Re: Hawaii versus the Azores

[Uberl...@aol.com]

Aloha my old friend Eloise....somehow I did know that you would comment on my thoughts about Hawaii and the Azores....as I knew you grew up here:)  Yes, of course there are differences and my dear friend Kathy Cardoza says that I am ALWAYS thinking of the Azores:) and she is probably right. Since my three visits there, I have been left with "saudades" for those islands of my ancestors in the Atlantic.........so they are never far from my thoughts:)  If you count fruit and temperatures you will find big differences between these island groups............but if you listen to the sound of the waves as I am doing right now as I type this, you might be reminded of the lullabies that put our infant ancestors to sleep:)  If you stare out into the ocean you can feel the isolation and insulation that our ancestors felt ........you can dream about the lives that were lived with the constant presence of the blue of the sky meeting the blue of the sea......I think there are many similarities.

Still daydreaming here:) Susan

 

 

In a message dated 5/8/2007 4:18:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time, nor...@googlegroups.com writes:

Ema...@aol.com:

   
    I'm from Hawaii, and have visited the Azores several times, but I
cannot in any way see the resemblance to the Azores. The vegetation is so
different.  Hawaii is tropical- coconut trees, guavas, plumerias, papayas,
mangoes, bananas --- yes, one can see bananas in the Azores...but they are
protected by walls and such.  In Hawaii they just grow and grow and from a
few plants one can shortly have a grove.No protection needed. There are rain
forests in Hawaii, but not in the Azores.   The beaches in the Azores are
different than those in Hawaii.  For one thing the oceans are so much more
beautiful in Hawaii - the glorious colors of the water.  Beautiful in the
Azores, too, but not like Hawaii.
   
    So why go on...Both are islands.  I know many will not agree with
me,  I love the Azores and it is beautiful in its own way. 
   
    Eloise

 

---

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[Ema...@aol.com]

Aloha nui loa, Susan...Oh, I agree there are some similarities...more so for those who immigrated to the Hawaiian Islands.  I think those immigrants felt more at home. Most of the islands  in Hawaii the vegetation is green, and there, too,  is the view of the ocean.The beautiful clouds in the sky. The weather was warm - no cold weather of the Azores.  Yes, I think those Portuguese in the islands suffered less "Saudade".    It was certainly different for those who immigrated to many parts of California - no rain for many months - everything so dry - the hills so brown.  I think the longing for the Azores must have brought many to tears.  And yet, they knew of the poverty in the Azores kept them away.

 

On my first trip to the Azores, I was so impressed with the beauty of those islands.  My first thoughts were of the immigrants who went to California and how much they must have missed  those islands. 

And beautiful they are...as the Europeans have written, "The Hidden Paradise". 

 

Enjoy a bowl of poi for me. 

 

Eloise

Aloha my old friend Eloise....somehow I did know that you would comment on my thoughts about Hawaii and the Azores....as I knew you grew up here:)  Yes, of course there are differences and my dear friend Kathy Cardoza says that I am ALWAYS thinking of the Azores:) and she is probably right. Since my three visits there, I have been left with "saudades" for those islands of my ancestors in the Atlantic.........so they are never far from my thoughts:)  If you count fruit and temperatures you will find big differences between these island groups............but if you listen to the sound of the waves as I am doing right now as I type this, you might be reminded of the lullabies that put our infant ancestors to sleep:)  If you stare out into the ocean you can feel the isolation and insulation that our ancestors felt ........you can dream about the lives that were lived with the constant presence of the blue of the sky meeting the blue of the sea......I think there are many similarities.

