The 200–member Hawaiian delegation and hundreds of Ilocos residents witnessed the memorable event as part of the centennial celebration of the migration of the first 15 Ilocanos who arrived in Hawaii on December 20, 1906 on board SS Doric.

The Salomague Port was part of Sakada centennial celebration because it was the place from where the last batch of 6,000 Ilocano migrants left in 1946 on board SS Maunawili to work in sugarcane plantations of Hawaii.

The same year, SS Marine Falcon also docked at Port Salomague and ferried some 710 women and 1,425 children, all relatives of sakadas, to Hawaii.

Governor Lingle said that the newly–unveiled Sakada statue symbolizes the first brave Ilocanos who migrated to Hawaii to seek a better life by working as laborers.

The golden Sakada statue, which cost R142,000, signifies the hardships of the Sakadas in Hawaii who toiled and eventually prospered. Many of their descendants are now wealthy residents of Hawaii.

Lingle cited the significant role of the Filipino–Ilocanos, who were considered to be the first genuine overseas Filipino workers (OFWs), in the progress of Hawaii.

Today, she revealed that 20 percent of the total population of Hawaii is comprised of Filipino-Ilocanos, who also help the Philippine economy by remitting dollars to their relatives here.

Based on the 2000 census, there were approximately 170,635 Filipinos living in Hawaii, 20 percent of whom are Ilocanos.

For his part, Ilocos Sur Governor Luis Chavit Singson, said the Sakada monument is a tribute to the 1st Historic Journey of the 15 Filipino – Ilocanos from Candon, Ilocos Sur, in 1906.

He said that these Sakadas were the brave men in the century because they left their homeland and went to Hawaii to seek a better future.

"They left our country with tearful goodbyes to their family to work as laborers in the sugarcane plantations in Hawaii. Afterwards, they sent dollars to their families here, which dollars contributed a lot to sustain their needs and also add more cash to the country’s kitty. Today, these dollars are helping the country more," Singson said.

Singson added the statue is a symbol of loyal, trustworthy and dependable Sakada who brought the dignity of labor and frugal living to the people of Hawaii.

Cabugao Mayor Deoceasar Suero cited the Sakada Monument as a symbol of Ilocano virtues like discipline, humility, frugality and hard work.

These virtues have made an indelible mark in Hawaii and contributed so much in the respect for Filipinos in the United States.

On the other hand, Vice Governor Deogracias Victor Savellano said the first visit of Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle in Ilocos Sur was not only for the centennial celebration of the Sakadas but also to strengthen the ties between Ilocos Sur and Hawaii.