Celebrating the recent arrival of multiple national fast-food chain restaurants on Maui is unfortunate and misguided.

By and large, these newcomers serve unhealthy food that leads to obesity and diabetes, two diseases plaguing local residents including our youth.

They divert business from locally owned restaurants.

They export profits off island to publicly traded corporations in most instances.

They undercut the unique character of Maui.

They pay workers minimum wages.

So, why cheer their arrival when their increasing presence takes us further away from that which makes our island no ka ‘oi and negatively affects our personal and economic well-being?

Next time you are out and about, skip the fattening fried fast-food offerings and patronize locally owned businesses instead, for your betterment and theirs.

Mark Hyde

Kihei