1 - American Memory

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When we speak of surface transportation, we are talking specifi-
cally about shipping lines for, unlike the other 48 contiguous States,
no trucks, no trains, no busses or automobiles can be used to carry
interstate goods to people in Hawaii. Because we are 2,000 miles
away from the closest mainland port, the utilization of air carriers
is extremely costly and impossible for large bulk items. Rice is a staple
as much as flour is a staple in tlie United States. A 100-pound bag
would cost us $20 to bring it to the State of Hawaii. Hawaii is, there-
fore, the most vulnerable State of all. We are encircled by a huge moat,
the Pacific OceaUj and the only practical way to transport goods to
and from Hawaii is by ship.
Since Hawaii is by no means self-sufficient, we depend on the con-
tinental United States for our very survival. We have become an
import-export economy and through our shipping lines goods are
exchanged. This kind of economy occurred by necessity rather than
chance. Hawaii has practically no raw materials, no metals, no oil or
coal, and the 800,000 residents of the State present an uneconomical
market, a pocket market, to produce a complete range of consumer
goods. This situation forces more than three out of every four physical
items consumed or processed in Hawaii to be brought in from other
States and overseas.
The dependence of Hawaii on shipping is crucial. All the efforts of
local and State government, businesses and private citizens could not
prevent the suffering of our islands' residents in past shipping tie-
ups. The well-being of some 68,000 people are tied directly into this
shipping lifeline and are directly affected by maritime disputes—
chemicals to purify water, food, clothes, fuels, and medical supplies.
Any shipping interruptions severely depletes our essential food
supplies which are obtained mostly from the mainland and forces air
shipping which increases our already astronomical cost of living. All
of our lamb, mutton, and turkey and 75 percent of our chicken are
imported. Our local livestock and poultry industry depend on nearly
all of the feed from mainland sources. We bring in 100 percent of our
butter and margarine, 99 percent of our potatoes, 89 percent of the
carrots, 58 percent of the lettuce, and with the exception of some com,
all of the grain.
Rice, a local staple, is entirely imported, mostly from the Sacra-
mento area. Although we locally mill 90 percent of our flour, all of the
wheat for the flour is shipped in. Baby foods, cereals, the bulk of our
canned goods, cooking oils, most of the salt and many more food goods
are imported. Higher prices for food, as a result of using alternate
shipping routes or air carriers. creat« extreme difficulties to the thou-
sands of people on small and fixed incomes.
Items such as cars, trucks, farm machinery, accessory parts and
components are imported. Since there are no paper or pulp mills in
Hawaii, all paper goods are also brought in from the mainland. It
is estimated that 95 percent of all the lumber and almost all the ply-
wood and veneer are shipped in. Since the State has virtually no min-
eral resources, all metal materials such as structural steel, pipe, wire,
plumbing fixtures, sheet metal, et cetera, as well as glass and paint
come from sources outside the State. Even essential medical supplies,
chlorine to purify our water and other drugs are brought in.