Strike settlement
relieves neighbor
island residentsRice, eggs, chicken and
bathroom tissue are in short
supply already on Molokai
If the tugboat workers strike had gone on much longer, Colette Machado said she was going to send her husband out hunting.
"This is a big relief," the Molokai resident said. "For us on Molokai, we have two main stores, and they don't have enough warehouse space to actually stock groceries and fresh produce. ... Already, our stores have been severely depleted over the weekend."
The strike canceled a barge that was supposed to reach Molokai today, pushing many on the island to stock up until the next shipment. Residents reported yesterday that the island's main stores were out of rice, toilet paper, eggs and chicken.
Members of the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific approved a contract yesterday with Young Brothers Ltd. and sister company Hawaiian Tug & Barge to end a walkout that began Thursday, cutting off most barge service to neighbor islands.
Dr. Noa Emmett Aluli, whose practice is in Kaunakakai, said Molokai residents' reaction to news of the strike should be a lesson on how not to react in a crisis.
"The first day it (the strike) was announced, it was just a heavy day -- everybody preparing to hoard supplies such as toilet tissues and canned food," he said. "I believe that we should kind of take things more responsibly and prepare and not panic."
Many neighbor island grocers and eateries, worried that their supplies would not last until the strike was resolved, were relieved yesterday to hear news of the settlement.
"We're very glad," said Craig Kadokawa, an assistant manager at Foodland Super Market in Maui's Kihei Town Center.
"Some people, they do worry," he added, saying that a run on the store Saturday had cleaned out stocks of rice and watermelons. "They panic."
Hilo's Wal-Mart also ran out of rice this weekend. The store was still busy yesterday afternoon, but people were buying eats for Independence Day celebrations -- rather than stocking up on essentials -- and "just enjoying the Fourth of July," said co-manager Seni Kaseli.
Wallace Tamashiro, owner of Richard's Shopping Center on Lanai, said he was grateful for management at Young Brothers, who sent a special barge staffed with managers to the island Saturday during the strike.
"It was a godsend for us," said Tamashiro. "The strike caught us off guard. There was a lot of apprehension as to when we were going to get the goods," he said, noting that a barge arrives in Lanai only once a week.
Cindy and Kerry Honda, owners of the 53-year-old family-operated Pine Isle Market Ltd. on Lanai, said they were glad the companies and union were able to reach a compromise.
"I think the people of Lanai, the community, I think everyone is grateful for them to be able to work everything out," said Cindy Honda.
Honda's husband, Kerry, said they had flown in some milk for the store yesterday and had prepared to charter in more items.
"We were worried, of course," said Kerry Honda. "It's a whole load that came off my shoulders."
Big Island farmer Delan Perry, owner of Volcano Isle Fruit Co., said several growers were planning not to harvest this weekend because the fruit would go bad if it could not be shipped on time.
"We were lucky and got our fruit out by air on Thursday," he said. "I was just talking to my wholesaler, and we were wondering how to deal with (the strike). ... It's over, and I'm going to call him back and make a set of new plans."
Many farmers on the neighbor islands were worried that a prolonged strike could mean a hit to their businesses. Some were forced to cancel orders.
"When you have things like this, you just usually ... (end up) eating the whole cost," Perry said. "We just cross our fingers that labor and management get together."