2,700 workers at major hotels join strike
HONOLULU (AP) — Workers at some of Hawaii’s most iconic hotels are joining a national strike.
About 2,700 Marriott employees on Oahu and Maui on Monday joined the strike that began last week in Boston, San Francisco and other cities.
They work at four Waikiki properties operated by Marriott, including The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, an historic institution famous for its pink exterior.
Workers at the Sheraton Maui are also striking.
Waikiki Beach Marriott workers are not currently striking.
Workers are picketing the properties.
Leaders of the Unite Here Local 5 union say they have not reached agreement with management on a union demand for workers to be paid enough so they only need one job to support themselves.
Marriott officials in Hawaii did not immediately respond to voice mail messages seeking comment.
Maui man sentenced in kidnapping, sexual assault
WAILUKU, Maui (AP) — A Maui man convicted of kidnapping and sexually assaulting a woman has been sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Brandon Silva, 32, was sentenced last week after reaching an agreement with prosecutors where he pleaded no contest to kidnapping and a reduced charge of second-degree sexual assault.
Silva had offered to drive the victim to the hospital to find a friend who was in a wreck in April 2016, Deputy Prosecutor Iwalani Gasmen said. The woman had been acquainted with Silva previously.
On the way toward Kahakuloa, Silva pulled off to the side of the road and threatened the victim with a machete, forcing her to perform sexual acts, Gasmen said.
“Let there be no mistake, this was a very brutal rape,” Gasmen told the court.
As they continued driving, Silva took the victim’s phone and tried to delete his contact information and text messages to her, Gasmen said.
He later pulled onto a dirt road and assaulted the woman again.
He released her in Paia the next morning, the prosecutor said.