I have read numerous letters by people intent on stopping cane burning. Here is a flip-side view of the problem: Cane produces more oxygen than carbon dioxide. Eliminating cane will cause massive erosion of soil by wind and water, affecting our reefs and waters. Look to West Maui for an example: abandoned fields gray and dusty, pockmarked by false farms scarring the mountainside to get one-up views over their neighbors from their farm dwellings, hastening erosion.
When Pioneer Mill went out of business, land speculators swooped in to scoop up land for $1,500 per acre and developed false farm subdivisions for the super rich. It affected 12,000 acres of land, which are now barren for the most part.
Put Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co. out of business and you will do the same for 35,000 acres of land. The reality is not pretty. Convert those green fields into 35,000 acres of subdivisions and, voila, you have L.A. You have now contributed to building what you despise.
I don't love cane smoke. Both of my children had asthma, as they grew up they grew out of it. I would know when the volcano would erupt as they reacted one day prior to the news broadcasts. The volcano more than cane smoke was the culprit for their problems. I believe they both would support HC&S over the ultimate L.A. solution.
Wayne N. Hedani
Wailuku
