This is a list of books and videos pertaining to Portuguese Hawaiian history, culture, and traditions. It also includes volumes on the Azores and Madeira.
You may find the books and videos listed below helpful. Some can be read for free through Google Books or the Internet Archives. Others may be purchased through Amazon or the publisher (see details in each entry).
For those that are out of print, you may find a copy at a local library or through inter-library loan. WorldCat is an excellent place to start when looking for out of print or hard to find books.
Portuguese and Hawaiian Related Books Available for Free From Google Books
Enjoy these titles by reading directly from this page or at books.google.com. If the books aren’t positioned on the right page, use the scroll bar to move to the beginning of the book. Books can also be read through the Google Books app.
“A Description of the Azores, or Western Islands, From Personal Observation” by Captain Boid. 1835, London : Edward Churton. An interesting perspective from a Captain in Britain’s Navy.
“A Dictionary of the English and Portuguese Languages in Two Parts” by Anthony Vierya. 1860, London : Rolland. This is a good dictionary to have handy as it has the word forms as they were when our ancestors lived in their homeland.
“Hawaii: It’s People, Climate, and Resources” by Daniel Logan. 1903, Honolulu : Pioneer Advertising Company. An interesting look at Hawaii at the turn of the century.
“Hawaiian Almanac and Annual for 1885” written and published by Thos. G. Thrum. Lots of facts about the islands from 1885.
“Hawaiian Almanac and Annual for 1887” written and published by Thos. G. Thrum. More facts about the islands from 1887.
“Hawaii’s Story by Hawaii’s Queen” by Liliuokalani. 1898, Boston : Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Co. This is Hawaii’s story in the queen’s own words.
“History of the Azores, Or, Western Islands” by Thomas Ashe. 1813, London : Sherwood, Neely, and Jones. This is an interesting history written from a British perspective at a time when Great Britain was considering taking the islands forcibly from Portugal.
“Land of Wine: Being an Account of the Madeira Islands at the Beginning of the Twentieth Century, and from a New Point of View” by A.J. Drexel Riddle. This is volume 1, second edition, and Biddle’s second history of the Madeira Islands. 1901, Philadelphia : Drexel Biddle Publishing.
“The Madeira Islands: Volume II” by Anthony J. Drexel Biddle. 1899, Philadelphia : Hurst and Blackett. Biddle was associated with Madeira through various organizations. This book includes illustrations and maps. (Note: volume I is not available on Google Books.)
Reading List: Books In and Out of Print
These books may or may not be in print. Ordering information is given if available. Some books are available through Amazon.com.
“Cemeteries of Kauai” by William K. Kikuchi and Susan Remoaldo. Kauai Community College [et al] Puhi Kauai, c1992. This book is not in print but may be found through inter-libary loan.
“Da Nossa Boa Casa A Sua Casa“. This is a cookbook containing traditional Portuguese recipes as well as vegetarian offerings. It is offered by the Maui Portuguese Cultural Club. Contact them through their contact page for details on how to order. Price was $15 as of January 2018.
“Destination, Sandwich Islands“published in the Hawaiian Journal of History, volume IV, 1970, pages 3-52. The journal of a 156-day trip from Madeira to Hawaii, written in 1887-1888. Available from the Hawaiian Historical Society, 560 Kawaiahao Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. Check for current price. This journal is available at eVols at the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
“Grove Farm Plantation: The Biography of a Hawaiian Sugar Plantation“. This is the story of George Wilcox and the plantation he built. It offers insights into plantation structure and life. This book is available from third party sellers on Amazon.com.
“Hawaii: A History from Polynesian Kingdom to American Statehood” by Ralph Simpson Kuykendall. 1979 : Prentice Hall. This is a particularly important history for Portuguese Hawaiian researchers, especially the section covering the years leading into the sugar plantation era. You get a real sense of the manipulation going on behind the scenes by key players that lead to the Portuguese arriving on Hawaii’s shores. This book is out of print.
“Islands of Magic: Legends, Folklore, and Fairytales of the Azores” By Elsie Spicer Eells. You can read my review of this wonderful collection of folk tales from the Azores Islands. This books is available on Amazon.com.
“Koloa Plantation: 1835-1935” by Arthur C. Alexander. 2nd Edition, 1985 : Kauai Historical Society. The story of the first commercial Hawaiian sugar plantation. The 2nd edition includes added details not included in the 1935 edition.
“List of Manifests of Alien Passengers for the United States Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival.” Covers 1900-1913. Valuable for those with immigrants arriving in Hawaii during that period. The Portuguese Genealogical Society of Hawaii has a copy and will take research requests.
“The Long Voyage: The Story of John Gomes Louis and Vicencia Vieira Louis of Maui, Hawaii, immigrants from Madeira, Portugal” by John G. Louis, Jr. c 1980, San Jose, Calif : Louis. This book is out of print.
“The Lost Kingdom: Hawaii’s Last Queen, the Sugar Kings, and America’s First Imperial Venture” By Julia Flynn Siler. A history of the islands covering the early 1800s up through becoming a territory. You can read my review of this thought-provoking story of the islands. This book is available on Amazon.com.
