Have you ever wondered what it was like for your ancestors working on Hawaii’s sugar plantations? This is a brief look into the typical day of a plantation laborer including the wages they might earn for their work. A typical day in the life of a plantation worker ca. 1900: 4 am–Wake up. Women prepare…
Author: Melody Lassalle
Why Did They Leave? Part Two: Risks And Rewards For The Madeirans And Azoreans Migrating To Hawaii
The Azoreans and Madeirans who came to Hawaii were looking for a better life for themselves and their children. There were more opportunities in Hawaii than they could find at home. This was a risky proposition and it took courage to undertake this journey. The Sugar Plantation Migration The birth of the sugar industry of…
Why Did They Leave? Part One: Reasons For Azorean and Madeiran Migration To Hawaii
It’s difficult to know the exact reason each Azorean and Madeiran ancestor immigrated to Hawaii. By researching history and culture at the time of emigration, it’s possible determine what factors played into their decision to leave. Difficulties of Everyday Life Imagine for a moment the migration your ancestors undertook. They left the home of their…
Portuguese Hawaiian Profile: Antone Sylva, A Maui Legend
Sugar cane was growing freely in the Hawaiian Islands long before Captain Cook came on the scene in the 18th century. People of Chinese descent were producing sugar in Lawai as early as 1802. There were small scale family operations throughout the islands. In the early 1800s, several men were trying their hand at sugar…
Portuguese Hawaiian Profiles: Maria Loriana da Cunha, The First Portuguese Woman in Hawaii
Much is known about the many Portuguese men who made their way to Hawaii. Whalers, business owners, plantation laborers, and so forth, who later made their way into society. But, little is known of the early Portuguese women. Finding their stories is like trying to find a needle in a haystack, but their stories deserve…