HAWAII HAPPENINGS

HAWAII HAPPENINGS

BY Gerrye Wong March  2, 2022

Good news is the announcement of  revitalization plans for Honolulu’s Chinatown, one of the oldest in the United States, and I was privileged to attend the kick-off reception hosted by Central Pacific Bank.  Held in its spacious attractive atrium lobby that is bordered on one side by a ceiling to floor glass wall, the event drew about 100 invited guests to learn of the new plans put forth by A BETTER CHINATOWN ASSOCIATION.

caption: Eddie Flores Jr, Governor David Ige & Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi welcome guests 

The event opened a new exhibit honoring 14 influential Chinese Americans in Hawaii who have made significant contributions to the Chinese American community and its Chinatown.  They were businessmen and women, community activists, philanthropists, lawyers, entrepreneurs, dentists and doctors, who lived or were born in Hawaii.

Caption: Giant posters chronicled history of Chinese in Hawaii

In addition to this photo exhibit honoring these individuals, Eddie Flores Jr., chair of A BETTER CHINATOWN ASSOCIATION, announced the future plan to the  building and unveiling of a permanent Honolulu Chinatown Kekaulike Archway. This, he added, will be a community project driven by our A BETTER CHINATOWN ASSOCIATION, a local non-profit whose mission is to promote economic development and to work closely with the city to have a safe and clean Chinatown.

caption: The proposed archway to be placed at entry point to Honolulu Chinatown.

At the kick- off reception, Eddie Flores Jr., L&L Hawaiian Barbecue co-chairman, proudly told the audience, ‘The Archway will serve as a beacon to welcome all and ensure that residents and visitors understand the cultural relevance of Chinatown and how the 14 honorees and many others like them have contributed to the economic growth and to the fabric of our society in a significant way.”

caption: Governor Ige and Eddy Flores kick off  Archway campaign

He added the good news that the names of the 14 honorees today will be displayed on the archway, which hopefully will be built in the next two years.

The 14 leaders, only three of which are still living, to be featured on the new Chinatown Archway, are as followed:  Founder of City Mill CHUNG MUN AI; First female lawyer of Asian ancestry in Hawaii SU UNG LOO CHAN; Businessman and philanthropist CLARENCE C.T. CHING; owner of the Yee Hop Meat Market as well as various Chinese newspapers CHUN QUON YEE HOP; and  U.S. Senator HIRAM FONG.

caption: daughters of Honoree Catherine Sullvan and Honoree Dr. Lawrence Tseu

Other leaders will include  Real estate developer CHINN HO; Liberty Bank co-founder LEE YIP KEE; first woman CEO  OF Hawaiian Electric Company and American Savings Bank CONSTANCE HEE LAU;  Physician and community Activist DR. TAI HEONG KONG Li;  Hawaii National Bank founder KAN JUNG “KJ” LUKE; ;  Foodland Groceries proprietor and Save N Save  JOANNA (LAU) SULLIVAN; Philanthropist/dentist DR. LAWRENCE K.W. TSEU; ; CEO Liberty Bank CHOCK TONG WONG ; AND Honorary Mayor  of Chinatown JOSEPH W.C. YOUNG.     Posters lining the wall were of each honoree in the long history of  Honolulu’s once thriving Chinatown.

Caption:  Gerrye Wong, Pipa musician and Honoree Dr. Larry Tseu

Central Pacific Bank Executive Vice Chair Catherine Ngo served as Mistress of ceremonies for the program, saying, “We’re honored to join Eddie Flores and A BETTER CHINATOWN ASSOCIATION to host their exhibit which celebrates remarkable Chinee American individuals who have impacted Hawaii’s community and business landscape. It is a significant reminder of exactly how much the original Chinese immigrants achieved after coming to Hawaii without much more than the clothes on their backs and the promise of a better life.”

caption: Event leaders await lion to come and snatch their li see away from them

The fiery Lions danced to begin the proceedings with Flores, Ngo and Honolulu Mayor and Hawaii governor standing with li see envelopes suspended on long branches ready for the Lion to com and snatch it away from them and bestow good fortune for the project.

Caption: Hawaii governor Rick Blangiardi speaks to audience about the revitalization of Chinatown
The photo exhibit of the 14 illustrious leaders will come down this week but more events are planned for the fundraising is necessary to beautify Honolulu Chinatown with this highly visible Archway.  Honolulu’s Chinatown is one of the oldest in the nation, and surely deserves an elegant archway to welcome tourists to see its beginnings.  We applaud the efforts of Eddie Flores and his supporters to see that this project achieves its purpose.

caption Gerrye meets supporter Ginny Tiu             caption: Honoree Dr. Lawrence Tseu in front of his own poster