Portuguese immigration to Hawaii

Portuguese Immigrants to Hawaii

Flags of the Azores and Madeira
Total population
4.3% of Hawaiians in 2008 claimed
Portuguese Ancestry[1]
Languages
Portuguese, English, Hawaiian
Religion
Roman Catholic

Portuguese immigration to Hawaii began in 1878 when Portuguese residents made up less than 1% of the Island population. However, the migration that began that year of laborers from Madeira and the Azores to work in the sugarcane plantations rapidly increased the Portuguese presence in Hawaii, and by the end of 1911 nearly 16,000 Portuguese immigrants had arrived.

Early immigration

The Hawaiian census of 1878 showed that, out of a kingdom of 57,985 people, only 438 residents, which was less than 0.8% of the population, were Portuguese.[2] Most of these Portuguese residents had been born in either the Cape Verde or Madeira Islands, and nearly all had arrived as sailors on whaling ships. Although a few of them brought, or had sent for, their wives, women made up only about one-eighth of this tiny immigrant community.[3] Despite the fact that prior to 1878 so few Portuguese had made their way to the Hawaiian Islands, those that did found opportunity and tended to stay.[4]

Conditions in Hawaii in 1878 were conducive to immigration. King Kalākaua, who had recently ascended the Hawaiian throne, encouraged closer ties with Europe, and a growing Hawaiian economy, due largely to increased sugar exports to California, created a demand for laborers to work the sugarcane plantations.[4][5] Because the native Hawaiian workers had been decimated by disease, there were not enough laborers to supply the sugarcane plantations, which led in 1852 to the first importation of Chinese workers. So many Chinese were brought in that by 1878 they made up nearly 10% of the population.[2][6] Although the Chinese worked hard, they were accused of gambling, prostitution and opium use, and a search began for alternate sources of labor. This led both the Hawaiian government and the plantation owners to offer incentives, and concessions not given the Chinese nor other Asian ethnic groups, to attract immigrants of European descent who were willing to work in the cane fields.[7]

Madeira Islanders cutting sugarcane. About 6,000 of them by 1913 came to Hawaii to do the same work.

Immigration of 1878 to 1911

Jason Perry (Jacinto Pereira), a Portuguese settler who served as the Portuguese Consul to Hawaii, suggested in 1876 to plantation owners of the Planters' Society (a predecessor of the Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association) that the Madeira and Azores Islands of Portugal might be ideal sources of reliable workers.[4] Portuguese colonists had first settled these islands in the Middle Ages, and the terrain and subtropical climate were very similar to that of the Hawaiian Islands. More important though, sugarcane had been the mainstay of the economy in Madeira and the Azores for over 400 years, and most of the population was involved in one way or another in the sugarcane industry.[6]

Malasadas are a popular Hawaiian pastry first made in the Madeira islands.
John Philip Sousa with Portuguese ukulele players of the Hawaiian Band, 1901

Intrigued by Perry's suggestion, the Planters' Society began recruiting Portuguese contract workers, first in 1878 from the Madeira Islands, and then two years later from the Azores as well. Several ships between 1878 and 1887 brought to Hawaii more than 3,300 Portuguese men from these islands, but because many of the men brought their wives, children, and other relations as well, there was an actual immigration during these years of about 10,700 Portuguese.[4] Whereas contracts for the Chinese workers that preceded them generally stipulated single men only, the Portuguese were allowed to bring their families, an incentive that the plantation owners hoped would provide stability.[6]

Portuguese immigration to the islands slowed after 1887, which was the same year that King Kalākaua was stripped of power, and about the same time that importation of other ethnic groups increased. Nonetheless, Portuguese immigration continued, and by the end of 1911 almost 16,000 Portuguese had arrived. Unfortunately, the more affluent members of Hawaiian society tended to view these newcomers as inferior or "low class", and growing resentment at being treated as "second-class citizens", resulted in many Portuguese later emigrating to the mainland United States, particularly California, in search of equality and opportunity.[6][8] Though many left, many stayed and by 1910 Portuguese residents made up 11.6% of the population of Hawaii.[9]

