By Miley Rose Jacinto, Waiākea High School

As a fourth-generation Filipino American, I grew up knowing very little about my Filipino culture. I struggled to understand and communicate with the elders, as they spoke Ilocano, Tagalog, and broken English. My mother was able to translate much of it for me, but she was not fluent enough to someday teach me. That itself made it difficult for me to connect with my Filipino culture. Other local Filipino students probably had the same issue.

To better understand my roots, culture, and language, I conducted some research on the history of my ancestors. In the 1940s, many Filipino workers, known as Sakadas, immigrated to Hawai’i through the Hawaiian Sugar Planters’ Association, seeking better opportunities. They would work on the pineapple and sugarcane plantations, later bringing their families and traditions with them. Over time, their traditions started to fade as newer generations grew up accustomed to the American lifestyle. English has become the primary language. Sadly, traditions practiced in the past were no longer being handed down due to a lack of interest. 

I believe that engaging fellow students to learn about their Filipino heritage can help them understand their roots and the origins of their families. If younger generations don’t understand now, invaluable stories and practices could be lost forever. 

In Waiākea High School Filipino Club, we welcome students to explore the Filipino culture through food, dance, history, and language. The club encourages everyone, regardless of their ethnicity, to learn about and celebrate what makes Filipino culture special. 

Our Filipino Club has hosted cultural activities that encourage students to learn about the Philippines’ traditions. These activities include social gatherings where we sing karaoke, play sungka (a Filipino mancala game), and eat a variety of Filipino food. Club members have learned and proudly performed tinikling (the national dance of the Philippines) in our school’s Winter Program. We held a special social event around Christmas to make parols (Filipino star-shaped holiday lanterns) for members to take home. 

We have also coordinated with Sariling Gawa to host eskrima (a Filipino martial arts) workshops for East Hawai‘i Island students. In addition, Sariling Gawa — a Hawai‘i nonprofit that empowers Filipino-American youth through leadership development, cultural awareness, and community involvement — invited me to their Filipino youth conference on O‘ahu, where I further immersed myself in creating ideas and events for the club.

Filipino community organizations often reach out to the Waiākea High School Filipino Club to help host activities, such as Filipino children’s games and balut-eating contests (a Filipino delicacy – a fertilized duck egg with a developing embryo) at festivals. While serving our community, our members connect with the Filipino community, listen to their stories, watch performances, and learn from elders about the heritage and the Philippines.

Supporting cultural clubs and activities can help preserve the traditions of marginalized communities, such as Filipino culture, for future generations. Staying connected to our heritage empowers us to honor those who came before, including the Sakadas. We celebrate the past and create a stronger sense of belonging. Coming together, we can ensure Filipino culture remains an integral part of our community and our identity.