Supportive parents are often described as a source of strength, inspiration and unconditional love. President Franklin D. Roosevelt said this about supportive parenting: “We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.” This is exactly what the Sakada parents of this month’s featured offspring did. They definitely prepared their son Jeffrey Dela Cruz for his future.
Jeffrey was born in July 1955 in Pu‘unēnē, Maui, Hawai‘i. He attended St. Joseph School in Makawao, Maui High School at Hāmākua Poko and Maui Community College, Technical Division. He graduated with an Associate Degree in Architectural Drafting.
In the past, Jeffrey worked at Araki U-Drive Rental, Robert’s U-Drive Car Rental, A&B Commercial Company in the home planning department, for Maui County in the land use and codes administration as plans examiner, and as a self-employed architectural designer and consultant. Currently, he is designing homes, additions to existing residences, commercial buildings, apartments, churches and office buildings. Some of the major projects he worked on are the Binhi at Ani Filipino Community Center, Door of Faith Church, Valley Isle Fellowship Church and the Kīhei Commercial Center in addition to smaller commercial projects.
Jeffrey is married to Lydia P. Dela Cruz. She retired from Bank of Hawai‘i as a consumer sales specialist. They have two daughters, Amber J. Dela Cruz-Manezes and Summer L. Dela Cruz-Parkes.
Amber graduated from Oregon State University with a Bachelor of Science, minoring in Business Administration. She is Sr. Program Manager for Recludix Pharma. She is married to Aaron N. Manezes.
Summer graduated from the University of Washington with a BA in Business Administration with emphasis in Marketing & Human Resource Management. She is an administrator for Humane Center Design at Engineering, and Budget Analyst. She is married to David J. Parkes. They have two children, Wyatt and Dyson Parkes.
In 2006, Jeffrey and Lydia were selected by the Maui Filipino Community Council and Binhi at Ani as the Mr. & Mrs. Centennial awardees. This was during the 100th Anniversary of the Filipinos being in the United States. They also received the Dance Director’s Award and the Rotating Instructor’s Award.
Jeffrey is the Assistant Dance Director of the Hawai‘i Ballroom Dance Association, a member of the Maui Filipino Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Bantay Association of Maui (President), Maui Son’s & Daughter’s Chrysanthemum Festival (Dance Choreographer), Maui AJA Veterans (Dance Choreographer), American Lung Association (member) and Children’s Justice Center (member).
Jeffrey and Lydia enjoy traveling the world, teaching dance classes and engaging in charity walk activities.
Jeffrey’s siblings are Reuben Dela Cruz, Darryl Dela Cruz and Melissa Dela Cruz Shishido.
Reuben retired from UH Maui College. His wife Katherine is self-employed. Their children are Ian Dela Cruz, Kaitlin Watasaki and Carly Dela Cruz. Ian (a quantitative analyst at Columbia Bank in Portland, Oregon) and his wife Irina Belasarova (Intel) have two children: Nikita Dela Cruz and Yanisei Dela Cruz. Kaitlin is married to Curtis Watasaki (a Financial Planner). They have two children Benek and Marin Watasaki. Carly is an Operations Manager (The Table Less Traveled).
Darryl Dela Cruz is an Executive Chef at The Forest in Duke, North Carolina. He is married to Kat Dela Cruz, a Realtor. They have two children Michaela and Ellie Dela Cruz.
Melissa Dela Cruz Shishido has retired from HECO. She is married to Blaine Shishido (retired from the State Department of Health). They have three children: Taylor Shishido (a Strategic Network Manager with Dandelion Health), Ty Shishido, (a Design Engineer with Opto international) and Trey Shishido.
