HC&S 1st Round of Layoffs Begin

HC&S Puʻunēnē Mill. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Monday, March 7, 2016, marked the last day for dozens of workers at Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company who were laid off as part of the company’s transition away from sugar cane production.

The reality of the shut down hit nearly 100 employees yesterday, who were part of the first wave of layoffs.

Approximately half of the 675 employees affected will be retained through the completion of the final sugar harvest at the end of the year, but that will be reduced to just 15 in the new year, according to legislative updates.

This company began on Maui 140 years ago and is the last remaining sugar plantation in Hawaii.

HC&S plans to pursue a diversified agricultural model instead for the 36,000 acres presently in cultivation.