From the Star-Advertiser article:

Pasha gets PUC approval for interisland shipping
By Star-Advertiser staff

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Sep 21, 2010

The Public Utilities Commission has authorized Pasha [Hawaii Transport Lines LLC] to operate between Honolulu, Kahului, Hilo, Nawiliwili, Barbers Point and Pearl Harbor through Dec. 31, 2013. The commission will then evaluate the effects of the service and make a final decision on the company’s request to operate in the market permanently.

Young Bros. argued that Pasha will only serve the biggest ports and the most lucrative lines such as autos, heavy equipment and construction materials. Young Bros. also said that Pasha will “cherry-pick” the most lucrative routes and could harm local farmers and cattle ranchers who receive discounts subsidized by higher rates on other goods…. Read more

I think that allowing Pasha to operate in the inter-island barge service, without forcing them to provide the same services that Young Brothers provides, will jeopardize Hawai‘i’s food security.

Young Brothers gives locally grown products a 30 percent discount. They are not forced to do it; they worked with farmers to come up with that rate. And Young Brothers services the ports at Moloka‘i, as well as Lana‘i. Pasha will not be servicing those ports, nor moving agricultural products.

Farmers know that food security involves farmers farming. And that if farmers make money, farmers will farm. Young Brothers helps farmers to make money.

It is clear to us that if Young Brothers’ profitability is at stake, they will be forced to rethink the farmers’ discount. That is not good for farmers.

Farmers are not in favor of allowing Pasha to unfairly compete with Young Brothers.