Fong and I join Hawaiis people in extending our warmest welcome and aloha. We wish them a memorable and pleasant sojourn in our 50th State. Although the earliest Japanese immigrants are long gone from the scene. their place in history is secure. The 1868 group was the first ever to migrate from their native land and to achieve success as organized immigrants abroad. Because of the Japanese Governments strict prohibition against such emigration. no other group of Japanese had previously departed to work overseas. The pioneer company of 153 Japanese immigrants arrived in Honolulu In June 1868. as contract laborers for the Hawaiian sugar plantations. Despite initial difficulties. they were followed by thousands of othersaliens all in a strange community. Their language. religion. customs. traditions. and political. social and cultural life were radically different from those they found upon their arrival in Hawaii. Although they came under shortterm contracts to toil in the sugarcane fields and mills. many. especially those with children. chose to stay. Life for the immigrants was generally rigorous. but it offered opportunities for themselves and their Americanborn children. The Japanese American youths. educated in American schools. grew up imbued with Western ideas and ideals. America was their future.
Keywords matched
emigration immigrants contract laborers