March 25, 2008

We’ve received letters recently on the subject of cane burning, which is important to everyone living here on this island where so much sugar cane is grown. And thank God for that, by the way, because personally I would rather see acres and acres of healthy green sugar cane waving in the tropical breeze than acres and acres of tract home subdivisions and new roads and shopping centers and high-rise condominiums and cars and soaring metal telephone and electrical poles invading the cleared flat lands where cane fields once were.

On the other hand, many have legitimate concerns about some of the agricultural practices used by Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar Company (HC&S), who own the only remaining sugar mill operating in the Hawaiian Islands, right here on Maui, at Pu‘unene.

A Kihei resident who had just spent hours cleaning black ash off of his yard and lanai and carport wrote a letter to HC&S, asking them to please come and clean it up themselves next time. He sent us HC&S’s response. We also received a phone call recently from a concerned Pa‘ia resident, asking us about a helicopter that was spraying a misty substance into the air over cane fields near where she lived. At home with a newborn baby, she was extremely concerned about what that substance in the air they were breathing was, and why, as a person living in the homes bordering a cane field, she hadn’t been informed of this.

In both instances, representatives from HC&S promptly and courteously personally contacted the people involved and did their very best to thoroughly address the complaints, appearing sincerely concerned about the person’s questions. But in both cases, as in so many similar cases going back years, not much changed.

In the case of the black ash that results from burning sugar cane, well, that is a “normal agricultural operation” and HC & S  regrets any inconvenience but respectfully denies liability for any ash that drifts onto your property as a result. The substance that was being sprayed over the fields was a “ripener,” called Polado, apparently similar to Roundup, that helps increase the sugar content of the plants. The Polado is highy diluted and not harmful at all, according to HC&S representatives. Both of these activities are entirely legal and protected by law.

“The State of Hawaii has adopted a ‘Right to Farm’ law that protects farming operations from complaints of public nuisance as a result of normal agricultural operations.” according to HC & S’ letter.

So the cane burning will, of course, continue. The spraying will continue. The residents will probably continue to complain, calling and writing letters. And HC&S will probably continue to respond promptly and courteously to every single one.
And we will be able to continue to enjoy the sight of vast, sweeping fields of beautiful living green sugar cane swaying in the breeze – for awhile. Because one day when we least expect it, those cane fields could become – I was going to say tract home subdivisions, but you know what? That doesn’t have to happen.

Right now we heavily rely on and are dependent on the mainland for most of our food, among other things. But an entirely different, healthier future is possible for Maui. (Take a look at Kamaui.Aiona’s Hana Life article on page 13 for his thoughts on the subject). And, as many wise people have already envisioned, that cleared flat land that sugar cane is now being grown on would be just perfect for growing food for people who live here - tomatoes, potatoes, corn, rice, all sorts of fruits and vegetables, and maybe acres and acres of crops for biofuel. In between the fields there could maybe be a dairy or chicken farms or more cattle ranches, and  small rural communities with affordable homes built for and by people who live here, powered by solar panels and windmills.

What do you think?
The Cane Burn Information Hotline is 808-877-6963 A recording gives the times and locations of burns scheduled for that day and the next day; the recording is updated every day at 6 a.m., but unexpected weather and equipment problems can cause last minute changes in plans. You can also get information from the radio; HC&S buys air time on several local radio stations to announce times and locations of burns near populated areas. And you can also call 808-877-6988 and ask to be added to HC&S’s list of people with health conditions.

– Jan Welda

Jan Welda