By José Villa, Senior Editor, Hawaii Hispanic News

Marcela Alvarez-Flores is a member of Word of Life En Español, and a Spanish teacher at Kalaheo High School. She was born in Chicago, but moved to Durango, Mexico with her Mexican mother when she was two-years-old and lived there until she was 15. She then lived in L.A. for two years and has been in Hawaii for about 13 years.

What brought her to Hawaii? She said: “I had always dreamed of coming to Hawaii. I came here to go to school ‘for a while’ and registered at the University of Hawaii, but wound up staying here. She was originally interested in the tourism industry, but later changed her major to education so she could teach at the high school level. She graduated from UH in June of 2004.

Marcela y Kley

But our story involves a situation that arose while she was at the UH -- she had an opportunity to go to Cuba. Under the university’s study abroad program, she could study Cuban culture, and Hispanic/Latino literature. She, therefore, set off with fellow students on a five-week stay in Cuba studying at the University of Havana.

She had also wanted to visit Cuba for a long time, so this experience provided the perfect opportunity to fulfill that dream. During her stay there, she found Cuba very interesting and thoroughly enjoyed it. She loved the Latin ambience, the people, the food, the tropical lushness, etc.

While there she and her roommates met a young man named Kley Arbolaez in a Cuban music club. After dancing, the group went to dinner, exchanged e-mail addresses, and the UH students soon came back to Hawaii. For the next year, Arbolaez wrote Alvarez-Flores letters, but she never responded.

Then in 2005, Alvarez-Flores returned to Cuba with her two-year-old son to visit a lady who had befriended her during the initial five-week stay. While there, she called Arbolaez, told him she was back on the island with her son and he came to visit them. She said: “It was a pleasant visit, but there were still no romantic sparks.”

Then in 2006, with reports of a major hurricane in Cuba, she was moved by the effects of the devastation on television news reports. So she called the friends she had made in Cuba, including Arbolaez, to see how everyone was and if there was anything they needed that she could send them. From that point on, he continued writing to her and now she wrote him too.

Continue reading "Love triumphs over a communist state" »

Filed 6 de Diciembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By José Villa, Senior Editor, Hawaii Hispanic News

Word of Life Christian Center (WOLCC) has a weekly Spanish-language service every Saturday at 6pm entitled “Word of Life En Español” (WOLEE). The church just celebrated its second anniversary on November 8. The church also offers free English lessons for Spanish speakers at 4pm every Saturday. Pastor Miguel Montano came to Hawaii with the U.S. Army. This is the story of how the man that carried a gun, now carries a bible.

Pastor Miguel Montano

Montano, a native of Arecibo, Puerto Rico, can be described as a “gentle giant.” He first came here with the Army in 1986 and was stationed here until 1992. Then he came back in 1996 and retired from active duty in 2003. He now works as an Army civilian at Schofield Barracks and sells real estate.

How did an experienced military man get involved in leading community church services in Spanish? When Montano came back to Hawaii in 1996, he and his family attended a weekly Spanish-language service at Word of Life Christian Center WOLCC). However, over a period of time, due to various personnel moves, that service ended.

He said: “Then two years ago, Pastor Art (Sepúlveda), Senior Pastor of WOLCC, mentioned there was a lot of need in the local Hispanic community for ministering services in Spanish. He suggested we reach out to the community and restart our Hispanic community church.

“We felt up to the challenge and re-launched the church with about eight members. Since that time, the Lord has added members and we now average about 70 people at our weekly service.” What countries are these Hispanics from? Montano said: “All over: Colombia; El Salvador; Peru; Mexico; Puerto Rico; Honduras; Bolivia; Cuba, etc.”

What kinds of activities does WOLEE have for its members? This past Memorial Day the church held its “First Annual Word of Life Cup” soccer tournament at the Waipio Peninsula Soccer Complex. Four Latin teams participated in the competition: Team 12 (comprised primarily of Chilean players); Su Gran Alabanza; Mi Barrio; and WOLEE. The all-day event provided food, beverages and fellowship – in Spanish -- for 250 people including players, their families and interested spectators.

