HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 394 Draft 01 1980-1984County of Hawaii—State of Hawaii
Resolution No. 4394 82
WHEREAS, the depressed price of sugar on the world market
during 1980-81 resulted in huge losses to sugar growers in the
United States; and
WHEREAS, nowhere in the nation was the impact greater than in
the State of Hawaii where sugar is the chief agricultural industry
and ranks only below tourism and military spending as the State's
major sources of income; and
WHEREAS, with more than 91,000 acres in sugar production, and
no viable alternatives available to replace sugar at this time,
the County of Hawaii is and will continue to be in the foreseeable
future, heavily dependent on the sugar industry for its economic
survival; and
WHEREAS, the scheduled closing of the Puna Sugar Company by
Amfac in 1984, will idle 16,000 acres of prime agricultural land
in addition to the loss of 500 jobs and $9.5 million in annual
wages at Puna Sugar; and
WHEREAS, the ripple effect of Puna Sugar's demise would extend
beyond Puna and may jeopardize the entire sugar industry on the
Big Island.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF
HAWAII that it urges Amfac to defer the closing of Puna Sugar
Company beyond 1984 in light of recent events:
1) Congressional action including sugar in the Commodities
Farm Bill.
2) Action by the Reagan Administration establishing quotas on
imported sugar.
3) Current favorable domestic price for sugar as a result of
the above actions.
4) Current record productions at Puna Sugar Company.
5) Mr. Jack Keppeler's report to the Governor stating that
sugar production at Puna Sugar is feasible if certain
improvements are made and the price of sugar is favorable.
6) Need for more time to explore the potentials of new
industries in the Puna area as geothermal development
progresses.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this Resolution be
transmitted to Mr. Henry Walker, Jr., President of Amfac Inc.,
Governor George Ariyoshi, Mayor Herbert Matayoshi, Mr. Edward
Lapa, President of ILWU, Mr. Noboru Shimabuku, Chairman, Unit 3,
Local 142, ILWU and Mr. Hiroshi Kawazoe, Vice President and
Manager of Puna Sugar Company.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Amfac Inc. be requested to extend
their fullest cooperation to any interested parties wishing to
continue sugar operations in the Puna District.
Dated at Hilo, Hawaii, this 23rd day of
INTRODUCED BY:
COUNCIL MEMBER, COUNTY OF HAWAII
COUNTY COUNCIL
County of Hawaii
Hilo, Hawaii
I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to
the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on
June 23, 1982
ATTEST:
a, e�).7111, Ar-
COUNTY CL K VAIRMAN & SIDING OFFICER
June, 1982,
ROLL CALL VOTE
AYES NOES A/E
Dahlberg
x
De Luz, 111
x
Domingo
x
Fujii
x
Hale
x
Kawahara
x
Lai
x
Schutte
x
Chr. Yamashiro
x
9 0 0
Reference: EDC—
M.B. No.
RESOLUTION NO. :39-,j 82