Serving Local Communities

Chinese Language Schools & UH Faculty Support

UH Chinese studies faculty were engaged in many public events to engage the community in UH academic affairs, including talks and calligraphy competitions. Chinese studies faculty were also deeply involved in the local Chinese community, contributing to civic efforts including newspapers, language schools, and churches. The development of Chinese studies was covered closely by local newspapers, who frequently reported on the hiring and departures of UH faculty as well as their opinions on global affairs.

Chinese Newspapers

Chinese-language newspapers were published in Hawai'i (and many parts of the world, like London, shown upper left) started in the 1850's and flourished starting int the 1880's, with four Chinese-language options by the early 20th century. William K.F. Yap, who pushed for the founding of the University of Hawai'i, was a translator for the Honolulu Chinese Chronicle, a Christian Chinese newspaper. Chinese-language newspapers were profoundly civically engaged, featuring debates over the course of China's modernization efforts as well as local announcement and discussions of many cultural, social, and economic issues.

An example of a successful Chinese language newspaper was the New China News (Xin Zhongguo bao, or Sun chung kwock bo), published triweekly by the Reform Association in Honolulu from 1900-1941 (below). The publication was described by the Honolulu Advertiser as "particularly influential" in their survey of the Asian and Hawaiian-language press, "Journalism at the Crossroads of the Pacific," (February 16, 1913).

For more information on the Chinese language press, see Him Mark Lai, “The Chinese Community Press in Hawai‘i,” Chinese America: History & Perspectives – The Journal of the Chinese Historical Society of America (San Francisco: Chinese Historical Society of America with UCLA Asian American Studies Center, 2010), pages 95–103. The nupepa-hawaii.com blog also has many interesting examples and translations from ʻŌlelo Hawai'i newspapers.

Hsing Chung Kuo Pap (or the New China News 新中國報), was one of the most influential Chinese newspapers in Hawaii. It was first published in 1900 by a branch of the Bao huang Hui (保皇會). Liang Qichao served as manager and wrote some of its brilliant articles during his stay in Hawai'i. The editorial staff was brought to Honolulu from North America. The newspaper actively published articles and news from the Chinese community and the University of Hawai'i.

New China Press, Jan. 1, 1938: "Chinese Broadcast Society New Year's Special Broadcast"

In 1938, Shao Chang Lee was profiled in the New China Press as he was giving a special New Year's radio broadcast in Honolulu. Lee's talk included updates about the progress of the war in China and was meant to raise awareness and pride in China's response to Japanese invasion.

The April 4, 1938 edition of New China Press noted the presence at UH of Wing-Tsit Chan, Chen Shou-yi, and Cheuk-Woon Taam

September 17, 1938 article in New China Press on Yuen Ren Chao's daughters, who came with him and Dr. Buwei Yang to Honolulu and attended Roosevelt High School

Chinese Language Schools & UH Faculty Support

Chinese language schools were some of the earliest institutions organized by Chinese settlers in Hawai'i (and the Continental US). By 1934, there were some 3,106 students at 12 schools in Honolulu in grades up until high school, some of the largest Chinese-language schools in North America.

Reflecting the desire of Chinese communities to preserve their language and educational systems, these schools were established by a variety of groups, sometimes organized around native-place, religious, or political affiliations. For example, the establishment of the Mun Lun School on Feb. 4, 1911 by supporters of the monarchist Reform Association, was followed four days later by the creation of the Wah Mun School (later the Chung Shan School to honor Sun Zhongshan, or Sun Yat-sen), established by the Tongmenghui or Revolutionary Party, the precursor to the Nationalist Party.

By the 1920's, the territorial legislature began creating laws to supervise these schools and restrict their hours of instruction. By 1923, students in the third grade and above were required to attend English-language schools. The law ruled unconstitutional by the US Supreme Court in 1928, but even after this important case the popularity of Chinese language schools began to decline, as the dominance of US business interests in Hawai'i encouraged more young people to prioritize English-language learning.

The Mun Lun School, established February 4, 1911, was supported by the Chinese Empire Reform Association or Bao Huang Hui, a group established by Liang Qichao. the Wah Mun School, later named the Chung Shan or Zhong Shan School, was established a few days later on February 8, 1911 by supporters of the revolutionary party. The two schools became the largest Chinese language schools in Honolulu. Above left: "Only Chinese Public School Here is Opened" appeared in the February 6, 1911 edition of the Honolulu Advertiser.

Mun Lun School was founded in 1911 by the reformist party Bao Huang Hui (保皇會), which was committed more to a program of reform than to one of revolution. Rooted in the School’s reformist ideology, while pursuing the goal of educating Hawaii Chinese Youth on the Chinese language and culture, Mun Lun paid particular attention to nurturing useful and law-abiding citizens. The school offered reading, spelling, penmanship, sentence structure, and Chinese songs in Cantonese and the Zhong Shan dialect in lower grades. It taught Mandarin, advanced reading, vocabulary, and composition in upper grades. Mun Lun was considered the largest and most successful Chinese school outside of China proper. Before World War II, its enrollment at one time was as high as 1,350 students.

As of 1941, Hawai'i had a total of 14 Chinese language schools, including Mun Lun, Chung Shan, Taikung (大公), Honolulu Overseas Chinese School (檀香山華僑國語補習學 ), and two Cantonese radio stations. UH Chinese Faculty Chen Shou-Yi once served as the Principle of Honolulu Overseas' Chinese School, which mainly served the adult learners from the community.

UH faculty member Shao Chang Lee gave an address entitled "The Spirit of the Chinese Race" at the 25th graduation ceremony of the Mun Lun School, 1938.

At the 1938 Mun Lun graduation ceremony, distinguished guests included UH faculty member and librarian Dr. Dr. Cheuk-Woon Taam (Chao-Yuan Taam 譚卓垣, 1900-1956) .

Chao Yuen Ren gave a talk in 1938 at the Mun Lun school entitled "The Unification of the National Language," as the Sino-Japanese War was in its second year

Letter from UH President Laurence Snyder to Mun Lun School to congratulate its Golden Jubilee 1911-1961 .

Sun Yat-Sen School, also known as Chun Shan School, was founded in 1910 under its original name of Hua-Wen Hsueh-Hsiao (華文學校) by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen during his last visit to Hawai'i. Its name was changed to Chun Shan in 1927 in honor of the school’s founder. The mission of the school was to educate Chinese youth in Hawaii and prepare them to go back to help the “new China.” The school offered classes in both Cantonese and Mandarin, but most of the classes were in Cantonese or the Chung Shan dialect. Instructional subjects included Chinese history, culture, philosophy, singing, and folk dance. Before World War II and the law forbidding the continuance of foreign language schools, the school’s enrollment was over 1,000 students.

In May, 1924, Mr. Wai Fong Yap informed the President of the University, that he had raised a fund of $2,500.00 among the Chinese Community of the City and named it the Chinese Community Scholarship Fund, the interest of which should be applied to assist Junior and Senior students in need.

Promoting Chinese Culture and Tradition

Speaking on China and Global Affairs

Examples of UH Chinese studies faculty appointments, public lectures, and cultural events as reported in Honolulu newspapers

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