Still daydreaming here:) Susan

[Alvin Goularte]

 

Some who came to California had no desire to go back to the Azores.  My father was one of them.  He rarely spoke of the Azores and his life there.  He lost his mother when he was about eight or nine years old.  She was very mean to him and his father didn't defend him.  He was born in Calheta, Sao Jorge.  He hired on the crew of a ship headed to the US and jumped ship in Mass.  My maternal grandparents also had no interest in going back.  My grandmother had her father and sister back there and she missed them terribly but would not go back even for a visit.  Dad and Avo were very hard working and were proud of what they accomplished here in central California.  My dad's siblings and my grandfather's siblings were the same, hard workers all their lives but none of them wanted to go back. And, oh yes, they were proud of their Portugues heritage,  but were proud they had brought their families to America.                            

 

 

Al

[Maria Sousa]

Al,

 

I agree with you.  My in-laws immigrated in the 1960s.  They came to New Jersey with 5 children, ages 9 months to 12 years old.  They had a difficult time trying to find a place to live that would accept 5 small children.  Once they got settled in, they never showed a desire to go back to Sao Miguel, not even to visit.  They did leave family in Sao Miguel. 

I believe my father in law went back once with his oldest daughter.   And in 1985, they went for a visit my in-laws with their 3 younger children.  But I believe the reason for the visit was because the children wanted to go, not the parents.  My husband and I visited Sao Miguel in 1986.  I personally think the reason they never spoke about the Azores or had a desire to go back was because of the hard life they experienced there.  There were no fond memories. 

 

I have been reading this thread and it has made me smile.  I was in Hawaii (Oahu and Maui) in 1984 on my honeymoon.  I truly loved the hawaiian islands.  I found Oahu very commercial but Maui was laid back and fun.  I wish I knew then what I know now.  We had no idea of the azorean immigration to Hawaii in the 1800s.  We started seeing signs in Maui when we came across a "portuguese garden" and you saw "linguica" on breakfast menus.  We got out a phone book in Maui and were amazed at all the portuguese last names.   But, we didn't know why.  Like I said, I wish I knew then what I know now.

 

On my trip to Sao Miguel two years later (1986), I was amazed with the beauty of the island.  I never really compared it to the hawaiian islands though.  I loved the lush green of Sao Miguel and all the natural wonders (furnas, sete cidades, etc.).  I remember at the time we were there, there was a  hotel overlooking sete cidades which was closed by the government.  I told my husband, if I ever went back, that is where I wanted to stay, at that hotel overlooking sete cidades.  I couldn't think of anything more beautiful than waking up in the morning, coming out on a balcony and seeing Sete Cidades and the tranquility there was amazing.  I checked around 1995 and I was told that that Hotel was still closed.  I wonder if it ever opened up.  Would anyone know?

 

Maria Sousa

[Alvin Goularte]

Hi Maria and list.  In my letter it sounded like my dad's mother was very mean to him. Not correct.  His father remarried and it was his step-mother who made his life unbearable.  His mother was a direct descendant of Willem Van der Hagen and was a very fine and loving mother of nine children.  If she hadn't died, my father could possibly never have come to the USA.                                                  

 

Al

Maria Sousa <lela...@verizon.net> wrote:

[Arlene Marcoux]

[Arlene Marcoux]

Alvin,

I also am a descendant of  W. Van der Hagen.  My grandfather came from Sao Jorge and it his line that goes back to him.  Maybe we have some ancestors in common.  Was it you that said you lived in the Tulare area?  I was born and raised in Hanford, CA.  If you would like to share some info mail me to my address.

 

Arlene M.

----- Original Message -----

From: Alvin Goularte

To: Azo...@googlegroups.com

Sent: Friday, May 11, 2007 1:26 PM

Subject: [AZORES-Genealogy] Re: Hawaii versus the Azores

[lrazoresg...@sapo.pt]

Dear Alvin and Arlene,

Today, any person with origin in Sao Jorge Island is not at all difficult to be descendant of W.Van der Hagen. Is very very comom!

Luís Martins

 

Citando Arlene Marcoux <avm...@bak.rr.com>:

[Arlene Marcoux]

Luis,

 

I realize we can be related to many, but I am always interested where they branch out from what I have.  Once in a while I find someone related closer than I realized.