Lt. Gov. Tsutsui: ‘Hawai‘i is Turning a Page in Its History’

Lt. Gov. Shan S Tsutsui. Courtesy photo.

Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui, a Maui resident, has this statement to offer following yesterday’s announcement that Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company will discontinue its sugar production by the end of 2016 and transition to a diversified agricultural model.

“It’s hard to believe after generations have devoted their lives and careers to HC&S that sugar production on Maui will soon come to an end,” said Lt. Gov. Tsutsui. “The future of agriculture and the economic landscape on Maui will be forever changed. Alexander and Baldwin’s announcement is not only upsetting to the employees and their families, but also to our close-knit Maui community.

“During this difficult time, it’s my hope that the people of Maui will come together to care for each other and support their community. For the affected employees, I hope that you will be able to embrace this as an opportunity for transitioning into other opportunities and building a new future for Maui.

“I will work to ensure that you are provided employment assistance, training and other relevant assistance from the state.

“With the sugar industry coming to a close,  marking the end of an era. This change also presents an opportunity to reevaluate the types of crops we have in Hawaii and their profitability. As we continue to move towards food sustainability, it is important that we look towards diversifying agriculture and making it a viable part of our community.”

MAUI NOW STORY LINK
A&B/HC&S to Transition Out of Sugar Production