EDITORIAL
HawaI'i might again be a true crossroads

For years, people have talked about the Hawaiian Islands as the "crossroads of the Pacific."

This has always been more romantic fiction than reality. Yes, for a while trans-Pacific airliners had to stop here for refueling. But that has largely ended.

In shipping, Hawai'i has been more of a cul-de-sac than a crossroads. Today, most trans-Pacific shipping bypasses the Islands. Ships arrive here daily from the West Coast and then return, largely empty.

A small step toward reversing that trend and moving toward that illusive goal of being a true crossroads has been taken by Matson Navigation. Its newest cargo ship, the MV Maunalani, will be put into service between the West Coast and China, beginning next year.

The plan is to have the Maunalani head to China after dropping off goods destined for Hawai'i and Guam, then return directly to the West Coast with Chinese exports.

Clearly, this will represent only a tiny fraction of the giant U.S.-China trade traffic. But it is a start, if only in one direction, toward a more global role for the Islands.

The trick now is for local officials to find ways to make it economical and sensible for ships to stop here on the way back. Whether it is an improved foreign trade zone operation, a break-bulk center that would send goods on to other parts of the Pacific or some other idea, Hawai'i has an opportunity to once again become a player in trans-Pacific trade.

This new Matson operation is a first, albeit small, step in that direction.