HONOLULU — Matson Navigation Company is asking workers to donate to a company political action committee that will support a candidate for the U.S. House seat vacated by Neil Abercrombie.

In a February e-mail, company President Matt Cox said a federal law known as the Jones Act is vital to Matson. It requires vessels transporting goods between states to have been built in the United States, be crewed and owned by U.S. citizens, and fly the U.S. flag.
The e-mail says of the three major candidates for the House seat, only Democrat Colleen Hanabusa backs the law. He says Democrat Ed Case and Republican Charles Djou want to exempt Hawaii from it.
The law’s opponents contend it results in higher prices for Hawaii consumers.
The special election for the seat is May 22.