues to change rapidly, with no immediate end to that pace of change in sight. As a group, we must work together to stay ahead whenever possible, and we will continue to do everything we can as your leadership to advocate for you, represent you, and preserve our identity as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants here in Hawaiʻi.
We ask for your continued support and willingness to engage with us, even when you may not always agree with every decision we make. Regardless of our differences, we are all in this together. The more unified we are, the stronger and more effective we become as a work group, as a membership, and as a Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendant ʻohana.
Our kuleana and our aloha for one another are what continue to set us apart from other carriers and AFA councils. The meaning of union and unity is deeply rooted in who we are as a people and reflects the spirit of the Hawaiian Airlines brand. As I have said before, union work is never finished, and it is never perfect. But every time we each do our part, whether by seeking information from credible sources, reading and understanding our Contract, or simply staying engaged, we become stronger, more informed, and better advocates for ourselves and for one another.
Our Union remains strong because of its members, and we, as your elected leaders, are here to serve, support, and represent every one of you, regardless of your seniority or individual circumstances.
Once again, mahalo for your continued support. I look forward to the work ahead as we continue securing our future here in Hawaiʻi as Hawaiian Airlines Flight Attendants. Please continue to reach out to any member of our leadership team or local committees whenever you need support or representation.
No laila, e huli ka lima i lalo a e paʻa kākou i ka hana.
So, let us turn our palms downward, and let us get to work.
Me ka ha‘aha‘a,
Kela Chong
President
Hawaiian Airlines Local Executive Council 43 – HNL
Association of Flight Attendants – CWA