Continue reading "Word of Life En Español celebrates second anniversary" »

Filed 1 de Diciembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (1)

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- Isabel Maria (Rodriguez-Gispert) Lambert, owner of Bella Rosa Corp. (BRC) on Kalakaua, near King St., was born in Camagüey, Cuba. Bella Rosa is a floral wholesaler that imports roses from Ecuador into Hawaii.

(Editor’s Note: Every man should read what Lambert has to say about men and flowers towards the end of this article).

BRC purchases its flowers in Quito and supplies about 70% of Hawaii’s roses. This includes 17 kinds of red roses, five kinds of green roses, six kinds of lavender roses, crème ones, white ones, etc.

Lambert sells these products in Hawaii to about 50 wholesale customers on Oahu – and the neighbor islands -- including other flower wholesalers, flower retailers, major hotels (Hilton, Sheraton, Marriott, Hyatt, etc.), Japanese wedding companies and floral designers.

Isabel Lambert

In the global floral industry, Ecuadorian roses are acknowledged as the “world’s most beautiful roses.” Each year, floral wholesalers from around the globe travel to Ecuador to view and bid on that year’s new crop.

How did this poor Cuban girl become a major force in Hawaii’s floral industry? In 1963, after the Bay of Pigs invasion, Isabel’s family left Cuba and emigrated to Madrid, Spain. There she married her first husband, who had been her boyfriend in high school and had followed her to Spain. He was a professional basketball player. They lived in Madrid for a year and then moved to Hoboken, New Jersey.

Hoboken, New Jersey? She said: “I had heard all the jokes about Hoboken, but I thought it was the most beautiful place in the world because we were finally free. And freedom – especially when you experience it for the first time in your life – is a feeling like no other. It is like finally being able to breathe after smothering for a long time. It was very liberating.”

“I would tell people how I had moved to a paradise and when I mentioned Hoboken, they thought I was crazy. But when I explained my tremendous appreciation of being free for the first time, they understood and could relate to my joy. I had my first daughter in 1964 and moved to Santa Monica, California – which was even better than Hoboken -- in 1966.

“In 1968 I started my banking career there as a teller. As I tried to rise through the ranks within the banking industry, and become an American citizen, I ran into the proverbial corporate ‘glass ceiling.’ Back then, as a Latina and as a woman, the bank would only let me rise so far with a name that ended in a ‘z.’

“So as part of my citizenship process in 1970, I adopted the name ‘Lambert,’ which was my paternal grandmother’s name. I’m not going to say I broke through the ceiling then, but I did manage to wiggle through some of the cracks. I worked in banking until 1990. And for my last seven years, I was a branch manager.”

She continued: “I first came to Hawaii in 1975 and fell in love with it because it reminded me of Cuba in the 1950’s. Since Cuba and Hawaii have comparable latitudes, Hawaii had similar weather, trade winds and a tropical island lifestyle that I was accustomed to. After that, I came here on vacation every year with my children.”

“I finally moved here in 1995, when my ‘ex-husband-number-two’ opened Spring Floral -- Bella Rosa’s predecessor – which we operated until 2002. After that marriage and Spring Floral ended, Bella Rosa rose (pun intended) from the ashes, so I’ve been in the same business location since 1995.”

How did she transition from the banking industry to the world of flowers? She said: “When I worked at the bank, it was a j-o-b. It put food on our table and took care of my kids, but it was a job. My ex-husband was the florist and through him I was able not only learn the craft, but to gain an appreciation for the special, magical, mystical world of flowers.”

Continue reading "Hawaii’s Latina “Queen of Roses” loves her job " »

Filed 2 de Noviembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By José Villa, Senior Editor

HONOLULU, Hawaii – The Cirque du Soleil recently announced its Saltimbanco Arena Tour will perform at the Blaisdell from October 30th to November 16th. During their recent promotional visit here, our staff interviewed two of its stars – Adriana Pegueroles and Eduardo Rodriguez — both from Argentina.

“Saltimbanco” – from the Italian “saltare in banco,” which means “to jump on a bench” – explores the urban experience: the people who live there; their idiosyncrasies and likenesses; families and groups; the hustle and bustle of the street; and the towering heights of skyscrapers.

