Photo from the Smithsonian Institution (Filcom Center/Facebook)
WASHINGTON – A new US congressional resolution seeks to honor the legacy of the first Filipino immigrants who arrived in Hawaii 120 years ago, recognizing the plantation workers who helped transform the islands’ economy, culture and labor movement.
Rep. Jill Tokuda of Hawaii introduced the measure honoring the Sakadas, the pioneering Filipino laborers whose sacrifices and resilience helped lay the foundation for the Filipino American community.
FILE PHOTO
Triumph over adversity
“The story of the Sakadas is one of unmatched courage and triumph over adversity,” Tokuda said in a statement announcing the resolution.
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The first group of 15 Filipino workers arrived in Hawaii in 1906 to work in the plantation industry, beginning a migration wave that would reshape the islands for generations.
Fighting for workers’ rights
Despite harsh working conditions, low wages and discrimination, the Sakadas preserved their culture while fighting for better treatment and workers’ rights.
“Faced with harsh plantation conditions and systemic injustice, these 15 men refused to be broken,” Tokuda said. “They preserved their heritage, fought for workers’ rights and built the foundation for today’s vibrant Filipino community.”
The Sakadas played a key role in organizing historic multiethnic labor strikes that helped strengthen Hawai‘i’s labor movement and improve conditions for future generations of workers.
Today, more than 4.5 million Filipinos live in the United States, making up one of the country’s largest Asian American communities. In Hawaii, Filipinos account for about a quarter of the state’s population.
Sakadas’ enduring legacy
“This resolution ensures our nation permanently recognizes their sacrifices and enduring legacy not only in Hawaii but across the United States,” Tokuda said.
Rep. Ed Case of Hawaii also praised the contributions of the Sakadas during this year’s Fiesta and Flores de Mayo celebration at the Filipino Community Center, located on the former site of the Oahu Sugar Mill where many Filipino immigrants once worked.
“This month, when we especially celebrate the accomplishments of our Asian-American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander communities in Hawaii and across America, we continue to carry forward the Sakadas’ flame as the true embodiment of our American dream,” Case said.
Sakada Day
The resolution highlights the contributions of Sakadas and their descendants in agriculture, education, health care, public service and civic engagement. It also seeks national recognition of their legacy, building on Hawaii’s annual Sakada Day, observed every Dec. 20.
The measure is co-sponsored by Case, Reps. Grace Meng and Dan Goldman of New York, James Moylan of Guam, Judy Chu, Nanette Barragán, Ro Khanna and Kevin Mullin of California, and Bobby Scott of Virginia.
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