#hcands

A new scholarship fund specifically designed to support the Maui sugar industry workers and their children has been established amid the impending closure of HC&S.

The new laws give the recently displaced HC&S and Mākena Prince Resort workers the resources to support their families as they transition to new jobs on Maui. The 2,800 workers represented approximately 3.5% of the 82,550 people who were employed in Maui County in February.

Workers at Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company were honored with a Legacy of Giving award issued by Maui United Way at the organization’s 47th Annual meeting.

Today the Hawaiʻi Senate passed House Bill 2501, a bill that allows Alexander & Baldwin to continue previously authorized water diversions for three years or until its pending application for water rights is resolved, whichever comes first.

Latest draft would sunset House Bill 2501 in three years. The amended measure now goes to both houses of the Legislature for a final vote.

Advocates for the restoration of East Maui’s streams plan to hold a demonstration at A&B’s shareholder meeting on Tuesday, April 26, 2016 at 7 a.m. at A&B’s headquarters on Bishop Street in Honolulu.

HB2605 HD1 SD2 appropriates funds for on-the-job training for individuals who are unemployed and displaced due to the closure of HC&S and the Mākena Beach and Golf Resort on Maui.

They are walking the halls of the Senate in opposition to House Bill 2501, and are seeking the restoration of long-diverted stream flows in the area.

Senator Hirono urged US Labor Secretary Perez to expedite review and approval of the ILWU’s request for TAA, and Alternative TAA for Maui sugar workers displaced by the cessation of sugar production.

The petition states that HC&S’s closure presents new circumstances that the Water Commission must address in fulfilling its ongoing public trust duties to restore stream flows to Nā Wai ‘Ehā.

The reality of HC&S’s shutting down hits home with the first wave of layoffs on March 7th affecting 95 employees culminating with their entire workforce of 675 being reduced to 15 by the end of the year.

Among the bills passing third reading by the full House was a measure that provides assistance to dislocated sugar workers from Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company on Maui.

Fire crews arrived on scene to find a 50 x 50 foot pile of bagasse, standing about 15 feet high on fire.

The Sierra Club of Hawaiʻi is speaking out against a bill that would allow “hold-over” permits for applicants seeking to renew their water rights lease.

Alexander and Baldwin’s recent announcement that it will end sugar production at Maui’s Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. will free about 36,000 acres of agriculturally zoned land at the end of 2016, prompting question over what crop would replace sugar.

Representative Ing said that while industrial hemp is not a “magic bullet” for Hawaiʻi’s agriculture, he said it deserves consideration, especially with the closing of sugar operations by Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company on Maui.

A group that seeks to stop cane burning on Maui announced an upcoming forum and meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday, June 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Kīhei Community Center.

Cane burning opponents are calling for the State Department of Health to suspend the Burn Permit issued to Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company after heavy smoke last week reportedly sent at least one child to the hospital and resulted in numerous complaints, according to Maui resident Karen Chun of the Stop Cane Burn group.