Hanapepe massacre

Hanapēpē Massacre
DateSeptember 9, 1924
Location
Goals$2 daily wage
8 hour day
Parties
Striking Filipino sugar workers
Lead figures

Jack Butler

Casualties and losses
Deaths: 16 killed
Arrests: 161
Deaths: 4

The Hanapēpē Massacre (also called the Battle of Hanapēpē) occurred on September 9, 1924, when a dispute amongst Filipino strike organizers in Hanapēpē, Kaua'i resulted in a violent exchange between local police officers and Filipinos.[1] The conflict began when two Ilocano youth, allegedly breaking the Filipino-led labor strike, were detained and harassed by a group of Visayans at the Hanapepe strike camp.[2] When the local police were called to settle the dispute, they arrived with a group of heavily armed special deputies.[1] Upon arrival, the officers issued warrants of arrest for the two detained Illocanos, causing the collection of Filipino strikers to rally in opposition.[2] Despite previously ridiculing the two Ilocanos, the remaining Filipinos armed themselves and demanded the boys be released.[2] A violent exchange ensued wherein sixteen Filipino laborers and four police officers were left dead.[1]

  1. ^ a b c Beechert, Edward D. (1985). Working in Hawaii: a Labor History. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 221–222. ISBN 0-8248-0890-8. OCLC 906458431.
  2. ^ a b c Reinecke, John E. (1997). The Filipino Piecemeal Sugar Strike of 1924–1925. University of Hawaii Press. pp. 75–76. ISBN 978-0-8248-6253-4. OCLC 1024022244.