Dr. Michael Puette is the Director of the Center for Labor Education & Research at the University of Hawai‘i–West O‘ahu, where he has taught Labor Studies for over three decades. Originally recruited to teach English in Hawai‘i, he quickly became active in the labor movement, helping to found the Hawai‘i State Teachers’ Association and participating in its first strike. He later served as a full-time field agent for the union and earned his Ph.D. in American Studies from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. A prolific author, labor arbitrator, and Professional Registered Parliamentarian, Dr. Puette has published widely on Hawaiian labor history, union organizing, and media bias. He is the recipient of multiple awards, including the Lowell-Mellett Award and the George Meany Award. In addition to his academic and union work, he has volunteered extensively with the Boy Scouts of America and has served on the Hawai‘i Civil Rights Commission since 2019.