Immigrant culture and traditions

Native Hawaiian speakers called the Portuguese immigrants who came to their country "Pokiki." These newcomers were devout followers of the Roman Catholic faith with strong family ties. Most were short, with slender builds, and dark skin from long hours of working out under the sun in the cane fields.[10] Many in fact were so dark that their race on some of the early U.S. census returns is listed as black, which contributed to prejudice against them.[11] Because few of these immigrants could read or write, they had strong oral traditions, and they retained much of the culture and traditions they brought with them.[10][12]

One popular Portuguese tradition in Hawaii today is the making of malasadas, which are deep-fried pastries, similar to the beignet of New Orleans, that traditionally have no holes or fillings, but are coated in granulated cane sugar. They were first made by Hawaiian residents from the Madeira and Azores Islands, who would use up butter and sugar prior to Lent by cooking malasadas. These pastries are an important part in Madeira and the Azores of the "Terça-feira Gorda", a festival also known as the Carnival that is the same holiday as "Fat Tuesday" or "Mardi Gras" elsewhere. This day in Hawaii is called "Malasada Day", and it dates back to the time of the 19th-century sugarcane plantations.[13]

Another popular Portuguese tradition in Hawaii is the Holy Ghost Festival (Festa do Espírito Santo), which since 1901 is celebrated each May with a parade and feast. This three-day event is not an official church holiday, but a traditional observance that began in the 18th century with the Cult of the Holy Spirit in the Azores. It usually starts on a Friday night, followed on Saturday by decorating religious statues for the festivities to follow. Then on Sunday a young woman is chosen as Queen Isabel, the 6th queen of Portugal, and she and her court lead a colorful parade. The final event is a mass with a "Blessing of the meat and bread" by a priest, after which Isabel is crowned as the Holy Ghost Queen. A feast is then held in "a tradition of charity and feeding the poor," where food is served to all present. The foods of this feast typically include malasadas (pastries), paodoce (sweet bread), bean soup, Portuguese sausages, and bowls of beef and fish marinated in wine.[14][15]

Two well-known Portuguese contributions to Hawaiian culture are the ukulele and the Hawaiian steel guitar. The introduction of the ukulele is generally credited to Madeiran cabinet makers Manuel Nunes, Augusto Dias and José do Espírito Santo, who came to the Islands in 1879 on the British clipper SS Ravenscrag.[16][17] The Hawaiian Gazette in late August 1879, two weeks after the arrival of the Ravenscrag, reported that "Madeira Islanders recently arrived here have been delighting the people with nightly street concerts." The article then mentions "their strange instruments, which are a kind of cross between a guitar and banjo."[18]

The British ship Suffolk in 1881 brought 488 Azores Islanders to Hawaii.
Six months after the arrival of the Suffolk the Earl Dalhousie brought 322 more immigrants from the Azores to Hawaii.

How they came to Hawaii

At least 24 different ships from 1878 to 1911 brought almost 16,000 Portuguese immigrants to Hawaii. Although mainly from Madeira and the Azores, there were also contingents from the eastern United States, mainland Portugal, and from the Portuguese community of Montevideo, Uruguay.[19] Although conditions on board these ships from 1882 on improved dramatically, as most immigrants by then came by steamship, the first arrivals to Hawaii from Madeira and the Azores spent up to three months at sea in cramped quarters on sailing ships. Strong currents crossing the Atlantic, and rough seas when coming around Cape Horn at the tip of South America made for a perilous voyage.[20] When the SS Ravenscrag reached port with its load of immigrants in 1879 after 123 days at sea, three children had perished during the voyage.[21] Even three years later when the first group of immigrants to reach Hawaii by steamship arrived in 1882 on the SS Monarch after 57 days at sea, 13 children had died on the voyage.[22]

