My ethnic background is 1/2 Portuguese, 5/16 Hawaiian, and 3/16 English/Irish/Scottish.  My mother, Caroline Franklin (Arruda), is 100% Portuguese.  She and my late uncle, Earl Arruda, were born of my grandparents:  Antone "Tony" Arruda and Marie "Cozie" Arruda (Freitas).  Grandpa Tony's parents, Manuel Arruda Sr. and Mary Rodrigues-Rente, were born on Kaua`i and Maui, respectivley. Their families, however, originally came from Sao Miguel.  Grandpa Tony's maternal grandfather, Jose Rodrigues, was actually 1 of the 65 men who came on the Priscilla, which was the first vessel from Portugal in 1878.   Grandma Cozie's parents met on board the vessel Suveric, which came from Madeira and arrived here in 1906.  Her father was Joaquin Freitas Sr. and her mother was Angelica Sousa.

My first experience with the Kaua`i Portuguese Society Club was back during my intermediate/high school years, when Uncle Earl served as President, as well as Abel Medeiros.  I was recruited to do authentic Portuguese dance celebrations with many of my Portuguese elders.  A few years later, I was again asked to serve the organization as an adult member and was quickly assigned the role of Sgt-at-Arms and the Holy Ghost Feast Coordinator.  I also served many years at our family church's (St. Catherines) carnival in the Pao Doce kitchen and food booth.

During my early years, I spent much time with my grandparents on Kaua`i.  All of my Freitas/Arruda uncles and grandparents served as Lunas and Shop Supervisors for Lihu`e Plantation.  We were fortunate to have specialists in many shops including Machinists, Welders, Mechanics, and Blacksmith.  Grandma Cozie was a housewife that raised her two children, as well as her nephew and niece.  She also worked part-time for the Hawaiian Fruit Packers.  Like many of the original immigrants, they ran their own side business.  Theirs were cattle ranching and pineapple production. 

At the end of 2024, I retired after serving 35 years in the Dept. of Education as a Teacher and an Administrator.  I am married to Leah Aiwohi, who as a teacher, has acquired numerous District/State/National awards over the last 37 years for the major success in her students.  We are very proud of our son and daughter who continue to exhibit a strong work-ethic that my Portuguese and my wife's Japanese ancestry have instilled in us.

I grew up in the old Plantation Days in the Sugar Cane and Pineapple fields. My great grandparents were Manuel Carvalho Sr. and Sandrina Travasso Carvalho and Francisco DeSilva and Isabella Quintal DeSilva.  My grandparents were Manuel and Georgina Silva Carvalho. My dad was Bernard P. Carvalho Sr.

I’m proud to say that I am of Portuguese ancestry! Along with my siblings, I was raised in a family who truly set the example of hard work and heartfelt dedication to complete what you started and to never give up on your goals. My great grandfather was one of the many Luna’s/Supervisors in the Sugar Plantation and he worked hard to provide for his family. My grandmother worked in the Pineapple Canary and was also very hard working not only at the Canary but at home too, taking care of her five children.

My dad Bernard Carvalho Sr. worked for the sugar plantation too as a Haul Cane Truck driver where he would load up his truck and transport the sugar cane to the sugar mills. This all lead to my father eventually working for Kauai Electric Company and ending his career by owning his own Electrical Underground Business called “Cobra Electric”. With the DeSilva/Carvalho bloodline, all of our family members ended up working in various hard working employment areas where many of them ended up with owning and running their own businesses.

As for me, I married the former Regina Godinez and we have three children and five grandchildren and I must thank my grandmother for her delicious old fashion, had made banana pancakes, malasadas and her very special “Portuguese bean soup” which have now continued to touch the hearts of my children and grandchildren.

Like my hard-working Portuguese Ohana before me, I had the great pleasure to serve the people of Kauai as Mayor from 2008-2018 which gave me the opportunity to care for our island home and to also travel to Portugal and create the first ever sister city relationship between the County of Kauai and City of Madeira. This was a very special trip for me and our delegation to really connect and understand the true heritage, history, culture and to actually meet with the loving people of Portugal.

Today, I serve as one of the seven Council Members for County of Kauai and look forward to continuing to develop our relationship with Portugal.

I got involved with Kauai Portuguese Society to help document and perpetuate Portuguese heritage and culture aspects and traditions within Kauai’s Portuguese people.

I’m currently living in the Kawaihau district with my wife, blessed with 3 children and 3 grandchildren( hopeful more).

I grew up in a community minded/ involved family- church, school PTSA and community activism,  also coaching youth basketball, baseball and soccer.