Adriana Pegueroles and Eduardo Rodriguez

Pegueroles and Rodriguez twirl boleadoras while dancing. A “boleadora” is a simple percussion instrument made of a weight attached to the end of a cord. The weights bounce off the ground and make exploding sounds either in unison, or in counterpoint, to the dance steps of the performers.

But where did the bola (“ball”) come from? The bola is a primitive hunting tool originally used by the Chinese, Eskimos and South American Indians. It is a throwing device made of weights on the ends of interconnected cords and was designed to capture animals by entangling their legs or wings. Its use was made famous by South American gauchos who used the bolas to capture running cattle or game.

The boleadora performance is similar to a Maori twirling poi ball performance. One major difference is that the twirling of the bolas is synchronized to the dance and must follow its cadence. For example, imagine dancing Salsa while twirling and striking this bola instrument in time to the 1,2,3...5,6,7. Both the dancer and the bolas must be keep time to the music.

Pegueroles is a native of Buenos Aires and trained as a ballerina for a contemporary dance troupe there. She then moved to Europe as an adult and lives in Paris when not travelling with the circus.

“While I enjoyed contemporary dance when I first arrived in Paris, I was looking for something a little more personal.”

One day she attended the performance of an Argentinean folkloric dance group. While watching them, she realized she should be doing what they were doing. “I thought it ironic that I travelled 7,000 miles from my homeland to re-discover the beauty and passion of my roots.”

Continue reading "Cirque du Soleil Honolulu performance features two Argentineans" »

Filed 24 de Octubre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By José Villa, Senior Editor

HONOLULU -- Many Latinos and Latinas serve proudly in our nation’s armed forces. Many of them are currently defending our nation by serving in combat missions in Iraq or Afghanistan. Some come home safe. Some come home wounded. Some come home draped in our nation’s flag. This is a story about one that came home wounded.

Oyoana Allende, 24, is Mexican. She was born in Chicago, but moved to Mexico City when she was one year old and lived there for 16 years. The former U.S. Marine is an Iraq War combat veteran whose face, hands and knees were severely burned as result of a suicide bomber attack in Fallujah, Iraq.

Oyoana Allende Sanabria and Jonathan Sanabria

Allende joined the Marine Corps in Chicago -- where her father still lives -- in 2004 and arrived in Iraq in February 2005. On June 23, 2005, Corporal Allende was riding in the second truck of a military convoy. According to her, due to the strict religious customs in Iraq, male U.S. military members are not allowed to search female Iraqis prisoners or detainees. So the military uses female members to search them.

Fourteen female Marines were riding in the bed of the truck and were being dropped off at the various military checkpoints where they helped search for weapons, explosives, etc. The Marines were seated on the sides of a seven-ton truck facing out towards the road. A suicide bomber, in a red pick-up truck, came up along side their truck and detonated his vehicle’s deadly cargo on her side.

Her recollection of the subsequent events is – understandably – spotty. At times during our interview, her eyes welled-up as she remembered the events of that fateful day. She remembers the truck being on fire. She remembers the explosion, the screams and blood everywhere. She remembers flying through the air. She remembers her fellow Marines – Semper Fi -- coming to their rescue as Iraqi snipers fired on the wounded and -- now burned -- victims. Six Marines lost their lives that day: the driver; the gunner; a rescuer; and three of the female riders. The other eleven female Marines received various injuries.

Continue reading "Wounded Latina vet finds love in the right place" »

Filed 19 de Octubre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

HONOLULU, Hawaii -- The first Puerto Ricans arrived in Hawaii in 1900 because the Hawaii Sugar Planters Association (HSPA) was looking for experienced workers for their plantations.

In August of 1899, San Ciriaco, a huge hurricane, punished Puerto Rico for two days with winds of 110mph – 150mph. It left the island completely devastated and most of its agricultural workers suddenly unemployed.

When the HSPA found out about the hurricane, they started recruiting workers in Puerto Rico. As a result, between 1900 and 1901, the HSPA brought 5,000 Puerto Ricans workers to Hawaii. We call the descendants of these early Puerto Ricans “local Ricans” – Puerto Ricans born in Hawaii.

