Sakada Day celebrations in Hawaii honor Filipino migrants

Photo from the Smithsonian Institution (Filcom Center/Facebook)

A Sakada Day Celebration event, honoring the first Filipinos who arrived in Hawaii in 1906, takes place on Dec. 20 in Hilo, Hawaii.

“Sakadas” refer to migrant workers from the Philippines doing agricultural labor. The first Sakadas in Hawaii contributed to the plantation economy and laid the foundation for Filipino migration.

“Filipinos are actually a large group here in Hawaii. A lot of times [history] actually tends to be a little neglected,” said Iris Viacrusis, co-chair of the Sakada Day Celebration.

This year, the free event features a lei presentation, a lunch and a tribute to three descendants of sakadas.

There will also be a pair of exhibits on display – one showcasing the stories of legacy, the other showcasing the cultural items from Viacrusis’ own collection.

A free Sakada Day Celebration also took place on Dec. 13 at Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu. It saw high school stage performances, educational booths and a fashion show.

The event is organized annually by the Philippine Celebrations Coordinating Committee of Hawaii, the University of Hawaii at Manoa Center for Philippine Studies and Filipino Curriculum Project.

Governor David Ige first signed and declared Dec. 20 as Sakada Day in 2015.