End of an era

KAUMAKANI — Gilbert Dotimas has been working in sugar since he was 18 years old.

He joined several hundred workers of the Gay & Robinson Sugar operation in celebrating the final harvest, Friday at the Kaumakani mill.

People flocked around the Makaweli Post Office in anticipation of the final convoy that marked the end of 120 years of production by G&R Sugar on Kaua‘i.

G&R was the only remaining sugar plantation following the close of Kekaha and Lihu‘e Plantations almost a decade ago.

“I started with McBryde when I was 18 years old,” Dotimas said. “When they closed, I moved to Lihu‘e Plantation, and then to G&R.”

The convoy was led by Alan Kennett, president and CEO of G&R, one hand on his steering wheel and the other holding a video camera to record the final moments of the sugar production era.

“I should have brought my red hat,” said Irene Kennett, Alan’s wife. “Instead, I only brought Kleenex.”

Lloyd Javinar was another sugar worker who came to G&R from the closure of Lihu‘e Plantation.

He was chatting with former Councilwoman and Mayor JoAnn Yukimura in the shadow of a new building being worked on while the mill pumped out a full head of steam in anticipation of the final load.

“That building is going to be used to process corn,” Javinar said. “A lot of the old-timers (with G&R) didn’t come out today, but for us, this is the second time we close.”

One spectator noted that the crews were keeping the mill going until the final load, delayed due to the recent passage of rains, went through.

Andy Emayo, a G&R employee for 44 years, said, “This is a big day for us, it’s a sad day. For many of us, we applied for jobs with the corn company. Now, we just gotta wait.”

Dotimas, who had his daughter with him working a video camera, could be heading in another direction.

“For me, I’m 63,” Dotimas said. “I pau already.”