U.S. Senate candidate Mazie Hirono, with Kauai Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. at her side in Kakaako Waterfront Park on Sunday (Sept. 9), accepted the endorsement of the 4,000-member National Weather Service Employees Organization.

The group said it backs Hirono because it believes she will fight against cuts to tsunami and hurricane warning systems in Congress. Tuesday (Sept. 11) is the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Iniki, which devastated the Garden Isle.