The Regional Director for the Communities welcomed in Hawaii the "determination and dynamics" of the Azorean diaspora in this archipelago in the creating "new spaces for the dissemination of the Azorean identity."
 
"After 140 years of the arrival of the first Portuguese to these Pacific islands, mostly from the Azores, the emergence of a new space of promotion for our country and our Region is a reason for pride and renewed confidence in the community," said Paulo Teves. The government official participated in the ceremony of laying the first stone of "Saudades, The Longing" Cultural and Educational Centre, a project promoted by the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce of the Island of Hawaii with the support of the State Government of Hawaii.
 
According to the Regional Director for the Communities, this future centre, which "stemmed from the community's desire to honour the history of the Portuguese people," will not only "promote our identity and disseminate our presence in this territory, but also to strengthen the relations between the Pacific and Atlantic archipelagos. They are united by emotional ties that neither time nor distance can break."
 
"We are pleased to note that this new centre will include an Azorean library, offered by the Azorean Government, which will disseminate, in several areas, the region of origin of thousands of Hawaiians," said Paulo Teves. He spoke at a session attended by the Mayor of Hawaii Island County, Harry Kim, State Senator Kaialii Kahele, Hawai'i State Representative, Cristopher Todd, in addition to the Consul General of Portugal in San Francisco and the President of the Chamber of Commerce of the island of Hawaii, Larkin Correia.
 
At the reception, held under the celebrations of the 140 years of Portuguese emigration to Hawaii, the Regional Director for the Communities congratulated the Azorean community for its dedication to honouring the past and for the "constant construction of bridges between the two sides of the world." The government official also took the opportunity to express his "confidence in the new generations that will be able to continue the efforts undertaken so far."
 
The celebrations also featured the performances of several Hawaiian and Portuguese groups, including the Hawaii County Band. Founded in 1883 by the brothers Joaquim and Jules Carvalho, who emigrated from the Azores to this archipelago, it is the second oldest musical organisation in the entire State of Hawaii.
 
During the visit to this state, Paulo Teves visited the Portuguese Genealogical Society of Hawaii on the island of Oahu. He met with its president, Dan Nelson, who presented the research work carried out in the collection of information about residents of Portuguese descent living on those islands.
 
To date, about 291,000 Hawaiians with Portuguese ancestry have been identified; 60% of them are of Azorean descent.
 
Various areas of cooperation were also discussed during this meeting, where Paulo Teves became aware of the fact that there is a considerable increase in requests for information from Hawaiian citizens who seek their roots; some have already visited the Azores.
 
The Regional Director for the Communities also met with leaders of various organisations at the premises of the Brotherhood of the Holy Spirit of the Holy Trinity of Punchbowl, located in front of Azores Street. They presented the various activities they have been developing, namely the Holy Spirit Festivities, classes on Azorean emigration in Oahu island schools and field trips to places of relevant Portuguese presence, among others.
 
Also, in the city of Honolulu, Paulo Teves visited the Department of Languages and Literatures of Europe and the Americas at the University of Hawaii, where he delivered a paper on the Azores of today and the Azorean diaspora in the world to students enrolled in Portuguese courses.
 
Azorean emigration to present-day Hawaii, then called the Sandwich Islands, takes place in the last quarter of the 19th century.
 
The thousands of Azoreans who emigrated at that time have imprinted their identity into Hawaiian society, which is visible in various cultural aspects.