Reina, Angel and Calmita Santiago.

The oldest Hispanic organization in Hawaii – whose parent organizations date back to the early 1920s – is the United Puerto Rican Association of Hawaii (UPRAH). Puerto Rican plantation workers started the parent organization because the families were so poor when someone died there was no money for a burial. So the families started what was -- essentially -- an insurance company. On paydays, those that could put money in a pot. Then when somebody died, they used the money to give the person a decent burial.

UPRAH’s president for the last 10 years has been Angel Santiago-Cruz, a native of Puerto Rico. Angel arrived in Hawaii in 1976 and met his lovely “local Rican” bride-to-be Calmita in Ayala’s. Angel told us: “Back in the day Ayala’s in Kalihi was the most popular local Puerto Rican music (“kachi-kachi”) dance hall." Theirs was a match made in Heaven. This year the couple celebrates 30 years of marriage and their union blessed them with Reina, their beautiful daughter.

Calmita Santiago is a tiny, feisty little thing, whose father was a well-known boxer and political activist in the local Puerto Rican community. She says she developed her passion for community activism and sense of fair play from him.

However, in the last few years, the tiny lady’s heart was starting to falter and it just was not strong enough to carry even her little frame efficiently. Finally, it got so weak that physicians informed the family Calmita would need a heart transplant to survive.

Continue reading "Love + Prayers = New Heart + New Start" »

Filed 13 de Octubre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (1)

By Jose Villa, Senior Editor, Hawaii Hispanic News

Al Pagan

Every weekday morning the Hickam Air Force Base Fitness Center opens at 4:30am. At that time, a variety of people start coming in the door for their workout. Some are young military men and women trying to stay fit. Some are dedicated athletes that may devote an hour to working a single body part. Some are older men and women trying to get in shape or maintain their fitness level. And some are older folks that know firsthand “if you don’t use it, you lose it.”

These folks come in a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes. Some go through a warm-up routine before jumping on a treadmill. Some go right to their favorite elliptical or stationery bike. Others go directly to the free weights. Still others go for the comfort of the machines. Some drag in, start exercising and it’s a full 15 minutes before they actually wake up. Others are friendly and looking forward to a good workout.

But nobody sticks out or knows as many people as Al Pagan.

Continue reading "Latino military fitness center “Inspirational Athlete” is 79!" »

Filed 19 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By Jose Villa, Senior Editor, Hawaii Hispanic News

ARIZONA MEMORIAL, Hawaii -- Daniel Martinez has one of the most unique jobs in our nation. He has served as the historian at the Arizona Memorial since 1988 and is the only person ever to have held that job. How did this Mexican-American become the steward of historical documents, photos and artifacts relating to ”a date which will live in infamy?”

Daniel Martinez

His grandfather, a native of Guadalajara, Mexico was hired in Mexico and brought to the U.S. to work on the Southern Pacific Railroad (SPR) sometime prior to the 1920s. According to Martinez, at that time SPR officials promised Mexican nationals that fulfilled their work contracts assistance in helping them become U.S. citizens. His grandfather settled in Owenyo, California, which was a site on the SPR, and raised his family there.

Martinez’ father was one of eight children. He enlisted in the Navy in 1949 and when he got out, he went to school using the G.I. Bill. In 1958 started his 40-year career as an electrical engineer at the corporation that later became aerospace giant TRW. Martinez said his dad was to work on projects that spanned the growth of America’s space program from the early satellites to the Space Shuttle.

In discussing his history, Martinez points out events along the way that had Hawaii connections though he didn’t realize it at the time.

Continue reading "Mexican-American relives Pearl Harbor bombing " »

Filed 15 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By Jose Villa, Senior Editor, Hawaii Hispanic News

MILILANI TOWN, Hawaii -- What do Guadalajara, San Diego, Tijuana, Ross Dress for Less, water polo and taquerias have in common? Each of these factors contributed to the success of 26-year-old entrepreneur Jésus Santoyo, owner of Just Tacos Mexican Grill & Cantina (MGC) in the Mililani Town Center.

