WAILUKU, Maui — About 100 supporters of Mufi Hannemann and Mazie Hirono are pouring into the International Longshore and Warehouse Union headquarters in Wailuku. Hannemann will be here through 8 p.m. tonight and will end the evening in Honolulu. 

A feast has been prepared — fried chicken, noodles, beef broccoli, cake.

The mood is festive, in a laid-back Maui kind-of-way. No music yet, but the room is loud. Mufi and Mazie stickers are plastered everywhere. Red shirts for Mufi, white stickers for Mazie.

On the back wall are two huge projections of TV news channels. 

William Kennison, leader of the Maui division of ILWU Local 142, says Hannemann has a proven track record when it comes to labor issues, unlike his opponent Tulsi Gabbard.  He says Hannemann will be able to advocate for rail in Washington D.C. — a project that won’t just help workers on Oahu, but also workers throughout the state, Kennison said.

— Sophie Cocke