HONOLULU -- Honolulu Mayor Mufi Hannemann announced on Thursday he is endorsing Sen. Barack Obama for president.

Earlier, Hannemann said he felt both candidates offered a good option for the country.

"Sen. (Hillary) Clinton has great aloha for the people of Hawaii, and would make a fine president. But I feel that Barack Obama offers the best hope for our nation during these troubling times," Hannemann said in a written statement.

"Mahalo to Mayor Hannemann for endorsing my candidacy for president. I have known Mufi since my basketball playing days in high school, and I appreciate all of his efforts to make Honolulu a better place to live," Obama said in a written statement through his Hawaii representatives.

The mayor's support comes after several other big-name Hawaii politicians pledged their support. Superdelegates U.S. Sen. Dan Akaka and Democratic National Party Woman for Hawaii Dolly Strazar announced they would vote for Obama earlier this week. Last week, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono also said she supports Obama.

Hannemann's decision means he will likely become a party leader or elected official, or PLEO, for Obama at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, according to Obama Hawaii representative Andy Winer. Obama has two PLEOs and Clinton has one.

The PLEOs are part of the 20 pledge delegates.

"On the public policy level, we need a president who will reach out to the nations of Asia and the Pacific to accord them the recognition they deserve. He's also voiced strong support for mass transit and federal funding for our fixed-guideway project, and that's very important to me as we move forward," Hannemann said.

There are nine superdelegates. U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie, Hirono, Akaka and Strazar support Obama. U.S. Sen. Dan Inouye and Democratic National Party Man for Hawaii Richard Port back Clinton.

The three remaining Hawaii superdelegates will be elected later this month at the Democratic State Convention.

"We are very grateful for Mayor Hannemann's endorsement of my brother's campaign. I admire Mayor Hannemann's industry and commitment to the people of Hawaii. He has worked hard to preserve the serenity of our home and to enhance the great potential of these islands as we stride into the future," Obama's sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng, said in a written statement.