Another FIeld trip~

about 100 years ago Hawaii was a major producer of sugar. The demand was so high that production required more workers. Word went out worldwide that workers were needed to work the sugar plantations. Workers came from places like the Philippines, Portugal, Puerto Rico, Korea Japan, China and other places too. Everyone embarked on ships and traveled to Hawaii. The Portuguese were on ships for FIVE months!!! Can you imagine what those ships were like 100 years ago?

So, Our field trip was at Plantation Village. This place originated around 1850 and housed all the immigrant workers. OVer the years they estimate around 395,000 workers lived and worked here. Women were not part of (or allowed into) the camp until the 1920's and until then it was bachelor living. The worked form little pay and instead of saving money when they returned home many ended up staying because they simply could not afford to return. It was much like an indentured servant and low wages and strict supervision made it difficult to work yourself out of debt. I kind of got the idea that it was a hushed, shameful environment but celebrated on the side of sugar production. They say it was not slavery but it kind of seemed like it to me.
The kids were taught some games that children growing up in the camp played like blowing bubbles out of the hollow stem of a papaya leaf. While the kids were doing this I noticed some really old people working in a field nearby; this is after all still a working farm, though at a much smaller scale. I was told these women come from Micronesia to work in the fields. This day they were picking Taro leaves. They use these big leaves to wrap lau-lau nd steam it in (lau-lau is pork wrapped up and steamed in the leaves). I asked where their families were? They were after all really, really old; they looked as though they should be enjoying some sort of retirement, not working in the dirty fields! They work to earn money for their families. I didn't dare ask their wages, I was afraid it would make me cry. I asked to take their photos and one gestured that she didn't look pretty enough but both smiled and encouraged me to and I assured her that she looked beautiful and thanked them for the nice picture a few times. They looked amazing and I don't know too many- make that ANYone else who could work that hard at that age. I imagine they are strong and healthy as a horse. I also wanted to take them home with me and let them live in our home as a glorified grandma that gets spoiled.
The kids also learned about the ways each culture of immigrant workers lived, ate, slept and bathed! The host held a captive 5 y/o audience when she told an extended story of how people used 'chamber pots' to go to the bathroom in. Funny how kids love poop stories.
The guides were filled with interesting information and were warm and genial.
One highlight was the kids dressing up in costume of cooks, field workers and other positions.
It was a great way to learn about how Hawaii became such a melting pot of cultures that are here today.