Janet Sabio Solanzo Lendio
Lucy Peros | Photos courtesy the Solanzo Lendio ‘Ohana
Her immigrant parents instilled the values of faith, education and perseverance to this month’s featured Sakada Offspring, Janet Sabio Solanzo Lendio.
Janet was born in June 1964, in Wailuku, Maui. Her early childhood was spent in Pu‘ukoli‘i Plantation Camp until the age of six, when her family moved to Kelawea Mauka in Lahaina, where their family home stood until the devastating Lahaina fire.
She attended Kamehameha III School, Lahainaluna High School, Washington State University for two years before graduating from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa with a bachelor’s degree. Since the age of sixteen, Janet worked summers at Hilo Hattie’s, mostly at their Boys ’n’ Girls shop located in the Sheraton Maui. Her parents did not allow her to work during the school year so her studies would remain her priority—an experience that taught her budgeting, discipline and the difference between needs and wants. During college, she also worked clerical jobs with the Department of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources.
After graduation, Janet returned to Maui and pursued a career in retail management. In January 1987, she joined ABC Stores as an Assistant Manager Trainee. What she first thought might be a short-term opportunity became a 36-year career. Through dedication, teamwork and a commitment to growth, Janet retired early as a Store Manager, proud of the leadership and support she contributed to her colleagues and the company.
Her husband, Terence Lendio, worked for ABC Stores on O‘ahu before moving to Maui in 1982 to help with the company’s expansion. He built a 36-year career of his own with the company and was able to retire early as a Store Manager. Janet and Terence have been married for 31 years and raised their family in Lahaina. Their son, Rhys, graduated from Linfield College and now works as a financial planner. He and his wife, Cristina, live in Hillsboro, Oregon. Their daughter, Rhyn, graduated from Pacific University—her father’s alma mater—and works as a dental hygienist in Portland, Oregon.
One of Janet’s greatest accomplishments has been ensuring both her children went to college, graduated and are now financially secure. In her household, education was always emphasized as lasting at least sixteen years long. Early retirement has been another blessing, giving her the chance to focus on her own well-being. Janet believes in the importance of treating oneself—massages, facials, pedicures—making time for exercise and yoga—even in the midst of life’s challenges. As a Lahaina fire survivor, she especially values and understands the importance of caring for both mental and physical health.
In retirement, Janet enjoys reading, learning new things, volunteering in the community, reconnecting with old and new friends and spending more time in Oregon with her children. Travel is something she has not done as much as she would like but it remains a goal for the future. For the past 20-plus years, she and Terence have a tradition of gathering with the same group of friends to watch UH Warrior football—cheering through the highs and lows, with plenty of camaraderie, food and spirit. She treasures time with both family and friends, recognizing the strength and joy these relationships bring.
Faith has also played an important role in Janet’s life but more so after the devastation in Lahaina. She attended Maria Lanakila Church in Lahaina and since being displaced after the fire, has found a warm welcome at St. Anthony Church in Wailuku.
Janet has two siblings, Lorna and Lorelle. Lorna worked in the banking industry for over 25 years and lives in Alaska with her husband, Boyuk Dotomain and together they have two sons, Michael and Keegan. Lorelle is a professor of Hospitality and Tourism at UH-Maui College and lives in Kahului with her husband, Jay Peros and their two sons, Jeremy and Jarred.
Janet’s father, Loreto Sistoza Solanzo was a Sakada from Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Philippines who came to Hawai‘i to find a better life for himself and his family. In 1946, when recruiters from the Hawai‘i Sugar Planters Association arrived in the Philippines to recruit strong young men to come and work in the pineapple and sugarcane plantations here in Hawai‘i, Loreto considered it as an opportunity to find a better life. He signed up with no second thoughts.
On January 31, 1946, Loreto, together with many other Sakadas, left Port Salomague in Cabugao, Ilocos Sur, Philippines, aboard the S.S. Maunawili. They were on their way to Hawai‘i for about 16 days of sea voyage.
Upon arriving in Hawai‘i, they first landed in Hilo where some of the men were assigned to work in the plantations there. Then the S.S. Maunawili proceeded to Maui. Loreto Solanzo and his friend, Ernesto Guerrero were among the hundreds of men stationed on Maui, specifically in Lahaina, to work for Pioneer Mill. They lived in Pu‘ukoli‘i Camp, a camp located across the Royal Lahaina Hotel.
