On Sept. 30, 1878, the first Portuguese families arrived in the Kingdom of Hawaii from Madeira on the steamship Priscilla. These 120 settlers were the first group of close to 25,000 Portuguese immigrants who would travel 15,000 miles by ship, on 29 voyages between the years of 1878 and 1913, to make Hawaii their new home.
Madeirans brought their expertise in sugar production, others were skilled craftsmen, and many contributed to the labor force of Hawaii’s sugar plantations.
In 2002, the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce established a 501(c)3 nonprofit to build a cultural and educational center to document, preserve and share their stories and contributions to the Hawaii we know today.
With a piece of property donated by Frank De Luz III in 2007 and serious fundraising beginning in 2016, the center is on its way to becoming a reality.
Since 2018, the 140th anniversary of the arrival of Hawaii’s first Portuguese families, the center has helped to bring Portuguese-related organizations both island and statewide together to help revive the cultural practices and information that were close to being lost. This 145th anniversary celebration will share Hawaii Island’s Ka‘u, Kona, Hamakua and Hilo Portuguese cultural practices and treasures that have been preserved by the Kona Historical Society, Honokaa Heritage Center, Ka‘u Multicultural Society, Hawaii Plantation Museum, Portuguese genealogy from the Portuguese Collections and Portuguese language by Portuguese language speakers.
The celebration will be held from 9 a.m. through 2 p.m. this Saturday at Aunty Sally’s Luau Hale in Hilo
The public is invited to come and enjoy the Hawaii County Band at 9:15 a.m., which is celebrating its 140th anniversary this year and holds the claim to being Hawaii’s second-oldest band, with the Royal Hawaiian Band being the first that welcomed the Portuguese ships as they arrived.
In addition to the band, Dexter Veriato will be sharing his music with all, and the documentary “Portuguese in Hawaii” will be shown at noon. A book by this same name will also be available for sale. Both documentary and book are produced by Nelson Ponta Garca and feature Portuguese from all Hawaii islands and capture the story of their early immigration, history and contributions to Hawaii.
And, of course, there will be delicious Portuguese food: Portuguese sausage hot dogs, bean soup, Vinha d’Alhos, sweetbread, pickled onions and malasadas.
In addition to the food, exhibits, entertainment and documentary, Saturday’s event will feature “Aunty Mary’s Store”(everyone has an Aunty Mary) which will have a wide range of items for sale including T-shirts, mugs and bags with the event logo; copies of the book “Portuguese in Hawaii,” written by Nelson Ponta-Garca and Danny Abreu; and nearly new jewelry and home goods. In Aunty Mary’s Store, if you like it, you simply buy it — no bidding required.
For those looking for something special, a Silent Auction will include high-value and high-quality items. Items available for bidding will include gift certificates, beautiful koa and mango wood keepsake boxes made by woodworker Henri Calio, and other items.
All are invited to come enjoy food, fun and festivities Portuguese style. The event is free and open to the public. Proceeds will benefit the Hawaii Island Portuguese Chamber of Commerce Cultural and Educational Center, and a portion of the proceeds will go towards supporting Maui’s Heritage Hall.
Donations can be made online at www.hipcc.org/cultural-and-educational-center or mailed to HIPCC Cultural and Educational Center, P.O. Box 1120, Hilo, HI 96721.
For more information contact Marlene Hapai at mhapai@aol.com or (808) 557-4540.