This in turn would help protect the jobs and futures of hundreds of ILWU sugar workers.

Kauai members Steven Weinstein, an ILWU member and a weighmaster at Gay & Robinson sugar plantation on Kauai, has worked in the sugar industry for 25 years. He told state lawmakers that the sugar industry has declined in the past ten years on Kauai, with the closures of McBryde Sugar and then Amfac Sugar. G&R has been doing all right and just about breaking even at today’s sugar prices, but the future is very uncertain. “With the price of sugar on the world market barely competing with cheaper sugar from other countries and other sources of sugar, we don’t know how much longer we can last,” Weinstein testified. “If the market for ethanol is created and G&R can get tax credits to build an ethanol-producing facility, we have a good shot at keeping the plantation going—and preserving a way of life.”

Steve Weinstein: “
 . . . we don’t know how much longer we can last.”

Jerry Lagazo, an irrigator at Gay & Robinson plantation, is a third generation sugar worker. “I think ethanol could be a lifesaver for the sugar industry in Hawaii,” Lagazo said. “On top of producing sugar for food, G&R could use the bagasse that’s left over to make ethanol. That will really help us at G&R.” Lagazo explained how working on a sugar plantation is more than just a job—it is also a way of life. “G&R also gives us housing. I live in a plantation camp at Kaumakani. My kids are all grown now, but they were raised there. G&R has 400 plantation homes. If G&R shuts down, I don’t know what will happen to these homes and where we will live. I hope you will think about us at G&R when you decide on these two bills. Our future is in your hands,” Lagazo said.

Maui members 
Maui member David Livergood spoke about how he moved from the Big Island to work for HC&S as a mechanic, repairing heavy equipment in the shop and in the field. “Working for the sugar company has been good for me and my wife. We own our own home and I make a comfortable living. Sugar has been good to many of us working at HC&S,” Livergood testified. “But in the past few years, the sugar industry has been going through rough times. Sugar prices have gone down and there’s more competition from cheap foreign sugar. This year, we’ve been told that  HC&S is hurting because of bad weather and low prices. We might be lucky to just break even. If the State provides incentives for companies to produce ethanol, I figure those companies can use the molasses that HC&S produces. Right now, the molasses is shipped to the mainland and sold there. But we just found out that next year, the ships won’t be able to transport the molasses so HC&S will be stuck with all this molasses on Maui. Ethanol plants will be a big help to HC&S. If HC&S is able to turn a profit, so will their workers. That’s what we’re counting on. I hope you will pass both bills,” Livergood urged.

Jerry Lagazo: 
“I think ethanol could be a lifesaver.”

Bob Zahl: 
“Instead of dependence on oil from other countries that drives our gasoline prices sky high, it makes good sense to use something like ethanol.”

David Livergood: 
“Sugar has been good to many of us working at HC&S . . . but in the past few years, the sugar industry has been going through rough times.”

Another Maui member, Robert Bob Zahl has been working as an electrician at HC&S for 14 years. Zahl pointed out the many advantages of blending ethanol and gasoline. “I think the proposals to encourage ethanol production will be good for Hawaii. Ethanol is a renewable source of energy and can be made from locally produced molasses. Molasses is a by-product of the sugar we produce at HC&S. Instead of dependence on oil from other countries that drives our gasoline prices sky high, it makes good sense to use something like ethanol that we can produce right here in Hawaii. Ethanol is clean burning and has fewer pollutants than gasoline. It will be good for the environment and good d for our economy,” explained Zahl.

Your job and politics
These four ILWU members know how politics directly affects their jobs. That is why all ILWU members should register to vote and use the power of their vote to elect legislators who will pass laws to help working people. ◆