Celebrating Portuguese Heritage in the Hawaiian Kingdom

Preserving Portuguese Legacy in Hawai'i

Welina (Welcome)

The "Portuguese Heritage in the Hawaiian Kingdom" Project is made possible through a generous grant from the American Society of Genealogists (ASG). Their commitment to advancing the highest standards of genealogical research has provided us with the resources to continue preserving and honoring the rich legacy of Portuguese immigrants who journeyed to the Hawaiian Kingdom in the late 1800s and early 1900s. We are deeply grateful for their support, which empowers us to safeguard this heritage and ensure its legacy endures for generations to come.

The Portuguese Heritage in the Hawaiian Kingdom Project is led by a dedicated team of genealogists, historians, and community members, united by a passion for uncovering and preserving the stories of these early immigrants. Through archival research, community outreach, and collaboration, we strive to recover missing immigration records and document the lives and contributions of Portuguese families in Hawaiʻi.

The American Society of Genealogists (ASG) promotes excellence in genealogical scholarship. Through its journal, The Genealogist, and through support of projects like ours, ASG fosters sound methodology, encourages the publication of well-documented research, and upholds the highest standards of integrity in the field.

Together, with ASG’s support and the involvement of our team and community, we are working to preserve a vital chapter of Hawaiʻi’s multicultural history.

Our Research

This project is the result of years of dedicated research resulting in the compiling a comprehensive genealogy database of over 45,500 individuals of Portuguese descent who lived in the Hawaiʻi. Among them are more than 25,000 immigrants who arrived during the late 1800s and early 1900s to fulfill labor contracts on sugar plantations in the Hawaiian Kingdom.

Yet for more than 900 of these immigrants, critical details remain missing—such as the name of the ship they arrived on, their arrival date, or their port of departure. Our mission is to recover this lost immigration information—and we need your help. These gaps exist due to a variety of challenges: involuntary and voluntary name changes, unique Portuguese naming conventions, and variations in spelling and pronunciation that occurred over time and across records.

We’re publishing the names of these individuals on this website to invite descendants, families, and community members to take part in this shared journey. If you recognize a name or have access to family records, oral histories, or documents that might fill in the blanks, we encourage you to share them with us.

As part of our outreach, our team will also be visiting Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi to present this research in person. Each event will include a genealogy session and a special Oral History performance by Jacqueline Pualani Johnson—bringing to life the voices and stories of our ancestors.

Together, we can preserve and honor the legacy of Portuguese immigrants in Hawaiʻi.

Why Finding Missing Immigration Records Matters

This is more than a research project—it’s a journey to restore missing pieces of our shared history.

Records such as ship names, arrival dates, and points of departure are critical to understanding family histories. When this information is missing, it creates gaps that make it difficult for descendants to trace their ancestry or fully grasp their connection to the past. These details help clarify migration timelines, verify historical accounts, and strengthen cultural ties. When new information comes to light, it allows families to better document their lineage and preserve the stories of those who came before them.

While these records may seem minor to some, they often carry deep personal significance. For many, the absence of this information creates a sense of disconnection from their roots and cultural identity—as if an important chapter in their family’s story has been lost.

I’ve seen firsthand how challenging this search can be, and the impact it has on those trying to piece together their family history. But I’ve also witnessed the profound sense of fulfillment that comes when a missing link is finally found. It’s more than just a record—it’s a moment of reconnection, understanding, and renewed appreciation for a family's heritage.

By recovering and documenting these missing records, we’re not only helping individuals reconnect with their past—we’re also building a lasting legacy for future generations. This work ensures that the contributions and journeys of Portuguese immigrants to Hawaiʻi are remembered, honored, and preserved.

Kahealani

Gomes Joao Filipe PHM pg186_edited_edite

Honoring the Legacy of Portuguese Immigrants

Between 1878 and 1911, thousands of Portuguese men, women, and children left the islands of Madeira and the Açores to seek a better life in the Hawaiian Kingdom. Their journey began aboard the Priscilla, which arrived in Honolulu on September 30, 1878, carrying the first group of Portuguese contract laborers recruited for work on Hawaiʻi’s sugar plantations.

Over the next 35 years, more than 20,000 Portuguese immigrants would follow, arriving on dozens of ships—each voyage representing hardship, courage, and hope. Most settled on the islands of Oʻahu, Maui, Kauaʻi, and Hawaiʻi, where they helped shape the cultural and economic fabric of the Hawaiian Kingdom.

While 1911 marked the unofficial end of major Portuguese immigration for plantation contracts, the final government-sponsored voyage occurred in 1913. These families brought with them not only strong labor and farming skills, but also deep traditions in music, cuisine, faith, and family.

We honor their resilience and celebrate their enduring contribution to the history of Hawaiʻi.