Post-War and Pre-Migration Experiences of Mid-1940s Ilokano Sakadas Bound for Hawaii

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the postwar and pre-migration experiences of mid-1940s Ilokano Sakadas bound for Hawaii, with particular attention to their socioeconomic conditions in Ilocos, recruitment and preparation processes, voyage experiences, and the axiological meanings embedded in their narratives. Using a descriptive qualitative phenomenological design, the research was conducted among Ilokano Sakadas from Region I, Philippines, and knowledgeable relatives, with expert validation through the Delphi technique. Data were gathered through validated semi-structured interviews and documentary analysis and were analyzed using phenomenological thematic procedures, including in vivo and structural coding. The study was conducted over several months, with data collection continuing until thematic saturation was achieved. Findings revealed that Sakada migration was primarily a family-centered survival strategy shaped by postwar poverty, limited employment opportunities, and war-related dislocation rather than individual ambition. Recruitment and preparation were marked by intense competition, financial sacrifice, reliance on kinship networks, and adaptive strategies to overcome bureaucratic and structural barriers. The transpacific voyage aboard the SS Maunawili was characterized by overcrowding, physical hardship, and emotional strain, yet was mitigated by camaraderie, mutual support, and emergent leadership among the Sakadas. Across all phases, core values of resilience, sacrifice, familial responsibility, perseverance, solidarity, and hope consistently emerged. The study concludes that the pre-migration experiences of mid-1940s Ilokano Sakadas reflect a deeply human and moral dimension of labor migration, contributing to a more nuanced, human-centered understanding of Filipino transnational migration and enriching local and diasporic historiography.