It's one of those rare occasions when events of the last century provide an opportunity to improve lives in this one.

The arrival of the "sakadas" — the pioneer group of Hawai'i's plantation contract laborers from the Philippines — is being remembered in ceremonies held on each island. The last of those galas, on Kaua'i, is set for Jan. 21.

But the sakadas were only the first of about 110,000 Filipino workers to come between 1906 to 1925, adding an important chapter to the story of the Islands' diverse population.

Our state's leaders already have begun capitalizing on the high spirits by paying visits to the Philippines. Mayor Mufi Hannemann led a delegation in December, and more recently, Gov. Linda Lingle led a tour of the country that involved a coterie of 178.

Of course, the party atmosphere surrounding the centennial tours may not immediately generate a string of achievements, but the strengthening of personal relationships could help down the road in myriad ways.

For example: In the pre-9/11 era, the Filipino community enjoyed close ties with family in the Philippines. Those ties persist, but access to travel visas has tightened significantly.

People feeling the pinch include those families separated in times of illness and medical procedures, burdens that could grow lighter if relatives could more easily travel back and forth. Hawai'i need not have a revolving door installed at the international airport, but there ought to be ways of shortening the travel visa process in cases of family emergencies without abandoning security.

It doesn't hurt to have many Hawai'i leaders sharpening their sensitivity to the needs of Filipino residents.

Hawai'i's Filipino community continues to grow, both from within and from new immigration, and has demonstrated it's possible to embrace a new home without relinquishing old bonds. In a world strained by global tensions, such a balancing act is something for all of us to emulate.