Hello Jim,
I am also researching Italians who ended up in Trinidad CO, before moving to the Lincoln Heights area of LA Co CA, :-)
I come across the Vaiana/Vajana surname with regularity in my search for information on our Ferrara, Canzoneri, LoBue, Messina, Gallo, Vallone, Pecoraro, Raimondi, Costa, and Cannella from the Prizzi, Palermo and Alcamo, Trapani Provinces in Sicily. Are your Vaiana's from Prizzi?
Right now, I am transcribing some baptisms from St George the Martyr, and there are a lot of Vajanas.
Would love to visit with you sometime.