Hawaii housing developers are supporting former Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann in the race for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination.

BUILD-PAC Hawaii, the political action committee of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii, announced its endorsement of Hannemann earlier this month.

Hannemann is vying for the nomination against former U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie and three lesser-known Democrats.

A spokeswoman for the group says the endorsement is only for the Sept. 18 primary election contest. She says the group will deliberate on endorsements for the Nov. 2 general election after the primary.

The likely Republican nominee is Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona.

BUILD-PAC Hawaii also endorsed state senator and general contractor Norman Sakamoto for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor.

Sakamoto is vying in the Sept. 18 primary election against six rivals — former state Sens. Robert Bunda and Gary Hooser, Reps. Lyla Berg and Jon Riki Karamatsu, former state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Schatz and school Principal Steve Hirakami.

Lawyer Adrienne King and Rep. Lynn Finnegan are seeking the Republican nomination.