Protest over use of foreign workers today

LAHAINA - A rally protesting the practice of corporations hiring foreign workers for local jobs will be held from 6:30 to 8 a.m. today off Honoapiilani Highway near the Lahaina Wastewater Reclamation Facility.

Kai Nishiki, who is organizing the event, said the protest is aimed at Ledcor, the general contractor for the Honua Kai condominium project.

Earlier this week and last month, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents raided the Honua Kai job site, arresting more than 40 workers the agency says are not in the country legally.

Nishiki, who is seeking the County Council's Makawao-Haiku-Paia residency seat, said the rally is aimed "at increasing public awareness of the problem of corporations promising local jobs and infusion of money into our economy and then bringing in workers from other places.

"This is not against illegal immigrants! Just corporations."

After the first arrests, Ledcor said its subcontractors have been advised that it would not tolerate use of workers who are not in compliance with immigration laws.

Honua Kai is a planned 628-unit resort condominium project being developed by Intrawest, a British Columbia, Canada-based resort development and management group. It is the only development on the Kekaa Beach/North Beach Kaanapali, project district that will not be a time-share resort.