Flags hail plantations’ cultures

The influences of Hawaii's immigrant workers are celebrated at a Waipahu village

Hawaii's multiethnic past on the plantations was celebrated yesterday at a flag-raising ceremony at Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu.

VISITING HISTORY Quick facts about the Hawaii Plantation Village: Where: 94-695 Waipahu St., Waipahu Telephone: 677-0110 Web site: www.hawaiiplantationvillage.org

Flags from Japan, the Philippines, China, Korea, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Okinawa, Hawaii and the United States were raised for the first time on newly dedicated flagpoles by Junior ROTC cadets from Waipahu High School.

"Hopefully kids will come here, salute the flag like we did at school and visit the place (plantation village)," said Domingo Los Banos.

The crowd of around 80 included consular representatives of countries from where plantation workers originated such as the Philippines and Korea, descendants of plantation workers, veterans of foreign wars, and other community members.

The event also commemorated the arrival of the first sugar plantation workers from the Philippines, known as "sakadas," in 1906, 102 years ago.

"A lot of the Filipinos are third, fourth, fifth, sixth generation now. We sometimes forget what our forefathers went through to bring us what we have now," said Dr. Patricia Brown, president of the Filipino American Historical Society of Hawaii.

Hawaii's modern inclusive, multiethnic culture has its roots on the sugar plantations that once dotted the landscape. Workers from different ethnic groups shared culture and cuisine and were brought together by a shared experience of back-breaking work and unfair conditions.

"According to my uncle, they (sugar workers) were paid 10 cents a day," said Mito Ablan, 59.

Pete Behasa, 82, is one of a dwindling generation of Hawaii residents who were raised in the plantation era. "Every day was rice, three meals a day," he recalled.

His parents came to Hawaii from Cebu, Philippines, in 1923 to work in the sugar fields. He was born and raised on the plantation until being drafted to work in World War II.

"We didn't pay rent. Food was from the plantation store. We grew our own fruit, mango, papaya tree, bought rice, and fished at Pearl Harbor."

His father was able to read and write, so he was paid $1 a day, which was considered good compared with what field workers were paid, though still not enough.

"My mother had to become an entrepreneur by making Filipino pastries to sell at the cockfights," recalled Behasa.

The plaque and flagpole project was funded by donations from the Filipino American Historical Society of Hawaii, AIG Hawaii, the Children's House, Group 70, George Hideo Morisada & Family, Banna Associates, G. Takayesu & Son and Waipahu Bicycle.