First Japanese Immigrants to Hawaii - Wailuku, HI USA
Posted by: 
silverquill
N 20° 52.993 W 156° 32.146
4Q E 756362 N 2311189
There are actually two monuments in the Kepaniwai Park Heritage Garden near Wailiku, Hawaii, on the island of Maui, which commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii on Feb. 8, 1835. The first arrivals were contract laborers.
Waymark Code: WMG4VZ
Location: Hawaii, United States
Date Posted: 01/13/2013
Views: 6
One hundred years ago the first government contract immigrants from Japan set foot on these shores and entered the ranks of the sugar industry labor force. By 1924, when Japanese immigration was effectively ended by a new American immigration law, some two-hundred-thousand Japanese, both under contract and "free," had come to Hawaii. Some returned to Japan or moved to the mainland United States. However, many remained and became the pioneer generation of Japanese in Hawaii.
These pioneers had the courage to leave their homeland and to persevere in establishing themselves in a foreign land. They endured many hardships and made many sacrifices which benefitted their descendants and contributed to the development of present day Hawaii.
With solemn humbleness, heart-felt appreciation, and a sense of reverence, we, the present beneficiaries, dedicate these bronze statues of Japanese cane-field workers so that their aspirations, hardships, and contributions--along with those of the pioneers from Hawaii's many other ethnic groups--will be remembered for generations. Our tears of gratitude now transcend time to mingle with the tears of sacrifice.
Dedicated by
THE MAUI JAPANESE COMMUNITY
June 19, 1985