Keeping the heritage alive at Hawaii's Plantation Village - Part 1 (the timeline)

June 8, 11:29 PMHonolulu Affordable Travel ExaminerSandi Yara

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Hawaii's Plantation Village, located in historic Waipahu, is living history museum and ethno-botanical garden that showcases plantation life during a time when sugar production was Hawaii’s leading economic activity.  This was a significant period in Hawaii’s history, spanning over 100 years. 

When visiting, you will walk through a 'time tunnel' and step back in time to learn what life was like for the immigrant workers who left their families in search for a better life.

Sugar Plantation Workers Immigration Timeline

1852 -- 200 Chinese laborers arrive from Hong Kong to work on the sugar plantations. Between 1852 – 1884, 25,256 Chinese laborers are imported and working on the sugar plantations.

1868 -- First group of Japanese contract laborers (148 men) arrive.

1878 -- First Portuguese arrive from Madeira.

1881 -- A group of Germans arrive.

1884 -- Five shiploads of Portuguese arrive. Between 1878 - 1884, 9,471 Portuguese workers arrive.  The numbers remain small as travel costs to import Portuguese from Europe prove to be too costly.

1885 -- Mass government-contracted labor from Japan begins. Between 1885 - 1924, 200,000 Japanese immigrate to Hawaii.

1900 -- Okinawan immigration begins.

1900 -- First group of Puerto Ricans arrive.

1903 -- Korean immigration begins. Approximately 7,843 Koreans arrive until the Korean government stops emigration in 1905.

1906 -- Filipino immigration begins. By 1916, 18,144 Filipinos have arrived.

1907 -- A shipload of 2,250 Spaniards arrive from Malaga to work the plantations.

1924-36 -- Continued Japanese immigration (about 100 per year).

1945 -- Second wave of Filipino immigration workers arrive.  Photo at right is a 'cane haul' crew, circa 1946

1965 -- Third wave of Filipino immigration workers arrive.

Between 1852 and the end of World War II, nearly 395,000 workers came from different countries to work on the sugar plantations:  China, Portugal, Japan, Puerto Rico, Philippines, Okinawa, Korea.

At the time of Hawaii’s statehood in 1959, one in every twelve persons was employed in the sugar industry by more that 30 plantation
 
The immigration of laborers was the genesis of Hawaii’s multi-cultural society.

Hawaii’s Plantation Village opened in 1992 and is a non-profit educational organization.  It is located 18 miles / 35 minutes from Waikiki on Oahu’s leeward coast. 

For more information, visit http://www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org/