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Pineapple Cannery Visit in Honolulu Reveals Workforce
A detailed report on a tour of the Hawaiian Pineapple Company Ltd cannery in Honolulu describes hourly wages for unskilled laborers from 9 to 27 cents, with skilled workers earning more. The plant operates 12 hours during peak seasons, offers free overtime meals, creche facilities, a first aid hospital, and a large dining room. The facility processes up to 1,100 tons of fresh fruit daily, packs 40,000 crates of canned fruit, and employs 2,000 to 2,400 workers. The workforce includes Japanese Chinese Hawaiian and Caucasian women, all paid via a profit bonus scheme, with stringent hygiene, glove-use on peeling machines, and a sophisticated packaging and labeling operation. The visit notes the plant’s scale, hygiene standards, and high-output practices, and mentions several other pineapple plants in the region.