"We're in it for the long haul and we all know that," said Bernadette Bringas, a nurse from Kuakini Medical Center as she walked.

Nearly 1,400 nurses have been on strike for almost three weeks. No new negotiations are scheduled, despite two failed attempts by different hospitals and their nurses to bargain this week.

"I think this will do a lot for our resolve," said Elizabeth Clavin, a Queen's Medical Center nurse "Our message is a unified one."

About 100 nurses began the march at St. Francis Medical Center and walked to Kuakini, where they were joined by more nurses. They then marched to Queen's and over to the Capitol. In the Capitol Atrium, Kuakini nurse Kerry Lineham led them in a lusty, whooping, whistling cheer that lasted several minutes.

They chanted "nurses, nurses, nurses," but none of it was heard by Gov. Linda Lingle, who was in her office, according to Lenny Klompus, the governor's director of communications.

The march helped boost morale among the nurses, said Lineham.

The nurses ended their march at Thomas Square where they held a rally.

Each of the three hospitals reported that operations continue to run smoothly. And for the second time this week, striking nurses at St. Francis honored a "patients first" agreement and left picket lines to help with a transplant operation, said hospital spokeswoman Maggie Jarrett.

Nearly 1,400 nurses from Kuakini, St. Francis and The Queen's medical centers have been on strike since early December.

Kuakini spokeswoman Donda Spiker said after nearly nine hours of negotiations with nurses there broke off early yesterday morning.

The hospital offered to administer, but not pay for, a separate retiree health plan. It also proposed going to a maximum 14-hour work shift, using volunteers for overtime and turning to agency nurses if the slots weren't filled, Spiker said.