HONOLULU -- The harsh reality of the shutdown of Del Monte's operation in the islands is setting in.

The company announced Saturday that it would be abruptly closing -- putting hundreds of workers out of jobs overnight.

The workers were able to take one last picture with their work family, after they boxed up the last package.

There will be no Christmas party or company lunch to look forward to for final goodbyes, reported KITV's Catherine Cruz.

Everything changed overnight, particularly for this night shift in Luna. For Letty Llamas, a night shift supervisor, in the Luna plant, it would be the end of her first and only job.

"First job since I was 19 years old, and now I'm 43," said Llamas.

The first signs signaling the end were Del Monte's third quarter financial statements indicating losses of $84 million, and a statement from the company CEO.

"Tough times -- require tough measures," said the statement.

"I think it shows they had no aloha for people, but more so it goes back on their word they gave us two months," said Gov. Linda Lingle.

The state's director of agriculture, Sandra Kunimoto, said the Kunia fields are some of the best for growing crops.

So what does the Del Monte closing mean for the fields?

"We have every expectation it will stay in agriculture," said Kunimoto.

Maui Land and Pine announced it's willing and able to step in and salvage the fruits in the field.

But many wonder if that is possible with the competition that is out there.

Del Monte is wasting no time, already plowing up the fields.

The harvesters were idled Saturday with no fruit to pick and no need for packers after Sunday. Only the mechanics and heavy equipment operators remain behind to dismantle the plant.

Pay may continue through the last official day, scheduled for Jan. 22, but the heart and soul of the plantation has slipped away quietly.

And so, if you drive this way often, or only in a blue moon in a trip to the country, take a long hard look at this landscape.

It may not be around for much longer.