Between the years 1900 and 1901, more than
five thousand laborers
from the island of Puerto Rico arrived in Hawaii to work on the sugar
plantations. They spoke Spanish and their traditions were, and still
are,
deeply rooted to their original homeland.
Margara Rio Rivera was one of these immigrants. She arrived in 1900
with
three of her cousins and her intended husband, Antonio. They were
married
in 1901. Antonio worked the cane fields and Margara, like so many women
of her generation and race, cared for her home and family. Over the
years
she raised twelve children. Some of her home remedies were given to me
by
two of her sons, John and George.
Senor Confesor Rivera is a locally well known herbalist. He learned
his skills
from his father, Santiago, who was himself an herbalist. Santiago
arrived in
Hawaii with the last Puerto Rican labor migration of 1921.
My Puerto
Rican Abuella (Grandmother)
Mrs. M.B.V. received her remedies from her favorite "Aunty
Gloria". She
was kind enough to share some of them with me. These traditional
homemade "Quarapos" have been passed down through word of mouth from
generation to generation. I am proud of what I have learned from these
people and pleased to be able to pass on what I have learned.
RELIEF
OF
COLD, UPSET STOMACH AND FLU SYMPTOMS
Teas made of lemongrass, sweet grass or mint are
traditional treatments for
these symptoms.
RELIEF
OF COUGH
Teas made of honey, lemon and cloves are
traditional cough reliever
RELIEF OF DIARRHEA
As in Hawaii, the traditional treatment of choice for
diarrhea uses guavas.
FOR ENERGY (NOT
MEANT FOR PEOPLE WITH ACIDY STOMACH)
To increase energy, a traditional concoction using raisins
and gin is
prepared.
POULTICE FOR BOILS
Gentian (in Hawaiian, the Lokahi plant), grows close to the
ground and has a
broad leaf.) This leaf is placed as a poultice on boils.
.
References
Milton N. Silva and Blase Camacho Souza. "The Puerto Ricans." In
Social
Process in Hawai'i, 29:83-88. Dept. Of Sociology, University of Hawaii,
1982
Blase Camacho Souza and Alfred P. Souza. "De Borinquen a Hawaii,
Nuestra historia--From Puerto Rico to Hawai'i." Honolulu: Puerto Rican
Heritage Society of Hawaii'i, 1985.
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to Traditional Health Beliefs index