The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-09-09
EDITOR
9, 1921
THE GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY

In the past few months more than ever, especially in connection
with the pending emergency legislation in congress, it has become
evident that Hawaii and the peculiar conditions which exist in the
Territory are not known and understood on the mainland. The Isl
ands have been advertised as to volcanoes and scenery, beaches and
tourist attractions, music and the old native life and their resources
have been the subject Of proud comment if not boasts, but the pc
cular conditions that exist here, the agricultural needs, the right to
a share Of the public funds for roads and for education as the various
states have theirs have not been shown to the nation and to the
world. AS a result Hawaii is ecountering opposition to securing
labor, is not included as a beneficiary in the Smith-Towner educa-
tional bill and is excluded from a share in the good roads program.
Evidently Hawaii has been overlooking something in the past
and is suffering IN consequences, and so it is truly fortunate that the
opportunity to correct past mistakes comes at this time as never be
fore and as 1t may never come again, through the visit OF the worlds
Press Congress next month. 1t IS the chance to set ilaWan straight
with the world through the journalism of the world that is Offered
TO the Islands. BY all means the attractions of the Islands should be
shown, their progress ana advancement but what is needed to insure
further progress and advancement can be and should be brought to
the fore at this time as most important.
This paper suggests to the emergency labor commission that it
present to the visitors in a concrete and concise form a true and
exact statement Of the Islands industrial conditions and industrial
needs and see that such data gets into the hands and into the minds
of every delegate TO the congress. 1t suggests that the planters of
Maui have prepared and put into proper form for distribution a
summary which will show the normal production of each sugar plan
tation on this island, the production of this year under the labor
shortage and the probable production in 1922 and 1923 unless the
labor shortage be relieved. Such data could be put on a card not
larger than a postal card and placed before each delegate.
1t would also be well in the course of the visit of the journalists
tation camps and to show them the conditions under which the labor
cs live and work here. Such publicity would not be expensive.
Maui, IS a county and as a community. has never spent much
money in publicity. in advertising for tourists, as have Honolulu and
Hawaii counties. 1t has been backward in the advertising of its at
FACTIONS and its asou.co # has much q offer TO to,riss and will
as time goes on, have still more. 1t has the hotel accommodations
for them and will soon have wharfage facilities for vessels that can
bring tourists. Thousands upon thousands of dollars can be brought
to the Valley Isle with sightseers and at the same time the actual
requirements of Maui can be made clear. And the opportunity, as
remarked, is at hand next month in the visit of the Press Congress
delegates.
According to the preliminary plans of the committees there will
not be a large expenditure for entertainment of the delegates to
the Press Congress. TO carry out the program tentatively arranged
will not cost more than $250O. The county cannot spend money bet
ter than in contributing to that fund, nor can the community and
the individual citizens of the community. The resulting publicity
will be such as money could not buy in paid publicity, even were a
hundred times the cost of the entertainment that will be offered
spent in advertising. Advertising is an investment, and the invest
mcnt offered at this time will pay in returns many, many times over