About CLEAR
Our Story
The Center for Labor Education & Research (CLEAR) was established in 1976 by State Law, HRS §304A-1601 et seq, also known as Act 202. CLEAR is now a part of the University of Hawai‘i - West O‘ahu. Like the many other University & College Labor Studies programs nationally, the Hawai‘i Center for Labor provides labor education, research and labor-related programs to workers, their organizations, university students, and the general public through a variety of methods including credit and non-credit classes, seminars, workshops, publications and the use of the public media. By statute, the Center is guided and advised a Labor Education and Advisory Council, appointed by the President of the University.
Other publications of the Center include individualized workshop packets designed to accompany the Center’s non-credit classes, such as the CLEAR programs on Labor History, Workers’ Compensation, Grievance Handling, Labor Law, Collective Bargaining, Preventing Sexual Harassment, Conflict Resolution and Leadership Skills. Like its research projects, the Center’s seminars and educational programs are all designed to be of practical use to workers. As much as possible, CLEAR faculty will individualize and tailor its non-credit classes to fit the special needs and schedules of the labor organizations requesting them.
To complement each of these primary activities of the Center, CLEAR also maintains a local labor history archive and library. The archive and library contains archival material on the Hawaiʻi labor history, unions, library books, labor law resources, and supplemental materials.
Faculty Feature
Congratulations to Dr. Leslie Lopez on her law school graduation
In fall 2019, Dr. Leslie Lopez began her journey at the UH Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law as an evening part-time student. Lopez earned her Juris Doctor and marched at the spring commencement in May.
Throughout law school, Lopez maintained her duties at the UH West Oʻahu Center for Labor Education and Research (CLEAR). She also took on more as the Interim Director of CLEAR after the retirement of long-time director Dr. William Puette.
The dedication and achievement of Lopez are truly commendable, and UH West Oʻahu looks forward to the continued contributions her legal training will bring to our shared work at CLEAR!
Dr. Osman Keshawarz's article featured in Jacobin
CLEAR Assistant Professor Osman Keshawarz co-authored a nationally published article examining how rent control can help address the housing affordability crisis and support housing stability for existing residents. The article highlights the role of rent regulation in protecting working-class communities while acknowledging that it is one part of a broader approach to addressing rising housing costs.
Dr. Ellen Cachola's article published in Amerasia Journal
Congratulations to Dr. Ellen-Rae Cachola on the publication of From a Diasporic Daughter: Four Letters for Kumu Haunani-Kay Trask from the Filipinx Diaspora, co-authored with Katherine Achacoso, Nadine Ortega, and Kim Compoc and published in Amerasia Journal this March 2026. This important work thoughtfully examines Filipinx working-class engagement with Hawaiian nationalism and the Indigenous feminism of Haunani-Kay Trask, offering a meaningful contribution to critical conversations on solidarity, history, and decolonial thought.
Contact clear@hawaii.edu to request a pdf version.
CLEAR Faculty & Staff
Labor Education Advisory Council (LEAC)
The Labor Education Advisory Council is made up of up to fifteen members representing Hawai‘i’s trade union movement, appointed by the University president. The council advises the UH West Oʻahu chancellor on all Center for Labor Education and Research activities and helps assess program needs. Read more about the LEAC.
Art Rutledge Endowment in Labor Studies
CLEAR operates with program fees, endowment income from the Art Rutledge Endowment in Labor Studies, and an allocation from the University of Hawai‘i to accomplish its legislative mandate to provide educational programs on a non-profit basis to workers and their organizations and publishes a variety of books and handbooks and, as funds become available, produces the public television program, Rice & Roses.
NOTE: The University of Hawai‘i is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and is committed to a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of race, sex, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, disability, marital status, arrest and court record, sexual orientation, and veteran status. This policy covers admission and access to, and participation, treatment and employment in the University’s programs, activities, and services.