The University of Hawaiʻi–West Oʻahu’s Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR) has a new leader — and she’s no stranger to Hawaiʻi’s labor movement. Dion Dizon, JD, has been appointed Director of CLEAR, returning to the center where her journey began as a student intern.

Dizon’s path reflects the power of education, advocacy, and solidarity. After starting at Leeward Community College, she earned her bachelor’s degree from UH West Oʻahu, then went on to the William S. Richardson School of Law at UH Mānoa. As a law student, she served as Political Education Director for the Hawaiʻi State AFL-CIO, where she helped advance pro-worker legislation and coordinate political candidate endorsements that supported working families.

Following law school, Dizon fought for federal sector union members as a Business Representative for IBEW Local 1186. In that role, she administered collective bargaining agreements for eight bargaining units and supported 20 union stewards. She continues to serve Hawaiʻi workers through her roles on the State’s Workforce Development Council and the Native Hawaiian Education Council.

Dizon brings not only legal and policy expertise but also a deep understanding of the challenges working people face on the job and at the bargaining table. She is determined to make CLEAR a resource for unions, workers, students, and communities across every island and industry.

“Too often, people undervalue their labor without even realizing it,” Dizon said. “When people think about work—especially young people or those changing careers—they’re often not encouraged to ask the kinds of questions that help them really evaluate job opportunities. Gig work and short-term hustles are more and more common, often at the cost of stability, benefits, and a future. Union jobs, on the other hand, continue to be some of the few that offer living wages, protections, and real pathways to staying and thriving in Hawaiʻi.” 
Dizon fills the leadership role previously held by Dr. William Puette, who served as Director of CLEAR since 1993. Her Directorship marks a passing of the torch to the next generation to lead the University of Hawaiʻi’s one and only labor studies program. The next generation is exactly who Dizon has her sights set on.

“I joined CLEAR because I believe workers, especially the next generation, deserve the tools to make informed choices. Leaving Hawaiʻi for better work shouldn’t feel like the only option; it should be a choice, not a default.”

CLEAR was established in 1976 by legislation written for labor by labor-friendly lawmakers. Its mission: to educate workers, unions, the public, and educators about labor, and to serve as the statewide clearinghouse for labor education. CLEAR is advised by the Labor Education Advisory Council, on which Local 142 holds a seat on.

“Through labor education, we can equip people with the knowledge to navigate today’s job market, understand their rights, and see the value in organizing for something better. That’s what CLEAR is here to do — and that’s the work I’m proud to be part of,” Dizon said.

Dizon’s appointment signals a renewed commitment to strengthening labor education in Hawaiʻi — ensuring that CLEAR continues to support working families and the future of the labor movement. The ILWU Local 142 welcomes sister Dion Dizon to her new leadership role and encourages our members to consider enrolling in the Labor Studies Certificate program.