PERLITO

BY EMI SUZUKI

Amongst the crowd of new and old faces, one warm, friendly smile emerges and a gentle, steady, kind man appears in front of me and embraces me in a hug.  Perlito was the first field worker at Sumida Farm to welcome me into the Management role at Sumida Farm when my Uncle Dave first introduced us as the future managers at our team Christmas Eve lunch in 2019.  I will always be grateful for his warm welcome.  Thanks to this warm embrace, I felt a sense of belonging at a time when I needed it the most, at a time when I felt like an imposter and unworthy of taking on the position of running the farm for my generation.  Perlito's gesture of goodwill gave me the assurance that we were on the right path.

Our field crew are the true heroes of Sumida Farm.  I am not a farmer, although I wish I could say I was.  I am a business manager, but the farming is done by some of the hardest working and skilled people - and Perlito was a leader on our crew.  None of our field workers make "big body" as my Uncle Dave used to say.  They are quiet and steady and have nothing to prove because they prove themselves day in and day out by showing up on time, doing the hard work, and doing it well, asking for no additional attention or recognition.  They take pride in what they do and don't need social media or big splashy awards or fanfare to validate their work (although I love celebrating them on social media!). While "farm to table" meals and "farm fresh" produce is glorified, the actual people behind the products we eat are often forgotten.  I don't ever want us to forget the people behind the food on our plate, because they matter so much and without them, we have nothing.

Perlito started at Sumida Farm 13 years ago when he retired from another job.  Imagine retiring from one job only to work harder at your retirement job!  But I know our employees love to work here - it's not because Sumida Farm is special; I believe it is because the 'aina calls to them and fulfills them.  We are so lucky Perlito decided to come work here at Sumida Farm because I think of him as the heart of the farm.  He is kind, reliable, and calm.  He is meticulous and peaceful.  He cares about people and cares about the work he produces.  Sumida Farm is a better place because Perlito was a part of it.

This January, Perlito retired from Sumida Farm and I truly don't know how to put into words how much we are going to miss him.  Perlito was the person I would look for in the crowd when we would have farm meetings - like looking towards the horizon for a land mass as an anchor when you are sailing out on the open ocean.  He provided strength and stability for our whole team and it is hard to imagine our farm without him at the center of it.

Thank you, Perlito, for your 13 years of service to not just Sumida Farm, but to Hawai'i.  Thanks to your hard work and dedication, we were able to nourish the islands with fresh watercress and care for the 'aina.  The work you did matters, and your legacy will live on as we do our best to continue the work without you.  We are grateful that you also brought your son Christopher to come work for the farm too.

Thank you to your family for sharing you with us.  They sacrificed precious time with you so you could work at the farm and we are so grateful.  We love you Perlito and you will not be forgotten.  May you have a restful and peaceful retirement and you will forever be a part of the story of this farm and the 'aina.