Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Hawaii's Plantation Village celebrates Puerto Rican heritage

Hawaii’s Plantation Village (HPV) is hosting “Puerto Rican Day on the Plantation” on Saturday, April 10,
from 10 am – 2 pm as part of it's on-going Relive the Plantation Days cultural program

“My ancestors emigrated to Hawai‘i in 1900 and worked on a sugar plantation in Maui,” said Faith Evans, HPV Board President. “On April 10, HPV will celebrate our heritage and distinctive contributions which add to Hawaii’s unique multi-cultural society.”

During the festival, Hawaii’s Plantation Village will be highlighting the following Puerto Rican and plantation activities:
  • Entertainment: Puerto Rican dance and music
  • Country Story: Cultural items (such as handicrafts), plants and books for sale including De Borinquen a Hawaii Nuestra Historia: From Puerto Rico to Hawaii
  • Authentic Puerto Rican plate lunches on sale for $8.00: featuring Pastele and Gandule Rice
  • Tour of La Casita (Puerto Rican plantation house)
  • Puerto Rican Genealogy
Free admission. Lots of free on-site parking.

Recruited as families, Puerto Ricans emigrated to Hawaii expecting to establish a new community when their own sugar industry was devastated by two hurricanes and the demand for sugar from Hawaii was on the rise. Starting in 1878 until about 1913, approximately 5,200 Puerto Ricans came to Hawaii to work on the 30+ sugar plantations throughout the Islands.

“There are many notable Puerto Ricans living in the Islands who have distinguished themselves in the community,” remarked Jeff Higa, HPV Executive Director. “HPV is lucky to have a number of tireless Puerto Rican volunteers, including Faith Evans, sharing their time and expertise with our members and visitors. Furthermore, we are extremely proud of Faith. She’s very low-key about it but, in her previous life, Faith was a state legislator and the first woman in the United States to serve as a U.S. Marshall.”

Hawaii’s Plantation Village “Puerto Rican Day on the Plantation” is sponsored by the Puerto Rican Heritage Society of Hawaii and Hawaii's Plantation Village.

For more information please contact the Village at 677-0110 or visit our Website at www.hawaiisplantationvillage-info.com.






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