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Puertorican immigration to Hawaii was caused after two hurricanes devastated the sugar cane industry in the island in 1899. Because Puerto Rico was a big supplier of sugar the natural phenomenons caused shortage of sugar and demand of the product from Hawaii intensified. So, Hawaiian sugarcane plantation owners started to recruit experienced Puertorican sugar cane laborers. Most of these people were poor, and I would not be surprised if they hailed from one or more of the coastal towns of the island, as sugarcane was planted near the coast.

The first group left for Hawaii on November 22, 1900. They were subjected to mistreatment and starvation from the shippers and workers of the railroad company. (I would know, my great grandfather went back after getting to New Orleans)

The trip started on a ship from San Juan to New Orleans, train from New Orleans to Port Angeles, CA, from there they set sail to Rio de Janeiro and finally to Hawaii.

By 1910 there were 4,890 Puertoricans in Hawaii.

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16y ago

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