Posted on: Saturday, November 20, 2004

Benefit to prevail over hotel boycott

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Windward O'ahu Writer

KAHUKU — Members of the hotel union have agreed to suspend a yearlong boycott at Turtle Bay Resort to support a benefit concert to help defray medical costs for accident victim Daniel Mapu, who has been hospitalized for 15 months.

Today's event in the hotel's Kahuku Ballroom was planned by Mapu's friends and cousins who were unaware of the boycott stemming from a two-year labor dispute that has the 260 hotel employees working without a contract.

"It could have been a disaster," said Bobby Akoi, concert organizer.

Akoi said members of the union agreed to meet with Turtle Bay employees to discuss the issue. They agreed to suspend the boycott for the duration of the concert, 1 to 5 p.m. today.

Jason Ward, spokesman for the UNITE HERE Local 5 union representing hotel and healthcare workers, said the decision was unprecedented and probably would never happen again.

"But our members understood the situation of the Mapu family and of Daniel Mapu in particular and didn't want to do anything to upset the good cause of this benefit concert," Ward said.

The members also will volunteer to help at the concert and the union will donate $200 to the benefit fund, he said.

Concert admission is $25 at the door.