Portuguese Heritage
in the Hawaiian Kingdom
Honoring the Legacy of Portuguese Immigrants
Portuguese Heritage
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.
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 Matter
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.
You Can Help Continue the Legacy
Leave a Legacy
You can be a part of preserving this legacy. We invite you to explore the list of Portuguese immigrants whose immigration information is still missing. Your knowledge, family stories, or documents could help fill these historical gaps and ensure that these individuals are not forgotten. By contributing even a small piece of information, you help safeguard our shared heritage—honoring the journey of our ancestors and passing their stories on to future generations.
Help Us Identify Missing Immigration Information
Over 900 names in our database, LusoKūpuna, are missing key immigration information — we don’t know how they arrived in the Hawaiian Kingdom, when they came, or on what ship. These individuals are part of the rich legacy of Portuguese migration, and we need your help to fill in the blanks.
If you recognize any of the names on this list, have family stories, documents, ship manifests, or any clues that could help us trace their journey to the Hawaiian Kingdom, please get in touch. Your contribution can help preserve a more complete and accurate record of our shared history.
What You Can Do:
- Search the list below for names you recognize.
- If you have information, email us at PortugueseCollections@gmail.com.
- Please include any supporting documents, stories, or family sources if possible.
Mahalo for helping us piece together the story of Portuguese heritage in the Hawaiian Kingdom.-