State honors Filipino immigrants

The initial wave of a century-long migration that would transform the face of modern Hawaii was little more than a gentle lap on the shore as some 15 contract laborers from the Philippines emerged from the SS Doric to a new life in a new set of islands.

The young men, known as “sakadas,” were not the first Filipinos in Hawaii, but they were the first specifically recruited by the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association to work on the plantations. It was Dec. 20, 1906, and these sakadas were the first of some 120,000 Filipino workers to arrive in Hawaii between 1906 and 1934 — the period of greatest influx — and, in the reckoning of history, the forebears of a local Filipino community that represents the second-largest ethnic group in the islands.

On Sunday state officials and Philippine representatives celebrated the inaugural Sakada Day with a celebration at the state Capitol.

“This is so important so that 50 years from now Filipino youth in Hawaii will know who the sakada were and where they came from,” said state Rep. John Mizuno, who introduced the legislation that led to the establishment of Sakada Day. “This is a way to recognize the great contributions they made to the history, culture and heritage of Filipinos here and to help pave the way for the further great success of Filipinos today and in the future.”

Among those present Sunday were Gov. David Ige, U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, Philippine Consul General Gina Jamoralin, Philippine Rep. Eric Singson, members of the state Legislature and ­Honolulu City Council, representatives from the U.S. military and local Filipino community leaders.

Also attending were some 20 members of the last group of sakadas to come to Hawaii in 1946.

The surviving sakadas, some in wheelchairs, all in traditional attire known as “barong Tagalog,” lined the front of the state Capitol and received personal greetings from Ige, Gabbard and other dignitaries.

Celebrated Filipino artist Benedicto Cabrera presented the Philippine consulate general with a painting commemorating the history of sakadas in Hawaii.

The idea for a Sakada Day was first proffered by Jamoralin shortly after her appointment as consul general last year. House Bill 604 was subsequently drafted, with input from University of Hawaii professor of political science and Asian studies Belinda Aquino, and reviewed by the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs.

Ige signed the bill into law in May.

“This day is not just for our Filipino community,” Mizuno said. “It resonates with who were are as a rainbow state. It celebrates people who were hardworking, humble and respectful — people who were truly representative of our multicultural community.”

Filipinos are the largest Asian ancestry group and the second-largest racial group overall (behind Caucasians) in Hawaii, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Data collected for the 2010 census found that 197,497 Hawaii residents — nearly 15 percent of the state population — identified themselves as Filipino.

The 2010 census was the first time that Filipinos outnumbered Japanese residents in Hawaii.