And people question the health concerns with harvesting sugar cane this way?

For decades, the sugar companies in Hawaii have been harvesting sugar cane in this
fashion. Burning the cane strips the stalks of all the leaves and makes the
harvest process easier.

When the fields are burned, the smoke plume rises several thousand feet and is
usually quite black and ash laden. This shot above was done as the field was
near the end of the burn, so it is not nearly as dark as usual.

The people of Maui feel that it causes significant health risks. As a healthy
individual who suffers from watery, burning eyes, everytime the cane is
burned, I can't imagine how it affects those with asthma or respritory ailments.

Because the sugar company (HC&S) is such a powerful player in the local government,
nothing about their practices will change. Time and economics will prevail however
in correcting this.

In the last few years, Maui alone has gone from three operating sugar mills to
only one. That last one (pictured here http://www.pbase.com/31south/image/27678138)
is the last of its kind in Hawaii. Sugar is produced much cheaper in other areas
around the world(yes even less expensively in other areas of the United States) so
this mill will eventually be going the way of those before it...