The essays examine the reasons why the Portuguese came to Hawaii, the grave difficulties of their journey, and
their arrival and employment in the new land.
Significant Events of Portuguese in Hawaii
1527-31 Spanish Ships, possibly with Portuguese navigators, shipwrecked on the Big Island (Hawaii).
João Gaetano, who may have been Portuguese, (he may also have been Spanish or Italian) in the service of
Spain, sails west from Mexico and discovers a group of islands in the mid-Pacific, which he called “Isla de
Mesa Group” and may have been the Hawaiian Islands.
1778 Capt. Cook “Rediscovers” the Hawaiian Islands.
1542
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1785 12 Portuguese British sailors arrived from Macao.
1787 Portuguese Sailors likely on board the Nootka, Captained by Meares arrived in Hawaii.
Portuguese sailors are known to have arrived in Hawaii aboard the Iphegenia and Felice from Portuguese
Macao with Captains John Meares and William Douglas.
1790 Portuguese sailors are known to have arrived in Hawaii aboard the American brig Elenora.
1814 João Elliot d’Castro becomes Secretary to King Kamehameha I.
1853 Census shows 87 Portuguese in Hawaii.
Jacinto Perreira, a Portuguese merchant residing in Hawaii recommends to the Kingdom the immigration of
Portuguese to Hawaii to help solve the labor problems.
1877 The St. Antonio Society, a Portuguese benevolent association, is established in Honolulu.
1878 Census shows more than 400 Portuguese in Hawaii.
The ship Priscilla arrives in Honolulu harbor on September 30. 1878 with the first major contingent of Portuguese
immigrants to Hawaii (about 120 men, women and children).
The ship Ravenscrag arrives in Honolulu harbor on August 23, 1879 with the second large group of Portuguese
settlers in Hawaii (419 men, women and children). These settlers brought with them the Portuguese braguinha,
the instrument that became the ‘ukulele.
1882 The Government of Hawaii signs an immigration treaty with Portugal.
1893 Portuguese support the establishment of the Hawaiian Republic.
1900 Portuguese population numbers 18,272, approximately 12% of the total population of the Hawaiian Islands.
1900 to Period of Portuguese migration from the plantations to Honolulu and other towns.
1930 The Portuguese enter business and skilled trades in increasing numbers.
The Ascot arrives in Honolulu harbor with 1,283 Portuguese immigrants aboard. This ship is usually considered
the last of the 29 immigrant ships.
Eight citizens of Portuguese ancestry are elected to the Hawaii Territorial Legislature. First elected woman
legislator was half Portuguese/half Hawaiian Rosalie Enos Lyons Keliinoi.
1926 Antonio J. Perry is appointed Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Hawaii.
1926 Bishop Stephen Alencastre is placed in charge of the Roman Catholic Church in the Hawaiian Islands.
1788
1876
1878
1879
1913
1925
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1930 to Period of virtually complete assimilation of Portuguese into the mainstream of
1950/59 Island life.
1967 Portuguese population is estimated at 21,270.
Governor George Ariyoshi establishes the Portuguese Centennial Commission on March 21, celebrating the
Commencement of the “Major immigration” (1878-1978).
Hawaii Council on Portuguese Heritage established as umbrella organization for all Portuguese organizations
in the State of Hawaii.
The Portuguese in Hawaii celebrate their Centennial with the visit of the Ambassador of Portugal and many
other events culminating in the Centennial Celebration of the arrival of the Priscilla on September 30, 1978.
1978 The Portuguese naval training ship Sagres arrives in Honolulu on a voyage of goodwill, November, 1978.
1979 The Portuguese Chamber of Commerce is established in Hawaii, July 11, 1979.
The people of Hawaii celebrate the centennial of the arrival of the ‘ukulele in Hawaii with a festive commemoration
at the State Capitol, on August 23, 1979.
1988 Bicentennial Celebration of the first immigration of Portuguese to arrive in Hawaii.
1990 Governor John Waihee establishes the Portuguese Bicentennial SteeringCommittee.
Ships bearing Portuguese Settlers to Hawaii, 1878-1913
1. September 30, 1878
Ship Priscilla (German bark) arrived 116 days out from Funchal, Madeira, with 80 men, 40 women, 60 children.
