FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JULY 17, 2026
MEDIA ADVISORY
Royal Kona Resort workers to rally for a fair contract after 16 months of unsuccessful negotiations
WHAT: Rally and sign waving calling Royal Kona Resort to settle a fair contract
WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, July 18, 2026 from 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. at the Royal Kona Resort (75-5852 Ali‘i Dr, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740)
WHO: The UNITE HERE Local 5 Executive Board and dozens of Royal Kona Resort workers–including housekeepers, maintenance workers, bellman, cooks and more–represented by UNITE HERE Local 5
WHY:
Over 150 hotel workers at the Royal Kona Resort have been working without a contract since February 2025. Workers are asking their employer to settle a fair contract that respects their work and wages that keep up with the rising cost of living. In December 2025, Royal Kona workers walked out on a one-day strike.
Local 5 filed an unfair labor practice with the National Labor Relations Board against Royal Kona Resort for declaring impasse in the middle of CBA negotiations & implementing changes to working conditions before the Union and Employer had bargained. In March 2026, the federal government found that when the Hotel changed working conditions without bargaining with the Union, it violated federal labor law. Royal Kona had to post a notice pledging to bargain in good faith with the Union and committing that it would not violate workers’ rights.
“We have been fighting for a fair contract for months–even going on strike–but our employer is treating us like we are second-class. We do the same work every day as other hotel workers across the Hawaii and we deserve respect and a fair contract,” said Daniel Hauanio, Royal Kona Resort, Maintenance, 18 years of service. “If tourism is Hawaii’s number one industry, then we need to make sure tourism provides good jobs for local people today and tomorrow.”
Royal Kona has held out for over 16 months, while 23 other Hawaii hotels represented UNITE HERE Local 5 (Local 5) have settled their contracts and secured historic wage increases, job security, and the first of its kind major industry impact language–beginning with the Hilton Hawaiian Village in 2024.
“Royal Kona management keeps claiming that they care about their workers, but their actions these last 16 months show that they don’t. Royal Kona workers work hard to welcome Hawaii’s visitors the best they can, but they are struggling to make ends meet,” said Gemma Weinstein, President. “All other Local 5 hotels have settled fair contracts for their employees, it is only Royal Kona Resort that has fallen short.”
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About UNITE HERE Local 5
Local 5 represents 10,000 workers throughout Hawai‘i who work in the hospitality, health care and food service industries and is an affiliate of UNITE HERE, an international union that represents over 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.unitehere5.org.
