1 - American Memory

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tories at greatly added cost. A low-cost home in Hawaii is priced at
$45,000 and the average price today is $70,000—not counting land cost.
Worst of all, the effects of a prolonged strike on the docks or aboard
ship do not disappear once it is settled. Most businesses do not get back
to normal for periods ranging from 3 to 9 months.
For the citizens of Hawaii this situation becomes more unbearable
when higher cost and lack of commodities are imposed upon them as a
result of difference of opinion 2,400 miles away and having no bearing
on Hawaii. Is it any wonder that we feel discriminated on these occa-
sions? By means of other transportation the other States can ride out
the waterfront strikes, Hawaii cannot.
Hawaii is particularly vulnerable to a waterfront tieup. There is no
way Hawaii can within its 6,450 mi* produce a complete range of
produce and goods to support a population of over 850,000 people and
the many visitors coming to the islands annually.
Over 80 percent of allphysical commodities purchased and utilized
in Hawaii is shipped in—mainly from the sister States of our Nation.
Let us look at food. Aside from sugar and pineapple, agricultural
production in Hawaii is on a fairly small scale. Imports amount to 52
percent of all the beef we consume, 64 percent of all pork, 75 percent
chicken, 100 percent lamb, mutton and turkey, nearly all prepared pic-
nic foods. We import all our butter and margarine, we import all our
frozen foods, 58 percent of fresh vegetables marketed in Hawaii in-
cluding 99 percent of potatoes, 89 percent of carrots, 58 percent lettuce,
44 percent of tomatoes and a host of other fresh produce.
Fresh fruits from the mainland total more than 31 million lbs. a
year. All these items are highly perishable and must keep flowing into
the State on a continuous schedule.
Added to the food items for the over 850,000 population are other
imports including animal and poultry feeds, clothing, building ma-
terials, household furnishings, appliances, oil, gasoline and other
necessities.
We import all our paper goods, all trucks, buses, automobiles, and
medical supplies. The list of imports is endless and evergrowing.
Mr. Chairman, the people of Hawaii, especially the small business-
men, are not against strikes per se. We have our own shutdowns involv-
ing our own people and companies. All we are asking is consideration
from the committee for relief from a waterfront tieup over grievance
that does not involve the people of Hawaii, but does cripple the people
of Hawaii.
Speaking of added cost, one of the supermarket chain operators
reported a 400-percent incre-ase in freight cost using air transportation
during a 30-day period in the strike area—this in spite of the fact he
still was not receiving his total normal imports. He also made mention
of the fact that much of the goods were received damaged as the air
transportation sj'stem was not prepared to handle the sudden demand
for e.xtra loads and new products.
Mr. Chairman, H.R. 7189 will relieve the nightmare Hawaii has
experienced from the devastating effect of past long mainland water-
front shutdowns. In one 18-month period in 1971 and 1972 we experi-
enced shutdowns of 34 days, 41 days, and 100 days. Many small busi-
nesses never recovered and neither did the consumers.
Mr. Chairman, H.R. 7189 will not deal a crippling blow to a west-
coast shutdown. The bill would affect less than 3.5 percent of its long-