The Hawaii Fire Fighters Association has endorsed Kirk Caldwell in the special election for Honolulu mayor.

"Kirk has been a strong supporter of our firefighters and as a legislator worked tirelessly protecting the rights and benefits of both current and retired firefighters," Terry Cano, the union's secretary-treasurer, said yesterday.

Caldwell, who has been serving as acting mayor since July 20 when Mufi Hannemann resigned to run for governor, previously picked up the endorsement of the State of Hawaii Organization of Police Officers.

Acting Mayor Kirk Caldwell today announced that the City is helping to launch a new shuttle bus service that will link homeless shelters and transitional housing in Kalaeloa with employment sites in nearby communities and the Kapolei Transit Center.

            "It is not enough to simply remove homeless people from parks, beaches and beneath freeway viaducts and leave them isolated from the rest of our community," Caldwell said. "The purpose of this shuttle bus service is to make it easier for people who are rebuilding their lives in Kalaeloa to find and keep jobs, provide for themselves and their families, and keep appointments that help them address any other issues that caused them to become or remain homeless."