Rep. Colleen Hanabusa picked up the endorsement today of the Asian American Action Fund, a national PAC that works to get Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders elected to office.

In a release, the organization’s executive director Gautam Dutta cited her “distinguished and progressive record,” and as is increasingly becoming a common threat in Hanabusa’s campaign, cited the memory of the late U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye.

Hanabusa had been Inouye’s choice to replace him in the Senate, but the spot went to Sen. Brian Schatz, who Hanabusa is challenging.  Dutta said Hanabusa’s record “in the state Senate and in the U.S. House make her an outstanding candidate to succeed our dearly beloved Senator Inouye.”

The organization also highlighted the opportunity to for Hanabusa to join Sen. Mazie Hirono as the second Asian American woman in the U.S. Senate.

Aside from highlighting race in a state with a large Asian population, the endorsement could represent a financial boost for Hanabusa, who is trying to catch up with Schatz in campaign fundraising. The organization donated $10,000 to Hirono’s campaign last year, as well as $3,000 to Hanabusa last year and $6,150 in 2010, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.

In the release, Hanabusa said, “I am truly honored to once again have AAA-Fund’s support in my campaign for the U.S. Senate. Their support made a key difference in my victory in 2010. I look forward to continuing to work with them on issues of critical importance to our AAPI communities, including passing immigration reform, recognizing Native Hawaiian sovereignty and fulfilling our obligations to our Filipino veterans.”

— Kery Murakami