Filipinos, Union are death of Alfredo family, friends, and officials in the International Longshore and Warehouse mourning the Villanueva, a native of the Philippines who through hard work and determination built a good life for his family in Hanama‘ulu. He
Filipinos, Union are death of Alfredo family, friends, and officials in the International Longshore and Warehouse mourning the Villanueva, a native of the Philippines who through hard work and determination built a good life for his family in Hanama‘ulu.
He was involved in the celebration of the anniversary of the arrival of the 1946 Filipino immigrants, called “Sakadas,” built a successful insurance business, rose to a management position at Lihue Plantation, and also rose to a position of prominence and power in the ILWU.
He died last month at 83, and until the end was working to help better the lives of fellow immigrants to Kaua‘i, lastly as a coordinator for Kauai Economic Opportunity, Inc.’s Employment Core Services for Immigrants program.
There, he worked with immigrants to determine their needs and assist them in finding employment, and help them remove potential barriers to employment and other personal advancement.
When he retired from Lihue Plantation in 1984, he was mechanic and lead man in charge of maintaining all moving machinery.
Shortly after arriving on Kaua‘i in 1946, he began working days and attending school at night, taking vocational classes in the automotive department of the Kauai Vocational School in Hanapepe, and correspondence classes in diesel electric maintenance from the American School in Chicago. He understood that education was the key to advancement, said his widow, Leonora Aquino Villanueva.
While working full time at Lihue Plantation, he continued studying nights, passed examinations to sell all lines of insurance, and became a notary public.
He was a lifelong learner, and showed leadership in the ILWU as well, serving as shop steward, unit chairman, grievance chairman, and substitute business agent.
Villanueva was president of the Kauai Filipino Community Council, and chair of a committee whose members worked with Mayor Eduardo E. Malapit to place a statute of Philippines national hero Dr. Jose Rizal on the lawn of the historic County Building in Lihu‘e. He also chaired the community committee for the construction of the new Lihu‘e Neighborhood Center.
Services are scheduled for Saturday, March 12, awaiting the arrival of his sister from the Philippines.
Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.
