OUR MISSION & VISION
Our primary mission is to build a Portuguese Culture & Historical Center to promote and preserve Portuguese culture and Portuguese values in Hawaii.
Our plan is to ensure that Portuguese culture, education and artifacts can be enjoyed by the Portuguese community, and the community at large, in Hawaii for years to come.
Portuguese Culture & Historical Center strives to create and maintain an environment that is fun and rewarding for PCHC volunteers, members and the community. We do this through our educational, charitable and religious activities.
We also promote and maintain the Portuguese House at the Plantation Village in Waipahu, on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
MEET OUR BOARD MEMBERS
BOARD MEMBER BIOGRAPHIES
Larry Cravalho was born on Oahu and raised on the islands of Maui and Oahu. As a young man he worked for the family business in Kailua, and after graduation he joined the Air Force. Upon his discharge, Larry became involved with the Jaycees and coached youth baseball for 15 years.
After working various jobs in sales and home construction, he decided to make a change in his life. In 1976 he went to work at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard as a civil service employee. Larry retired after 40 years of service working as a Planning and Engineering Manager for our Nuclear Submarine fleet.
He now owns a sports officiating business coordinating roughly 89 game officials, working the major sports - Baseball, Softball, Basketball, Football, and Soccer.
Larry became very involved with the Portuguese community as a volunteer working at the Portuguese Genealogical Society. This inspired him and peeked his interest in the idea of starting an organization whose goal would be to build a Portuguese Community Center on Oahu.
Another important change Larry made is his life was marrying Thongyod Y Yeipuy "Dang".
They've been happily married for 29 years.
Lawrence Cravalho
PCHC President
Richard "Rick" Saunders III
PCHC Vice President
Rick Saunders was born and raised on the windward side of Oahu in Kailua. He currently resides in Aiea.
A Graduate of Kamehameha Schools, Kapalama - class of 1983. After graduation from High School, he attended the University of Hawaii, Manoa on a football scholarship and graduated with a Secondary Education degree in History.
After college and a tryout with the San Diego Chargers, now Los Angeles Chargers, Rick returned home. He taught in various public and private schools on Oahu and coached football at various high schools for almost 30 years.
Rick also served in the US Navy Reserves for 21 years and retired in 2017 as a Lieutenant Commander. He's currently the owner of a fundraising/wholesale local snack shop business in Aiea. It has been in operation on Oahu for over 24 years. In addition to running his own business, Rick also works as a full-time Safety Manager for Hawaii Stevedores.
Maryann Manyak was born and raised on Oahu, a member of a large Portuguese-Slovak family. Her mother's parents came from Portugal on the High Flyer.
As a young girl Maryann was active as a girl scout. After marrying her husband William of 50 years they moved to San Jose, California where her husband worked in the Air Force. Then, after his retirement they moved to San Diego so her husband could attend a golf academy. After his graduation they moved back to Massachusetts and settled in Dudley.
Maryann has one son in St. Augustine, Florida, one in Webster Massachusetts, a daughter in Honolulu, five grandchildren and 2 step grandchildren.
She worked for Travelers Insurance Company for 15 years and then continued working for various Insurance Agents. She later worked for Sears in various departments, retiring after 10 years.
She currently works for Military Bakery and Deli Services as a cake decorator and is involved in the various Portuguese clubs on Oahu and the Aina Malia Catholic woman's group.
Maryann Manyak
PCHC Secretary
Mia Moody
PCHC Treasurer
Mia is a wife, mom, and a business owner. She resides in Ewa Beach with her husband, Marc, and her three sons, Tanner, Titus, and Taj. Her three step-daughters, Mia Lei, Ariana, and Ellia, live in Ohio.
Mia graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 2012 with a B.B.A. in Accounting. She then worked at a couple CPA firms specializing in audits of non-profits until 2022, when she started her own accounting business. Her company, MVM Accounting, provides accounting and bookkeeping services to local non-profits on O'ahu.
Mia has been a proud member of PCHC since 2021 and is excited to take a bigger role as Board Treasurer for the 2023 year.
Donald Keliinoi grew up in Hawaii and graduated from Saint Louis High School. Post high school, Donald studied at UCLA Business Schools and at the University of Hawaii, where he received a BBA in Accounting.
While Donald is currently retired, he spent many years working at HMSA and at CEO Work Comp Hawaii, a subsidiary of HMSA.
Donald Keliinoi
PCHC Director
Leonard A. Peters
PCHC Director
Leonard A. Peters was born in 1941 at Waialua Sugar Plantation's Ranch Camp. He is of pure Portuguese ancestry with his mother's family (Correa) from Funchal, Madeira and his father's family from Ponta Delgado, San Miguel. Leonard's father was an electrician for Waialua Sugar Company. Leonard is the second oldest with three sisters.
Leonard started at St. Michael's School in Waialua then to St. Louis School. While in 5th grade he worked delivering newspapers with his bicycle for the morning Honolulu Advertiser. At age 15 his family moved to Kaimuki and graduated from Kaimuki High School.
After graduating high school, Leonard worked at First Insurance Company as File Clerk and Mail Delivery Boy. He then joined the Air National Guard and enrolled in the Air Force Electronic School in Kessler, Mississippi. Leonard also attended Chaminade University for 2 years.
Upon returning home from Air Force Electronic School, Leonard secured employment with the Hawaii National Guard's Nike/Hercules missile system at Kahuku as a missile tracking radar technician. After 8 years the missile program was phased out. He then started working in construction remodeling houses and apartments. Leonard
received his Contractor's License and started his own company, Architectural Builders Company. Leonard retired in 2010, after working for 40 years as a contractor.
Leonard is also a member of the following organizations; Building Industry of Hawaii (inactive), Kaneohe Neighborhood Board (10 years), The Ancient Order of Forester, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Harmony Lodge of Honolulu, and the Portuguese Chamber of Commerce.
Leonard's goal as a Director of the Portuguese Culture and Historical Center is to educate and promote Portuguese heritage here in Hawaii. Additionally, build a center where we can honor, celebrate, and preserve all the customs and contributions the men and women of Portuguese ancestry accomplished in their arduous journey to begin a new life here in Hawaii.
Wilma Souza Boudreau was born and raised on Kauai in the Territory of Hawaii. A member of a large Portuguese family, her grandfather was a plantation manager under King Kalakaua and Makee ownership.
As a young girl Wilma sang with a group that performed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (then Kaiser's) as well as on ships and submarines at Pearl Harbor. Her group was vocally trained by the Von Trapp family (of the Sound of Music fame) and went on to record three albums and 2 single records which provided funds to help build three churches on Kauai.
After going to California to attend college, Wilma married her husband of almost 57 years, Richard. Together they left for Houston, Texas for nine exciting years at NASA on the Moon Landing Project. They, along with their two children Michele and Roland, returned to Palos Verdes, California where Wilma began her 32-year Real Estate career, specializing in assisting clients from Hawaii while working as a volunteer at the Jeanne Jugan French Catholic Care Home for 19 years.
Since her retirement, Wilma has used her "Social Work" degree to get involved in different non-profit organizations here in Hawaii.
Wilma Boudreau
PCHC Director
Harvey Teves
PCHC Director
Harvey Teves was raised on Kauai and graduated from Kapaa High School. He moved to Honolulu to attend Chaminade University where he received a BS in Economics.
In 1962 he became a U. S. Army Security Agency and in 1966 joined the
National Security Agency (NSA) in Washington, DC. By 1972 Harvey changed fields and became a contractor for Malia Land & Construction Co. New Zealand
He has also worked for HATCO Construction Company and Punahou Schools. Harvey is semi-retired, living in Hawaii.