Unite Here! Local 5 has endorsed former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie for governor.

The union, which represents about 10,500 hotel and health care workers, recognized Abercrombie’s record of supporting organized labor.

"At the end of the day, I think our membership felt that the choice was pretty clear in terms of who was going to be able to fully commit to this office and to the people of Hawaii," said Cade Watanabe, a community and political organizer for the union. "It was also pretty clear who was going to be able to support and stand with the working families of this state."

Abercrombie faces Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the Democratic primary in September. Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona is the leading Republican candidate for governor.