"Sugar is now the cheapest it has been in years and we offer you pure, fine granulated, Hawaiian cane sugar at a saving value."

Imperial Valley press. (El Centro, Calif.), 16 Nov. 1928. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn92070146/1928-11-16/ed-1/seq-6/> 

This article describes the rapid growth of Hawaiʻiʻs sugar industry. From 1891 to 1911, the sugar output of Hawaiʻi increased from 146,000 tons to 567,000 tons. 

The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]), 14 Aug. 1912. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Lib. of Congress. <https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1912-08-14/ed-1/seq-4/> 

In this letter, Sen. Inouye describes fighting for the domestic sugar industry in the 1985 Farm Bill: “I am certain that you can imagine what life on Kauai would be like if all of the local plantations suddenly went out of business."

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Subject Files, Reel 126, Images 60-61, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

U.S. government discussion around support of sugar producers and Sen. Inouye expressing support to continue it. The beginning of the end of sugar in Hawaiʻi 

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Subject Files, Reel 681, Images 6820683, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

The public begins to fight against pesticide use as the U.S. Department of Agriculture  tries to implement a large scale pesticide spraying campaign with Kauaʻi as the trial ground (unbeknownst to the public) to deal with and eradicate a fruit fly problem.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Subject Files, Reel 126, Images 340-341, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

Kauaʻi starts being used as a testing ground for agricultural research and development.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Subject Files, Reel 126, Image 428, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

This letter speaks to the difficulty recruiting agricultural workers and the different avenues that were being explored to bring in immigrants to do the labor. There really was no solution to deal with agricultural labor problems. 

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Subject Files, Reel 280, Images 454-455, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

Personal communication from a young person in the community asking Senator Inouye what he is going to do to mitigate unemployment stemming from the sugar industry's demise.

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Staff Files, Box 365, Folder 4, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

This is letter explains clearly the end of sugar and the opportunities around converting to diversified agriculture. It also details how and why the diversified agriculture movement will fall to development for “short term solutions to the long term problems of housing, energy, food and economic independence.”

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Subject Files, Reel 280, Images 454-455, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

This memo summarizes agricultural damage on Kauaʻi after Hurricane ʻIniki. It also includes comments from Kauaʻi farmers. One farmer says, "This is the most critical time to help the farming industry because so many farmers are ready to give up, and we (Kauai) may be forced to import if they do."

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Staff Files, Box 390, Folder 1, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library. 

This press release announces committee approval of disaster relief for Kauaʻi farmers. It speaks to some of the incompatibilities between existing federal programs (which were based on mainland growing seasons) and Hawaiʻi agricultural practices. The supplemental appropriations bill, with $15 million for Kauaʻi farmers, was signed by President Clinton in July 1993. 

Senator Daniel K. Inouye Papers. Administrative Files, Box 40, Folder 16, Hawaiʻi Congressional Papers Collection, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Library.