Local 142 of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union, which represents pineapple workers, was told of the eviction order in a letter dated Jan. 16.

In the letter, Del Monte Hawai'i president Ed Littleton said the company will not renew its lease on 2,200 acres of land that surround and include Poamoho Camp. The land is owned by the Galbraith Estate, which is set to terminate in 2007. Bank of Hawaii is trustee of the estate.

"To give 300 people that type of notice, it doesn’t give anyone enough time to come up with a solution," said Tracy Takano, an ILWU representative.

Takano said the union is working with area legislators and Del Monte on a solution.

Takano said Del Monte has said it is willing to discuss alternatives and has yet to issue a set eviction date.

"The June 30 date came as a surprise," Takano said.

Takano said the majority of the 300 residents of Poamoho Camp in Wahiawa are current Del Monte workers. The rest are retirees. Some residents have lived their entire lives in the camp, Takano said.

The Poamoho section of Del Monte’s plantation has been the subject of environmental concern. That property and Del Monte’s Kunia operation were placed on the national Superfund list in September 1994.