Mr. Speaker. it is indeed an honor and privilege for me to rise today in commemoration.of the 100th anniversary of the first arrival of the "Kanyaku Imin" or the "government contract immigrants" who came from Japan to Hawaii. As a nation of immigrants. we are all justly proud of the diversity of our ethnic heritage and of the tremendous contributions that each group has made to our country. This year. we in Hawaii are honoring the largest group of immigrants. the Japanese. who came to Hawaii. beginning in 1885. 100 years ago. They came as immigrant contract labors to toil in our sugarcane fields and were the backborie of our early farm labor force. responsible in large measure for the successful development of our largest and most important agricultural enterprise. the sugarcane industry in Hawaii. The Japanese remained to become an integral and respected part of our community. We are honoring this group of immigrants with a yearlong series of activities and festivities in recognition of their contributions and accomplishments. As is true of many immigrant groups. their contributions were more recognized and appreciated as a group effort.. In this instance. of providing the labor essential for a fledgling sugar industry rather than for individual achievements and sacrifices which nonetheless did occur. They fulfilled their contracts and acquitted themselves with honor.
Keywords matched
immigrant immigrants contract labors