Enduring primitive and unsanitary conditions, illnesses and deaths, along with births, laughter, dance, music, courtships and marriages, Portuguese immigrants arrived in Hawaii between 1878 and 1913 to make the Kingdom of Hawaii (Terra Nova) their new home.
This year’s Dennis Aguiar Portuguese Day in the Park — which is 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday — will highlight the book, “They Came in Ships to Terra Nova,” by Kahealani Martins.
It features information and photos taken from 382 newspaper articles written during this period of time.
A presentation and book signing will be held 9:30 a.m. in Carvalho Park Gym, followed by the oral history of the Tavares family at 10:15 a.m.
Come join the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce once again at its annual Portuguese Day in the Park. The day will be filled with the smells of freshly cooked malasadas made by the Big Island Portuguese Cultural Club, Portuguese bean soup being brewed in the park’s kitchen, Portuguese sausage hot dogs on the grill, and, not to be overshadowed, freshly baked bread in the “forno,” a Portuguese stone oven.
The gym will house “Everything Portuguese,” including Portuguese exhibits by the Portuguese Heritage Club of Hamakua, North Hawaii Education and Research Center, the Kau Multicultural Society, the Big Island Portuguese Cultural Club, the Andrade family of Honokaa, and exhibits by Lewis Andrade, Maria Rusnak and Kahealani Martins, and oral history presentations by professor Jackie Pualani Johnson and Gabriella Macanas.
Visitors can also learn Portuguese card games, the Portuguese language, and discover their genealogy.
At 11 a.m., the Hawaii County Band will set the park to music with Portuguese and modern tunes, followed at noon by the traditional serving of Portuguese bean soup prepared by Linus Tavares and stone oven baked bread, a favorite made by Evelyn Pacheco.
This event is free and open to the public, giving everyone an opportunity to enjoy one of Hawaii’s cultures that are part of today’s multicultural experience.
All proceeds will go to the building of the Saudades Portuguese Cultural and Educational Center. Construction will begin later in 2020, and it still needs help to meet its projected budget.
All donations are tax deductible and greatly appreciated.
For more information and ways to help, contact Marlene Hapai, HIPCC Cultural and Educational Center president and executive director at 808-966-9894 or mhapai@aol.com.