Ships that brought Portuguese settlers to Hawaii from 1878-1912[19][23]
Ship Name Type of Vessel Flag Arrival Date Port of Origin Days at Sea Men Women Children Total
PriscillaBarkGerman30 September 1878Funchal, Madeira 116 days804060180
RavenscragClipperBritish23 August 1879Funchal, Madeira123 days133110176419
High FlyerBarkBritish24 January 1880São Miguel, Azores99 days10981147337
High FlyerBarkBritish2 May 1881São Miguel, Azores130 days17366113352
SuffolkBarkBritish25 August 1881São Miguel, Azores102 days206100182488
Earl DalhausieBarkBritish27 March 1882São Miguel, Azores113 days9482146322
MonarchSteamshipBritish8 June 1882São Miguel, Azores57 days202197458857
HansaSteamshipBritish15 September 1882Azores70 days3072865841177
AbergeldieSteamshipBritish4 May 1883Azores62 days264190484938
HankowSteamshipBritish9 July 1883Azores (São Miguel) & Madeira66 days4273177181462
Bell RockSteamshipBritish1 November 1883Azores76 days3962947151405
City of ParisSteamshipBritish13 June 1884Azores (São Miguel) & Madeira74 days295199330824
BordeauxSteamshipBritish3 October 1884Madeira72 days273173262708
DacaBarkBritish19 January 1885Madeira114 days6350165278
Stirlingshire
(Sterlingshire)		ClipperBritish4 March 1886Madeira112 days157107203467
AmanaSteamshipBritish23 September 1886Funchal, Madeira142 days146116239501
Thomas BellBarkBritish13 April 1888Madeira156 days11762163342
BraunfelsSteamshipGerman4 April 1895Ponta Delgada, Azores68 days274124259657
Victoria (Parthia)SteamshipBritish13 September 1899Madeira67 days2155672343
WarrimooSteamshipNew Zealand24 December 1900Vancouver, U.S.10 days60141892
Aorangi[24]SteamshipNew Zealand16 February 1901Vancouver, U.S.8 days97723
SuvericSteamshipBritish1 December 1906Uruguay (Montevideo) & Azores (Fayal)52 days4592835821324
KumericSteamshipBritish27 June 1907Funchal, Madeira58 days3333064751114
SwanleySteamshipBritish14 December 1909Azores (P Delgada) & Madeira (Funchal)49 & 55 days337221310868
Orteric (Osteric)*SteamshipBritish13 April 1911 Portugal (Oporto & Lisbon) and Gibraltar48 days
(from Gibraltar)		5473735311451
Total 16,929
*There were also 960 Spanish immigrants on the Orteric,[25] which leaves a net importation of 15,969 Portuguese immigrants.

Hawaiians of Portuguese descent

Manuel Nunes, who came to Hawaii in 1879, is credited with helping to introduce the Ukulele to Hawaiian culture.

Although Portuguese sailors probably visited Hawaii as early as 1794, the earliest Portuguese immigrant of whom there is official record, and the first Portuguese immigrant of note, was Dr. João (John) Elliott de Castro, who arrived in 1814 and became the personal physician, and retainer King Kamehameha I.[26] Since Castro's day there have been many Portuguese-Hawaiians of note, some of whom are listed below.

