I am writing about Young Brothers’ monopoly on interisland shipping. Did you know that Matson and Pasha carry freight to the neighbor islands, but do not carry any interisland freight?
I recently shipped a truck interisland, and it cost me $1,200 to go just 165 miles. By comparison, the same truck shipped from Long Beach, California—2,500 miles away—for only $1,500. This disparity highlights how we are getting ripped off by this monopoly, and it’s sad that the state allows this to happen.
Why not push for fair competition like in every other industry? Every business should have to compete; competition keeps prices in check. When there is a monopoly, there is no middle ground—it’s just a one-way street. The consumer loses out in every aspect.
—Jon Smith, Hawaii Kai
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