“Men of Hawaii” By John Siddall. This is a multi-volume work with biographies of successful men in Hawaii. There are some of Portuguese descent. You can read volumes 1-3 for free at the InternetArchive.org
“Passport Index: Portuguese Immigrants from Azores to Sandwich Islands, 1879-1883.” (Cover title: Immigration from the Azores to Hawaii, 1879-1883), by Robert S. de Mello. Honolulu : De Mello Publishing Co. The Portuguese Genealogical Society of Hawaii has a copy and will take research requests. I have created a name index to this book.
“Passport Index: Portuguese Immigrants from Madeira to Hawaii, 1878-1884” by Robert S. de Mello. Honolulu : De Mello Publishing Co. Index to passports. May be available through inter-library loan.
“Pau Hana: Plantation Life and Labor in Hawaii 1835-1920” By Ronald Takaki. This is by far the most in-depth look at what life was like for the many immigrants who came to Hawaii who worked on sugar plantations. This book is available at Amazon.com.
“Pioneers of the Faith: History of the Catholic Mission in Hawaii (1827-1940)” by Robert Schoofs, SS.CC. Rev. by Fay Wren Midkiff. Hawaii : Sturgis Printing Co., Inc., c1978. Great resource for locating churches in the Territory of Hawaii that may no longer exist and identifying where a priest might have been stationed. This book is out of print.
“Portuguese Hawaiian Memories: 1930” by J.F. Freitas. Portuguese in Hawaii with biographical data. Only the person who the biography is about is indexed. This book may be ordered from the Portuguese Genealogical and Historical Society of Hawaii.
“Portuguese Immigrants: the Centennial Story of the Portuguese Union of the State of California,” by Carlos Almeida. 2nd rev. and enl, c1992. While primarily a history of the U.P.E.C. in California, it incluedes a brief section on Hawaii and biographical data of members includes many individuals with roots in Hawaii. This book may be available from the Supreme Council of the U.P.E.C., 1120 E. 14th Street, San Leandro, CA. This book can be ordered from Amazon.com.
“Portuguese in Hawaii before 1878” by Edgar C. Knowlton, Jr. This is a compilation of biographies and stories from various sources on the early Portuguese in Hawaii. Publishing information unknown. The Portuguese Genealogical Society of Hawaii has a copy and will take research requests.
“Portuguese Immigrants to Hawaii” compiled by Edgar C. Knowlton, Jr. Kahului, HI : Maui Portuguese Cultural Club, c1993. Index of all the ship manifests from 1878-1913. Some listings are for immigrants who arrived prior to 1878. This book is out of print. The Hawaii Public Library system has a copy.
“Portuguese In Hawaii” by John Henry Felix and Peter R. Senecal, editors. Honolulu : Felix, 1978. Information on different individuals. It appears that many were from the island of Faial. This book is out of print.
“Roots & Branches of Parker & Vieira” by Eva Parker Newton. Contains information on the Parker & Vieira families of Hawaii. Los Angeles, CA : Deceby. Available from: Mrs. Leilani Parker, 1250 S. Los Robles, Pasadena CA 91106. (Note: ordering information has not been verified in many years).
“Shoal of Time: A History of the Hawaiian Islands by Gavan Davis. 1974, University of Hawaii Press.
“Sugar Trains: Narrow Gauge Rails of Hawaii” by J.C. Condae. A history of the trains used on Hawaii’s sugar plantations. This book is out of print.
“Timeline Hawaii: An Illustrated Chronological History of the Islands”by Daniel Harrington. 2013 : Mutual Pub. Co. A history of the people and events that shaped Hawaii. Available on Amazon.com
“Ukulele: a Portuguese gift to Hawaii” by John Henry Felix, Leslie Nunes, and Peter F. Senecal. The story of the ukulele and those who created it. This book is out of print.
Documentaries
These documentaries are no longer available for sale. However, they may be available through various libraries.
“Mandem Saudades.” A history of Portuguese immigration to Hawaii, their life in Hawaii, contributions to Hawaii, etc. It is told from the perspective of the Portuguese who came from Portugal, not the Azores or Madeira. Was available from the Portuguese Genealogical Society of Hawaii, The Palama Settlement, 811 N. Vineyard St., Rm. 11, Honolulu HI 96817.
“Mo’olelo, Oral Histories of the Portuguese in Hawaii” recorded by Luis Proenca and Chris Wilson. Interviews with Portuguese Hawaiian descendants on Hawaii, Maui, Oahu, and Kauai. Information on availability is not known.
“Portuguese in Hawaii.” Produced in 1995 by David Martin and Sergio Lago. Video covers the Festa ’95 at Kapiolani Park. Includes information on contributions the Portuguese have made in Hawaii. Also, information on various popular Portuguese foods. Originally available through the Hawaii Council on Portuguese Heritage, 819 North Vineyard Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96817.
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