The Aloha Airlines pilots union voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to authorize a strike of the carrier's cargo operations.

"It means should we need to strike we will," said John Riddle, a 23-year Aloha pilot and member of the union's master executive committee.

About 150 or half of Aloha's pilots participated in the three-hour meeting at Honolulu Country Club.

Some of the membership have been forced to leave the state for employment while others could not get to Honolulu for the meeting. The vote to strike, however, was "overwhelmingly in favor," said Riddle.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.