History

 Tsung Tsin Assoociation  -  Honolulu Hawaii

    In 1911 Young Young and Wong You assembled a group of friends to form an organization of Hakka people with Young Young their leader. Both Young Young and Wong You enlisted support for the formation of a Hakka association from Hakka residents on Oahuand other islands in the Hawaiian chain. By 1918, they successfully organized the Nin Fo Fui Kon (renhe huiguan). In 1921, with Young Young as its first president, Nin Fo Fui Kon became a branch of the San Francisco-based Nin Fo Fui Kon.  In 1927, its president John C. Lo, announced plans for the imminent construction of its first club house next to St Louis College on the banks of the Nuuanu Stream on North Kukui street. These plans did not materialize.

     In 1931, the Nin Fo Fui Kon applied for and received its charter from the Territory of Hawaii of the United States. In anticipation of linking up with the Hong Kong based Hakka parent organization, the Nin Fo Fui Kon, in 1937, again applied to the Territory of Hawaii and received approval to change its charter name to Tsung Tsin Association (chongzheng hui). Also, in 1937, president Kam Wah Fon, purchased the current club house at 1159 Maunakea Street from the Chinese Development Company, Limited.

     In 1982 an application was made and granted to declare the 1159 Maunakea Street club house site as a “historical site” to be included in the City and County of Honolulu Chinatown preservation district. This meant that all repairs to the building must preserve and restore, to the extent possible, the site’s historic, cultural, and architectural significance. This designation also put a halt to any “redevelopment” of this location being planned by the City and County of Honolulu. 

     Originally club membership was restricted to those of Hakka people. However, due to the assimilation and intermarriage between Hakka and non-Hakka people, membership was extended to include non-Hakka spouses of members as Associate members in 1995.

     In 1999 the Tsung Tsin Association became a charitable non-profit organization, IRS 501(c)(4), under the leadership of president Harry Chong. In accordance with its new status, the Association immediately implemented a scholarship program that annually awards a scholarship to a deserving student seeking higher education. 

       Nancy C. Whitman, March 2019