Loreto’s first job was preparing the field for the sugarcane planting. Then he was promoted to truck driving to pick up the workers and dropped them off to their workstations. He was in that job for several years until he was promoted as a haul cane truck driver. He held that job until 1982.
As a Sakada recruit and as part of his contract, he was given a free six-month vacation to the Philippines. So in 1956, Loreto decided to go back to the Philippines, perhaps with the intention to find a wife. It so happened there was a beautiful, intelligent young teacher from Cabugao, who graduated from Ilocos Norte Normal School (now called Mariano Marcos University), named Commemoracion “Cion” Sabio. In fact, they were neighbors. But the only problem was Cion was teaching in Davao, Philippines in the Visayas which is so many miles away from Cabugao.
Either fate or coincidence came into play between Cion and Loreto. Cion’s oldest sister’s husband and Loreto’s father are brothers. That oldest sister has a daughter named Irene who of course is Cion’s niece, and Loreto’s cousin. What made it even more exciting was Irene was also a teacher in Davao with Cion.
Apparently, Irene had corresponded with her cousin Loreto who was vacationing from Hawai‘i. Cion took a vacation to Cabugao and when she went to her oldest sister’s house to visit, Loreto was also there visiting. So Irene was instrumental in introducing Loreto to Cion. Loreto must have fallen in love with Cion the minute he saw her. Soon after that first meeting, he and his mother went to Cion’s house to ask her father and mother for her hand in marriage. It so happened that Cion’s brother, then Vice Mayor Santos Sabio was at that proposal time. He told Loreto to go back after three years to marry his sister Cion.
Actually, Cion’s parents liked Loreto to marry their daughter because they felt he came from a good family background. Besides, they did not want Cion to go back to Davao if possible. Cion, However, wanted to go back to Davao to teach because she had many admirers there. Her parents managed to convince her to marry Loreto. Her brother Santos also approved of the marriage. In fact, with Cion’s sufficient teaching certification, he was able to help her find a teaching position in Cabugao.
On April 22, 1957, Loreto and Cion had a grand wedding reception in Cabugao. After two months, Loreto’s vacation was expiring. He needed to come back to Hawai‘i to work. Cion remained in Cabugao to teach.
Cion followed Loreto to Hawai‘i in June, 1963. They lived in Pu‘ukoli‘i Camp. They shared a house with another family. They shared a kitchen and an outhouse (toilet) that was detached from the main house. They raised their own vegetables. Every Sunday, they slaughtered a pig to be shared with their neighbors. In those days, it was okay to slaughter animals in the backyard. In Pu‘ukoli‘i Camp, they were able to have chicken fights (biagan) with no problems.
It was a social gathering. It was also comparable to our open markets today, only smaller with people selling cooked foods, desserts, vegetables, etc. After the cockfight, the men and their wives often brought the roosters who lost to Cion and Loreto’s home to be cooked. In fact, those are the best kinds of chicken meat, very lean. They all enjoyed it for dinner. Again, it became part of the Camp’s social life. What a happy camp life it must have been—such a time of camaraderie!
In the 1970s, Pu‘ukoli‘i Camp was being phased out. Loreto and Cion moved to Upper Kelawea Mauka, Lahaina. Unfortunately, Loreto passed away on December 12, 1982 after a very short illness.
The values passed down by Janet’s parents remain central in her life: thanking God for His blessings, lean on family through highs and lows, be respectful, and that education is the key to success. Her father left school early to help support his family after losing his own father in the war but he passed on a deep respect for learning. Her mother, a college graduate, carried that mission forward after his unexpected passing, ensuring all three daughters went to college. Their lessons—to work hard, save for a rainy day, and stay humble—shaped Janet’s journey and remain at the heart of the life she has built with her own family.
Both the Solanzo’s home and Janet’s family home were lost in the Lahaina wild fire. The rebuilding of both homes are goals for the future, carrying forward both heritage and faith. Today, Janet and Terence are beginning the process of rebuilding their own Lahaina home, carrying forward her parents’ values and stepping into the future with gratitude, resilience and love.
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 Catholic Church in Waihe‘e. She enjoys being with her granddaughters after school. She also enjoys writing, reading and gardening in her spare time.