Retiree Randall Freitas and his ohana made it first to the finish line among Local 675 participants in the
26th annual Aloha Fun charity event. From left, sister-inlaw Malia Smith, son Keanu, wife lois, and Randall,
all smiles after the grueling 8.1 mile gallop. Photo at right, another retiree, Jeffery Fukushima, wife Shirley,
and daughter Lesley, enjoy the post-race brunch Local 675 hosted in the Aloha Stadium hospitality room.
Clear skies prevailed for the dawn-starting Aloha Fun Run on Feb. 15 coaxing another huge turnout – over 21,000 entries – for the annual Presidents Day event, the 26th. This year the challenge raised over $400,000, distributed to non- profits selected by the Carole Kai Charities, raising the overall contributions to a whopping $8.1 million.

Starting point was the Aloha Tower area with the finishingline at Aloha Stadium.

The Plumbers Union has for the last seven Fun Run events fully sponsored the participation of Local 675 members, active and retired, and their families, who register for the event. The Union’s coverage includes the cost of the registration fee as well as the brunch made available following the Run. According to the event’s pioneer organizer, Carole Kai, Local 675 is the only Union to subsidize the participation of its members and families.

Registered for their sixth Run, just a week of conditioning was enough for retired plumber Randall T. Freitas and family of Kailua to finish first among the 170 participating adults and 27 related youngsters.

“We made the 8.1 mile route collectively in great shape and though not record-breaking, our time of 1 hour 28 minutes was satisfying, and we think we’ll try it again,” enthused Freitas, whohad as running mates, wife Lois, son Keanu, and sister-in-law, Malia Smith.

(Officially Keanu was clocked in 1:16, and Malia, 1:18.)

Freitas, whose last employer was Alaka‘i Mechanical, also worked for Oahu Plumbing and R & V Plumbing. His father, Randall Thomas Brazil Freitas (retired), brother Daniel, cousin Norman Taylor, and Sam Taylor, Norman’s son, are also Local 675 members.

A Show of Brotherhood
UNITY PICNIC DRAWS UNION FAMILIES

Infant and young faces meshed with those of parents and grandparents all enjoying the camaraderie of Hawaii’s building trades unions on a sunny, sultry Labor Day at the Waikiki Shell. For that period of funfest the troubles of a sour economy were left pretty much at home.

Picnickers didn’t forget families with empty cupboards, bringing packages of canned goods and other non-perishables for distribution by the Hawaii Food Bank.

There wasn’t a straw poll, but if one were taken, the Plumbers tent might have likely been the favorite with the huge turnout for its slush and ice cream mix. Given the almost blistering sun much of the day, the line to the Plumb-ers’ dispensing booth seemingly was unending.

“We’re elated that so many came with their youngsters and to share and commemorate a day that has traditionally exemplified the united strength of organized labor,” business manager Reginald Castanares said.

He commended the staff and other 675 employees and volunteers for assistance at the event.

Donation Helps Attain Goal
PAMCAH-Local 675 Boosts Schools Sports Budget

It was prep football night October 2 at Roosevelt High, an occasion highlighted by a big contribution boost of $10,000 from the PAMCAH-UA Local 675 Trust Fund to the Oahu Interscholastic Association (OIA) to help erase its budget deficit for the current season.

The photo above shows business manager Reginald Castanares tell sportscaster Dave Vinton the organized plumbing/fitting industry is pleased to share in the community-wide support of the OIA athletic program. “We are long supporters of public school sports and the donation simply extends our continued commitment,” he said.

Others joining in the presentation of a replica of the donation shown above are Local 675 vice president Val Ceria, PAMCA executive director Gregg Serikaku, and Kahuku High School athletic director Joe Whitford, representing the OIA.

Plumbing A Key to Sanitary Health
INSPECTION CHIEF FINDS TRADE BOOSTS CAREER

City & County’s Plumbing works ‘Police’: After a plumbing permit is drawn at the City Building Department, expect any of these veteran inspectors at the job site. Each was a former licensed journeyman plumber who completed the trade’s training program. They are, from left, sitting, Blake Asato, Clinton Higashi, Alan Nakamura (plumbing inspector chief), Reid Okazaki and Gaylen Yoshida. Standing, Scott Ono, Keith Lee, Bruce Hiraiwa, Joseph Muramoto, Darren Niino, Russell Tomita, and Jayson Inouye.

Who can forget the childhood reminders that cleanliness is just as sacred as Godliness?
That’s an adage municipalities also hold dear with their daily responsibility over safeguarding public sanitation and again, startlingly dramatized by the alert on the recent swine flu threat.

People may not connect us with issues of health until they realize water transmission standards are key to environmental and health protection, covered in codes and enforced by regulators based on permits issued, explains Alan Nakamura, in charge of the City & County plumbing inspection section since 2006.

The importance of comprehensive check on newly installed and maintained plumbing works on all properties is emphasized by the City requirement that a plumbing inspector must have completed a full-blown trade apprenticeship program plus carrying a current State of Hawaii plumbing journey worker license, he emphasizes.

Nakamura’s 11 inspectors cover the entire island, and each has endured the five year, 10,000-hour training program under the joint auspices of Local 675 and signatory contractors with PAMCAH. All have also had jobs as journeymen before turning inspector.

The affable section chief, who has taught CPR to Local 675 members and continues a liaison role with IAPMO, after completing his apprenticeship, obtained his journeyman license in 197l and a master plumber’s license four years later. His early years were with then Ace Plumbing. When the building economy slowed, Nakamura in 1978 joined the Honolulu Police Department while at the same time working two other fulltime jobs. He returned to the trade in 1978 as a pipefitter foreman with Hawaiian Dredging and ten years later, became a City inspector. “The trade has gone hi-tech in a big way since my plumbing days,” he recalled. “When man and material hoists were not available on the jobsite, my fellow apprentices used to compete racing up stairwells delivering materials up to as high as 12 stories, surprising the awaiting journeymen, who were gracious teaching us job layout as our reward,” he laughed.

“Where in the ‘old days’ it was almost all caulk-joint, today the tradesman applies a lot of thinking because the work is a lot more complex,” he observes, commenting on the excellent training provided at all levels by a trade considered topflight nationally.

Nakamura and his colleagues oversee 1,200 to 1,500 jobs a year explaining their checking in at their offices as early as 5:30 each morning. Busy as they are, they still make time for the community, involved mostly with fund-raising walks for various health groups as heart, diabetes, cancer, and other health nonprofits.