To: Board of Supervisors
From: Candace Andersen, District II Supervisor
Report Title: Resolution Honoring the Legacy of Hawaiian Spaniards and Recognizing the Academic & Cultural Conference Celebrating their Contributions
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Resolution Honoring the Legacy of Hawaiian Spaniards and Recognizing the Academic & Cultural Conference Celebrating their Contributions
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact
BACKGROUND:
Resolution Honoring the Legacy of Hawaiian Spaniards and Recognizing the Academic & Cultural Conference Celebrating their Contributions
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
No negative action
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
body
IN THE MATTER OF Resolution Honoring the Legacy of Hawaiian Spaniards and Recognizing the Academic & Cultural Conference Celebrating Their Contributions
WHEREAS, between 1907 and 1913, approximately 8,000 immigrants from Andalucía and Extremadura, Spain, journeyed to Hawaii under indentured labor contracts to work in the sugar industry, and;
WHEREAS, upon the completion of their contracts, many of these individuals and families relocated to California, in Contra Costa County, particularly the city of Pittsburg, becoming one of the largest and most vibrant hubs for the Hawaiian Spaniard community, and;
WHEREAS, in Pittsburg and neighboring communities such as Antioch, Brentwood, and Byron, Hawaiian Spaniards made enduring contributions to the industrial, maritime, and agricultural sectors, working in canneries, on fishing boats, in steel plants, and in orchards and vineyards throughout the region, and;
WHEREAS, these families brought with them a rich blend of Andalusian and Hawaiian cultural traditions, building strong communities rooted in resilience, family, and faith, while also becoming active participants in local commerce, churches, civic life, and social organizations, and;
WHEREAS, their legacy lives on today through generations of descendants who continue to contribute to the vitality of Contra Costa County in fields such as local government, education, healthcare, agriculture, and small business, and;
WHEREAS, the upcoming Spanish Hawaiian Heritage Association’s Cultural & Academic Conference 2025 will serve as a landmark gathering of scholars, descendants, and community members from Spain, Hawaii, and California, showcasing the history and heritage of the Hawaiian Spaniards through keynote addresses, research presentations, cultural performances, and historical exhibits;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors does hereby honor and recognize the enduring contributions of the Hawaiian Spaniards to the economic, civic, and cultural life of Contra Costa County, and expresses its appreciation and support for the Academic & Cultural Conference as a meaningful tribute to this important chapter of our shared history.