Most of the workers, Professor Glick says, came from the Pearl River delta in south China. Hearing about the offer from friends or relatives, they trekked to Canton, Macao, or Hong Kong, where they applied for free passage to Hawaii ﹘ clothing, food, and pocket money included.
曾前往中國南部做田野調查的葛力克教授表示，多數華工來自珠江三角洲區域，他們從鄉親處獲得訊息，再前往廣州、澳門、香港應徵，然後免費搭船到夏威夷，船上供應衣著、食物、零用錢及醫療設施，並有醫生隨船服務。