A marker to commemorate the deaths of 16 Filipino plantation workers of Visayan ancestry and 4 local policemen during the infamous Hanapepe Massacre of September 9, 1924 will be unveiled in ceremonies at Hanapepe Town Park on Saturday, September 9, 2006. The violent incident took place at the height of the Filipino labor strike in Kauai. The marker honors those who died and commemorates the important role played by Filipinos in the long and bitter history of the labor movement in Hawaii.

The commemoration will begin at 1:00 p.m. with a panel discussion. Scholars from the University of Hawaii who have done research on the subject have been invited to share insights into the incident. The formal unveiling ceremonies will follow the panel discussion. Invited guests include Kauai Mayor Bryan Baptiste, Filipino Centennial Commission chair Elias Beniga, Hernando Tan of UNITE HERE Local 5, and Fred Galdones of ILWU Local 142. Heavy pupus will be served after the ceremonies.

The event is being sponsored by the Filipino Centennial Celebration Commission, the County of Kauai, the Congress of Visayan Organizations, the Kauai Filipino Centennial Committee, the Kauai Historical Society, the Kauai Visayan Club, UNITE HERE Local 5, and ILWU Local 142.