Maui sugar operations alive

Alexander & Baldwin Inc. recently revealed that the company would continue sugar cane operations at its Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S) division through 2010, reports Maui Weekly.

After this year though, continuation of operations remains subject to favorable results in the water cases pending before the state Commission on Water Resource Management, as well as other factors such as higher production level.

According to HC&S General Manager Chris Benjamin, rising sugar prices entering this year and forecasted higher production has bought HC&S some additional time to prove sugar’s viability to Maui industry, and “production is expected to increase primarily as a result of the return to near-normal rainfall levels over the past year.”

Improving sugar yields is dependent on water, and the future of HC&S lies greatly on both the East and West Maui water decisions, according to Benjamin. HC&S has been actively looking into a future as an energy farm and is unlikely to count on sugar to support the company long-term.

Visit www.alexanderbaldwin.com/news for more details.