Media Contact: Angelina Spence, Communications Organizer, (808) 391-6988, [email protected]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DECEMBER 19, 2025
Royal Kona Resort workers walk out on one-day strike
KAILUA-KONA, HI – This morning, over 150 hotel workers began a one-day strike at the Royal Kona Resort including housekeepers, maintenance workers, bellman, cooks, and more. Royal Kona workers represented by UNITE HERE Local 5 (Local 5) have been working without a contract since February and contract negotiations have been ongoing since then.
Despite nearly a year of bargaining, workers’ key priorities have yet to be settled. Workers at the Royal Kona have been fighting for better workplace staffing & job security language and protections in the event of major emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic. In addition, they have been fighting to secure wages that keep up with their Big Island counterparts, and are currently paid less than workers at other hotels on the island.
“We are on strike to protect our jobs and the future of our island’s number one industry. Even though we do the same work every day as other hotel workers on the Big Island, our employer is treating us like we are nothing,” said Maggie Larson, Housekeeping, 33 years of service. “We love our jobs and take pride in welcoming our guests, but we are struggling to keep up with the cost of living and being able to deliver the quality service our guests deserve.”
The Employer has taken the position that it can unilaterally implement changes in the wages and working conditions without agreement with the Union or the hotel’s bargaining committee. On October 30, Local 5 filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”) against the hotel for failing to bargain in good faith in the Union. The NLRB is currently investigating the charge.
“Today’s action demonstrates the seriousness of the situation we’re now in and the commitment of our members to do whatever it takes to ensure these jobs remain good jobs for future generations of Big Island hotel workers. We are hopeful that we will come to a fair settlement soon – as we have for many decades with the Royal Kona Resort – but we won’t accept being treated like we’re 2nd class,” said Cade Watanabe, Financial Secretary-Treasurer. “Workers here deserve better. The Royal Kona Resort can do better.”
The strike is expected to conclude at 11:59 p.m. tonight and workers will return to work at 12 a.m. on Saturday, December 20.
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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.
