Again, we hear from someone who has no clue what he’s talking about. Mr. Dick Medve of Hawi goes on about A&B finally closing their Maui sugar operation.
While A&B’s corporate greed can be debated, I guarantee you that the last sugar operation in our state was not profitable; and hasn’t been for years! The same reason the operations on every other island died.
As far as the workers who will lose their jobs go, while sad, anyone with half a brain could’ve seen this coming and should have been preparing for it! How long do you think the people of Maui were going to put up with night harvesting and burning? This is not the early 20th century when sugar was king and untouchable!
Now let’s get to the reason for this letter. Mr. Medve has absolutely no clue what he’s talking about regarding rum. I guess too many “Cuba Libres” makes one blind! Even back in my “Primo,” “Lucky Lager,” “Oly” and “Coors Light” days, I could read a label. Next time you pour yourself a shot of “Hana Bay Rum,” read the label. Then do some research before you take pen to paper!
“Hana Bay Rum” was originally distilled on Maui, but it is no longer and unless Mr. Medve has a 75-year-old bottle, he’s drinking hootch distilled in the Virgin Islands and then poured into bottles imported from China or Mexico at a warehouse in Mira Loma, California. I’d be willing to bet the present owners of “The Name” have never set foot on the shores of Hana Bay!
Even back in the days of the giant sugar plantations, there were always private growers. Usually small farms owned by former sugar worker/immigrants making some extra cash; maybe to buy a couple bottles of Sake or a couple cases of Primo (when that beer was a Hawaiian-made product)
Take a trip to Maui, Oahu or Kauai and go visit (distillery tours) the guys who actually produce true Hawaiian vodka, rum, bourbon or okolehao made from locally grown sugar cane products (with some Hawaiian pineapple thrown in). They are not reliant on the Puunene plant output!
Mr. Medve probably also thinks that bottled Keoki Coffee and Kona Gold liqueurs are local products? Not!
And, here’s another news flash: while it seems that he doesn’t believe in Pakalolo as a soon-to-be legal bona fide cash crop, I guarantee you that some mainland entrepreneur has long ago registered names like “Kauai Electric,” “Kohala Red,” “Kona Gold” and “Puna Butter.” Who knows, you can probably buy it in Washington or Colorado right now.
In conclusion, Mr. Medve should be glad that the yellow hibiscus (the official state of Hawaii flower!) is not in the Venus flytrap family or he might be dinner! Again, where does this guy get off writing his “ideas du jour” with absolutely no knowledge of anything he writes about?
Wally “Kimo” Camp
Kailua-Kona
My turn opinions are that of the writer and not West Hawaii Today.