A thick residue of red dust blankets homes and cars around Paia in Maui every time Hawaiian Commercial and Sugar burns its sugarcane fields during harvesting season. 

An article on MauiNow.com last week reported that the burning could be dangerous to the health of residents — something that locals have been concerned about for years. 

But HC&S is fighting back — and issued the following response to the story entitled, Maui Cane Burning — How Dangerous Is it?  

Here’s video footage of cane burning in nearby Kuau: