The state's last sugar producer is furloughing 700 Maui workers for a week to cope with the worst drought in the company's history and a 25 percent loss in sugar production.

Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar General Manager Frank Kiger says the company is having to cut costs after two abnormally dry years shrank its annual harvest.

He emphasized the layoffs are temporary.

The move adds to the hard times on Maui, where the visitor industry and Maui Land & Pineapple have laid off people this year.

Willie Kennison is head of the Maui Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union Local 142.

He says workers understand the drought issue but he believes other management problems have also hurt HC&C's sugar production.