Saying that Colleen Hanabusa "has been an effective ally of working families throughout our state," the executive board of Unite Here! Local 5 has endorsed the state Senate president in her bid for Congress.

Hanabusa's chief rivals in the May 22 special election to represent Hawaii's 1st Congressional District in Washington, D.C., are former congressman Ed Case, a fellow Democrat, and City Councilman Charles Djou, a Republican.

The union represents more than 10,000 hotel and healthcare workers in Hawaii.