Preserving Portuguese Heritage in Hawai'i

Kahealani Cabral Martins Curammeng, Psy.D.

Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi

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Dr. Curammeng is a psychologist, private investigator, and genealogist born on a sugar plantation in Hilo. After earning her degree in California, she returned home to preserve the stories of Portuguese immigrants in Hawaiʻi.

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As founder of the Portuguese Family History Collections of Hawaiʻi, she has documented the lives of over 25,000 immigrants from Madeira and São Miguel, Açores. Her six-volume collection, Always Remembered, Never Forgotten, and book They Came in Ships to Terra Nova provide a vital link to the past for countless descendants.

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Through DNA testing, she reconnected with relatives in the Açores and now helps others trace their roots and understand their cultural heritage.

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Jacqueline Pualani Johnson, B.A., M.A.

Hilo, HawaiʻiHilo, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi

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A retired drama professor from the University of Hawaiʻi Hilo, Jacqueline Pualani Johnson taught theatre for 38 years and co-founded Shakespeare in the Park. She now specializes in living history performances that highlight Hawaiian and local heritage.

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For this project, Jackie brings to life the experiences of Portuguese immigrants through dramatization, using storytelling to connect history with heart.

Sue Ann Pacheco Chun, B.Ed., P.D.

Mililani, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

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Dr, Sue Ann Chun is a retired educator who taught for 32 years on Oʻahu. Raised in Kaiwiki near Mauna Kea, she later earned her degrees from UH Mānoa in secondary education and history.

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Genealogy became her passion post-retirement, leading to personal research, chart creation, and a transformative visit to the Açores. Sue Ann supports the planning of outreach events that share Portuguese immigrant history with island communities.​

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Wilma Souza Boudreau, B.A.

Kailua, Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi

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Wilma Souza Boudreau, born on Kauaʻi, comes from a prominent Portuguese family. Her youth was filled with music—singing in a group trained by the Von Trapp family and performing across Hawaiʻi.

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Now retired, she volunteers with nonprofits and brings her event planning experience to support public presentations of Portuguese heritage through this project.

Karl Eschbach, Ph.D.

Honomū, Hawaiʻi Island, Hawaiʻi

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Dr. Karl Eschbach is a sociologist and demographer with a Ph.D. from Harvard University. He specializes in migration research and has served as a faculty member and post-doctoral fellow in demography.

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For this project, he uses platforms like Ancestry.com and Newspaper.com to locate missing immigration records. His analytical approach ensures the historical accuracy of immigrant data being uncovered and preserved.

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Antonio Rebelo

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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Born in Ponta Delgada, São Miguel, Açores, Antonio Rebelo immigrated to Canada in 1968. His family migrated to Hawaiʻi in 1883, and he has dedicated over a decade to genealogical research.

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As a former officer at the Consulate of Portugal in Toronto, he assisted with document translation and civil status cases. Antonio now works closely with Dr. Curammeng, offering his expertise to help recover missing Portuguese immigration records and preserve family histories.