See also

References

  1. ↑ The demographics shown represent the combined statistics from Congressional Districts 1 and 2 from the following sources:
    U.S. Census (2009). "Congressional District 1, Hawaii (111th Congress) - Selected Social Characteristics in the United States" (PDF). hawaii.gov - Official Website of the Aloha State. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
    U.S. Census (2009). "Congressional District 2, Hawaii (111th Congress) - Selected Social Characteristics in the United States" (PDF). hawaii.gov - Official Website of the Aloha State. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  2. 1 2 Thrum, Thomas G., compiler (1903). "Comparative table of Nationality of population of Hawaiian Islands at various census periods since 1872". Hawaiian Almanac for 1903 (Thos. G. Thrum): 34.
  3. ↑ Rodgers, C.T. (1891). Report of the General Superintendent of the census, 1890. Honolulu, Hawaii: R. Grieve Steam Book and Job Printer. p. 23.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Marques, Augustus (1886). Thrum, Thomas G., ed., ed. "Portuguese immigration to the Hawaiian Islands" (PDF). Hawaiian Almanac and Annual for 1887 - A Handbook of Information (Honolulu, Hawaii: Press Publishing Company): 74–78.
  5. ↑ Kuykendall Ralph S. (1967). The Hawaiian Kingdom: 1874-1893, the Kalakaua dynasty. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0870224336.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Coman, Katharine (1903). The history of contract labor in the Hawaiian Islands. New York: American Economic Association with The MacMillan Company. pp. 27–32.
  7. ↑ Coman, Katharine (1903). "Opposition to the chinese". The history of contract labor in the Hawaiian Islands (New York: American Economic Association with The MacMillan Company): 35–42.
  8. ↑ Marques, Augustus (1910). Thrum, Thomas G., ed., ed. "The Portuguese in Hawaii". Hawaiian Almanac and Annual for 1911 - A Handbook of Information (Honolulu, Hawaii: Press Publishing Company): 74–78.
  9. ↑ United States Bureau of Statistics (1913). "1910 Statistics for Hawaii". Thirteenth census of the United States taken in the year 1910 (United Stes: Government Printing Office): v. 2, p. 10.
  10. 1 2 Pap, Leo (1981). The Portuguese-Americans (The Immigrant Heritage of America). Boston, Massachusetts: Twayne Publishers / G. K. Hall & Co. ISBN 0805784179.
  11. ↑ The race of many Portuguese immigrants and their families is listed as black in the 1910 U.S. Census, which is available online from a number of subscription-only genealogy sites.
  12. ↑ Takaki, Ronald T. (1983). Pau Hana: Plantation Life and Labor in Hawaii, 1835-1920. Honolulu, Hawaii: University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824809564.
  13. ↑ See the Wikipedia article on Malasadas.
  14. ↑ "Portuguese festival honors holy day". Honolulu Star Bulletin (newspaper) (Honolulu, Hawaii). June 10, 2006. v. 11, Issue 161. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  15. ↑ "Portuguese Holy Ghost Festival and Traditional Practices: A Local Legacy". America's Story from America's Library. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  16. ↑ King, John and Tranquada, Jim (2003). "A new history of the 'ukulele, 1838-1915". Hawaiian Journal of History: v. 37, p. 10–32.
  17. ↑ King, John and Tranquada, John (2007). "A Strum Through ‘Ukulele History, from Madeira to Hawaii to the San Francisco Bay (online version)". Museum of Craft and Folk Art. Retrieved 22 October 2013.
  18. ↑ "Portuguese Musicians". Hawaiian Gazette. Sep 3, 1879. p. 3.
  19. 1 2 Portuguese Genealogical Society of Hawaii. "Portuguese Immigration to Hawaii, 1878-1913". Retrieved 22 October 2013. This is a list of ships and passenger records compiled by the Portuguese Genealogical Society of Hawaii from the Harbor Master's Records in the State Archives of Hawaii. Additional information on these ships was obtained from articles on individual ship arrivals in the Pacific Commercial Advertiser (newspaper) and the Hawaiian Gazette (newspaper), both of which are available at the Chronicling America website of the Library of Congress.
  20. ↑ A description of the 1879 voyage of the SS Ravenscrag around Cape Horn is given by Elma (neé Tranquada) Cabral in a December 1946 article titled "Grandpa Was A Troubadour" in Paradise of the Pacific Magazine (v. 58, n. 12, p. 17-19) that is based on stories that her mother Carolina Dias, a nine-year girl on the ship, had told her. Another account of the same voyage that was dictated by Frances de Harne (neé Francisca Gomes Camacho) to her daughter Mary Walsh appears at Walsh, Mary and Clark, Mike (2013). "History of the de Harne family in Hawaii". Retrieved 28 October 2013. Frances was a ten-year girl old on the voyage.
  21. ↑ "Arrival of Immigrants". The Pacific Commercial Advertiser. August 30, 1879. p. 3. Retrieved 30 October 2013.
  22. ↑ Smith, William O. (1883). "Portuguese Immigrants". Planter's Monthly (Honolulu, Hawaii: Planter's Labor & Supply Co. with the Hawaiian Gazette Office): v. 1, p. 74.
  23. ↑ Felix, John Henry and Senecal, Peter F. (1978). The Portuguese in Hawaii. Honolulu, Hawaii: self-published, Centennial edition limited to 2000 copies. pp. 27–30.
  24. ↑ "Passengers Arrived". The Honolulu Republican. February 17, 1901. p. 2.. The newspaper article states 39 Portuguese laborers, but the ships manifest (available at Ancestry.com - subscription required) lists 9 Portuguese men, 7 women and 7 children, all U.S. residents.
  25. ↑ "Orteric arrives with many laborers". The Hawaiian Gazette (Honolulu, Hawaii). April 14, 1911. p. 1.
  26. ↑ Yzendoorn, Reginald (1927). Catholic Mission in the Hawaiian Islands. Honolulu, Hawaii: Honolulu Star Bulletin, Ltd. pp. 222–223.
  27. ↑ Ukulele Hall of Fame Museum (2012). "Manuel Nunes (1843 - 1922) 1998 Hall of Fame Inductee". Retrieved 22 October 2013.

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