Total 180. (Portuguese consular documents indicate approximately 120 passengers).
2. August 23, 1879
Ship Ravenscrag (British) arrived 123 days out from Madeira with 133 men, 110 women, 176 children. Total 419.
3. January 24, 1880
Ship High Flyer (British bark) arrived 99 days out from St. Michael, Azores, with 109 men, 81 women, 147 children.
Total 337.
4. May 2, 1881
Ship High Flyer (British bark) arrived 130 days out from St. Michael, Azores, with 173 men, 66 women, 113 children.
Total 352.
5. August 25, 1881
Ship Suffolk (British bark) arrived 102 days out from St. Michael, Azores, with 206 men, 100 women, 182 children.
Total 488.
1978
1978
1978
1979
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6. March 27, 1882
Ship Earl Delhausie (British bark) arrived 113 days out from St. Michael, Azores, with 94 men, 82 women, 146
children. Total 322.
7. June 8, 1882
Steamship Monarch (British) arrived 57 days out from St. Michael, Azores, with 202 men, 197 women, 458 children.
Total 857.
8. September 15, 1882
Steamship Hansa (British) arrived 70 days out from Azores, with 307 men, 286 women, 584 children. Total 1177.
9. May 4, 1883
Steamship Abergeldie (British) arrived 62 days out from Azores, with 264 men, 190 women, 484 children. Total
938.
10. July 9, 1883
Steamship Hankow (British) arrived 66 days out from St. Michael, Azores, & Madeira with 427 men, 317 women,
718 children. Total 1462.
11. November 1, 1883
Steamship Bell Rock (British) arrived 99 days out from Azores, with 109 men, 81 women,147 children. Total 337.
12. June 13, 1884
Steamship City of Paris (British) arrived 74 days out from Madeira & St. Michael, Azores, with 295 men, 199
women, 330 children. Total 824.
13. October 3, 1884
Steamship Bordeaux (French) arrived 72 days out from Madeira, with 273 men, 173 women, 262 children. Total
708.
14. January 19, 1885
Ship Daca (British) arrived 114 days out from Madeira, with 63 men, 50 women, 165 children. Total 278.
15. March 4, 1886
Ship Stirlingshire (British) arrived 112 days out from Madeira, with 157 men, 107 women, 203 children. Total 467.
16. September 23, 1886
Ship Amana (British) arrived 142 days out from Madeira, with 146 men, 116 women, 239 children. Total 501.
17. April 13, 1888
Bark Thomas Bell (British) arrived 156 days out from Madeira, with 117 men, 62 women, 163 children. Total 342.
18. April 4, 1895
Steamship Braunfels (German) arrived 68 days out from Ponta Delgada, Azores, with 274 men, 124 women, 259
children. Total 657.
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19. September 13, 1899
Steamship Victoria (British) arrived 67 days out from Madeira, with 215 men, 56 women, 72 children. Total 343.
20. December 24, 1900
Steamship Warrimo from Vancouver with 60 men, 14 women, 18 children. Total 92.
21. December 1, 1906
Steamship Suveric from Montevideo, with 459 men, 283 women, 582 children. Total 1324.
22. April 26, 1907
Steamship Heliopolis (Spanish) from Fayal, Azores & Malaga, with 608 men, 554 women, 1084 children. Total
2246.
23. June 27, 1907
Steamship Kumeric from Funchal, Madeira, with 333 men, 306 women, 457 children. Total 1114.
24. December 12, 1909
Steamship Swanley from Madeira and Azores, with 337 men, 221 women, 310 children. Total 868.
25. April 13, 1911
Steamship Osteric from Madeira and continent, with 547 men, 373 women, 531 children. Total 1451.
26. December 3, 1911
Steamship Willesden from Azores and continent, with 639 men, 400 women, 758 children. Total 1797.
27. April 16, 1912
Steamship Harpalien from Azores and continent, with 496 men, 328 women, 626 children. Total 1450.
28. March 30, 1913
Steamship Willesden from Islands and continent, with 491 men, 377 women, 440 children. Total 1308.
29. June 4, 1913
Steamship Ascot from Islands and continent, with 424 men, 327 women, 532 children. Total 1283.