Jeffrey’s father, Tranquilino Dela Cruz came to Hawai‘i as one of the thousands of Sakadas in 1946. They came by boat from Aringay, La Union, Philippines. Upon arrival, he worked for the pineapple plantation (Maui Land & Pine) as a laborer. During this time, he lived in Cornmill Camp in Pukalani. After a couple of years, he returned to the Philippines to get married to Adelina Dela Cruz and they both returned to Hawai‘i in the 1950s by plane. Hawai‘i was still a territory when Jeffery was born. Hawai‘i did not become a state until 1959. The Dela Cruz family, however, still had access to medical service when they needed. Then the family moved to Hāli‘imaile Camp, where Maui Land and Pine was located, so it was easier to go to work. Jeffrey was born in 1955, Ruben in 1957, Darryl in 1959 and Melissa in 1965.
After returning to Hawai‘i, both of Jeffrey’s parents worked for ML&P as laborers because this was the only job they knew. Tranquilino eventually got promoted to be a truck driver and finally a supervisor or luna. He held that supervisory position until he passed. Adelina retired from ML&P. The company provided housing for the employees, so at least they had a roof over their heads.
Jeffrey reminisced about the good old days: Life was simple but good. Not too many things to worry about. Our Dad taught all of us how to work hard. We delivered the Honolulu Advertiser in the camp to make extra money. When it rained, our Dad did not bother to wake us up but went to deliver the newspaper himself. He also liked politics.
Whenever there was a rally for the election for a Mayor for Maui County, he always went to support the candidate at that time (Elmer Cravalho). Why? Because there was always steak and rice for the occasion. At age 15, I had to accompany him to a rally, knowing that he will not be able to drive home. Luckily, I had a driver’s permit. Our parents, especially Dad taught us valuable lessons to live by, that is to work hard, do not steal, be good to people, be honest, etc.
We all went to private school. It was not cheap but no matter how much money our education cost, they made sure that we had a good schooling and always had food on the table. Mom made breakfast and lunch for school every day. Mom and Dad alternated cooking for dinner. Dad could cook some good food, food which we have not seen or tasted today. One time, Dad captured some doves in a bird trap. We did not know what he was going to do. Upon asking, he said that he was going to clean and deep-fry the birds for eating. We said whaaa! But it was good. Never again did we question his ‘culinary’ knowledge and expertise.
Dad was the Boss. Everything he said (as long as it was not wrong) goes. If we did not listen, we would get what today would be considered ‘child abuse.’ But we learned. Mom was the second Boss. She was easy. No problem.
Every year at Christmas time, we had to attend the Christmas party at the clubhouse where there was a play of the Nativity. All of us siblings were in the play. Christmas gift: apple, orange and some nuts in a brown bag. During New Years Eve, it was an adult affair. Mom and Dad used to come home late after a good night of fun, drinks and food. Yep! Those were the days, simple, fun and good memories with our parents.
Here’s Jeffrey’s reflection on his parents: It’s been forty-six years since Dad passed and 22 years since Mom passed and I have always wondered what it would be like if they did not do all of those things that helped us to succeed in life. My siblings and I have all had a good education, good jobs, wonderful and lasting marriages; overall we’ve had a good life. We hoped that Dad would be able to see grandchildren but I’m sure that he is smiling and knows that we have done good. Mom did see the grandchildren and she also knows that all is OK.
My siblings and I talk about Mom and Dad when we have a get together and reminisce. We then get silent, let a tear or so drop but not show it and take a deep breath and talk about the future. Finally, when we have the chance, we visit the site where they are laid to rest, say a silent prayer and look towards the heavens for comfort knowing that they both are looking down upon us and nodding to each other saying, we did our job and we did it well.
Well done indeed!
Lucy Peros is a retired schoolteacher, having taught at St. Anthony Grade School and Waihe‘e Elementary School. Her late parents, Elpidio Cachero Cabalo (a 1946 Sakada) and Alejandra Cabudoy Cabalo both worked for Maui Land and Pine Company. Lucy enjoys being with other retirees in the Enhance Fitness Program under the Department of Aging three times a week. Whenever she can, she joins other Waihe‘e School retirees when help is needed at the school. Lucy also devotes some of her time as Lector and choir member at both Christ The King Catholic Church in Kahului and St. Ann Cath