Family background: Paternal- John Braga Fernandes Sr. And Jessie  “Camara” Fernandes, were entrepreneurs- owners of several businesses and political (grandfather ) territorial and State senator. Family originated from Senhora da Purificacao, Santo Espirito, villa do Porto Santa Maria Azores. Maternal- John Baptist’s Ornellas and Marian “Oliveria” Ornellas were also entrepreneurs , owners of stores and bakery also in cattle industry. Family originated from Serpa Beja Portugal. Parents-John Braga Fernandes Jr and Marianne “Ornellas” Fernandes. Father- CofK purchasing dept, mother- Hawaiian Fruit Packers and homemaker.

Both my parents were born and raised in Arco da Calheta, a rural village on the island of Madeira.  Then as adults, both immigrated to California, where I was born into a strong Portuguese community. Portuguese was my first language and remains the language of my heart. Being born into a Portuguese community I took food, traditions, and language for granted. It was all I knew.  I moved from California to Hawaii in 1982, and knew I was home. I met my husband here, made a home and raised two wonderful sons.

I enjoyed a career in education first in the DOE on Oahu and then serving several roles at St. Catherine School including principal. I retired in 2017 and have kept myself busy and content with woodworking, textile arts, travel, family and friends.

As an adult, I have strengthened my ties to Portugal. I visited Madeira in 1999 and felt that same sense of being home. It seems that island life is in my blood. I have traveled to Portugal many times, visiting my beloved Aunts who were nuns in Convento de Santa Clara in Leira (near Fatima). Sadly, the last of my aunts died several years ago. They were excellent tutors in Portuguese culture, history and language and I learned as much as I could. I also recently claimed Portuguese citizenship as is the right of any child of a Portuguese national.

I am excited to be part of the Kauai Portuguese Society and hope to contribute to our community.

Such was my great great grandfather from Madeira Island in 1899 Jao Reposo to work for the Makee sugar plantation in Kealia as a laborer.

He left Hawaii in 1901 and returned to Portugal but came back to Kauai on or about 1904 with his bride Maria Rodrigues.

Native Hawaiian speakers called the Portuguese “Pukiki”. These new comers were devout followers of the Roman Catholic faith with strong family ties. Most were short with slender build and dark skin from long hours of working under the sun. Many in fact were so dark that their race on some of the early US census returns is listed as black which contributed to prejudice against them. They maintained much of their traditions and culture but few could read and write so they maintained their traditions through orally.

My Great grandfather was Louis Rapoza Sr. was one of eleven children to Jao and Maria. Louis worked for Makee Sugar and rose to become a locomotive engineer and continued his employment when Makee Sugar merged with Lihue Plantation under Paul Isenberg who was the manager. Louis married Aida Gomes and had 1 son and 2 daughters. Their son, Louis Rapozo Jr., was my grandfather.

Louis Rapozo Jr. married the former Alice Mendes and had 3 boys Leonard “Leo”, Stephen and Gerald.

My dad Leo made me his name sake Leonard “Lenny” Aloysius Rapozo Jr.

Born and raised on Kauai I am a fifth generation of a Portuguese settler. Aside from great interest in the local history of the plantation era, I love local sports and have been a football/basketball official for the last 38 seasons and resides on Kauai with my spouse, son, daughter and son in-law .

I am Fr. EJ Ikaika Resinto, a priest of the Diocese of Honolulu, currently serving as Pastor of St. Catherine of Alexandria Parish in Kapaʻa. Born and raised in Puhi, I graduated from Kauaʻi High School and am the son of Eddie and Shanlyne (Texeira) Resinto. I proudly embrace my Hawaiian, Filipino, and Portuguese heritage.

My Portuguese roots trace back to my great-grandfather, Joseph Angel Texeira, who arrived in Hawaiʻi in 1913 aboard the Williamson as a stowaway from Carrazeda, Portugal. He settled in Puhi, worked for Grove Farm Plantation, and married Elsie Correa. They raised eight children, including my grandfather, David.

Grandpa David married Dorothy Silva-Malaia, whose Portuguese ancestry traces to São Miguel, Azores, through her parents, John Silva-Malaia and Maria Pimental. My grandparents raised five children, including my mother, and both worked for Grove Farm Plantation.

For over four generations, our family has worshiped at Immaculate Conception Church in Kapaia. My great-grandfather, John Silva-Malaia, even led the construction of the church’s grotto in the 1950s, leaving a lasting testament to our family’s faith.

Growing up in my grandparents’ home, I cherish the memories, sacrifices, work ethic, and deep Catholic faith they passed down. I attribute much of my vocation to the priesthood to their steadfast devotion to God and the Church.

For me, Catholic faith and Portuguese ancestry go hand in hand. Being Portuguese is more than eating malasadas and sweetbread or being the brunt of jokes! It means honoring our ancestors’ sacrifices, working hard, remaining rooted in faith and family, and preserving our traditions for generations to come.