Due to a variety of reasons, including the present state of the economy, the price of oil, and an uncertain economic forecast, several restaurants in the state -- some of them long-time neighborhood icons -- have closed or are closing. But Just Tacos, a Hispanic-owned restaurant, is expanding and just added a third location last month. And no one that knows Santoyo is surprised.

Jésus Santoyo

His parents came from Guadalajara, Mexico, but, Santoyo was born in San Diego, and spent his early youth living in Tijuana.

He now owns and operates three restaurants on Oahu. He was doing very well with the original Just Tacos restaurant on Bishop St. (1111 Bishop). Then last year this savvy entrepreneur expanded his concept and opened a larger restaurant, with a more expansive menu, in the Mililani Town Center. Slightly different concept, executed just as successfully.

But is he resting on his laurels? Not Santoyo. He is driven to succeed. This ambitious young man has just opened his third location in Pearl City, near the Wal-Mart complex.

Who is this man and what drives him?

Continue reading "Young Latino finds success in Hawaii " »

Filed 9 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By Jose Villa, Senior Editor, Hawaii Hispanic News

You could say Maritza Macy McCrea, a native of Mexico City, enjoys working with her hands. Her careers have ranged from commercial airline pilot and aviation ground school instructor to her present occupations as doctor of oriental medicine and licensed acupuncturist.

But what lead this talented Latina from the crowded streets of Mexico City to commercial aircraft and now to teach acupuncture in Chinatown on the staff of the Institute of Clinical Acupuncture & Oriental Medicine at the Chinese Cultural Plaza?

Dr. Macy

As a child, Dr. Macy was fascinated by foreign languages. This lead to attending the Institut Français D’Amerique Latine (French Institute of Latin America) in Mexico City from 1970-1974. As a result, she speaks fluent French, as well as Italian, Spanish and English.

From very early in her childhood, Dr. McCrea was also fascinated by airplanes. As luck would have it, after graduating from college, some of her friends were involved in a Mexican government project that was researching, in conjunction with the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, various aircraft.

This further fueled her interest in aviation and she started taking classes in Mexico City. It was very difficult, however, for her to learn or get the requisite flying hours there due to the congestion of Mexico City International Airport. So in 1979 she moved to Tucson, Arizona and got her private pilot’s license at Valencia Airport.

She says the cost of renting an airplane for flying lessons is about $262 an hour. But when she was studying at Valencia – “back in the day” -- the hourly rate was $17 an hour!

She completed her private pilot training at Valencia and then attended Burnside-Ott Aviation College in Miami (1977 to 1982) for her commercial pilot’s license. She said the school about 440 male student pilots and two females - her and a Colombian woman.

Continue reading "Latina teaches acupuncture in Chinatown" »

Filed 9 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (0)

By Jose Villa, Senior Editor, Hawaii Hispanic News

Anthony “Tony” Ramos Dias, a well-known “kachi-kachi” musician, was born in Honolulu in 1939. He now owns and operates a macadamia nut farm in Kailua-Kona on the Big Island.

Tony Dias

“Kachi-kachi“ is the term used for the music the Puerto Ricans recruited by the Hawaii Sugar Planters Association between 1900 and 1901 brought with them to the islands.

Those Puerto Ricans were fleeing the aftermath of Hurricane San Ciriaco, which pounded Puerto Rico for two days in 1899. In addition to the hurricane, rain also swamped the island for 28 days. The resulting devastation left about 3,500 people dead and ruined the island’s agrarian society.

Dias is, therefore, a ‘local Rican” -- a descendent of those early Puerto Rican residents of Hawaii. His grandparents came from P.R. Two of them were from Lares, one from Maricao and one from Peñuelas. His dad was born on the Big Island, his mom on Kauai, but the couple met on Oahu.

His family of six siblings was living in Kaneohe when he started attending Saint Louis School in Kaimuki. He said: “I had a humble beginning. Since my father was having a hard time making ends meet, I had to hitchhike from Kaneohe over the Pali to Saint Louis every day for four years.”

Continue reading "Some Hawaii Ricans still play their grandparents music " »

Filed 9 de Septiembre, 2008 | Permalink | View Blog Reactions | Comments (1)