THE UNITED CHINESE SOCIETY OF HAWAII
Community Projects
Hawai`i Chinese Qing Ming Celebration
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Realizing the significance of Qing Ming and the importance of educating the public, in 2002, UCS assembled leaders of the Chinese community to discuss sponsorship of Qing Ming at Manoa Chinese Cemetery. From that meeting, the Hawaii Chinese Qing Ming Celebration Committee was formed, and it sponsored its first annual public Qing Ming ceremony in 2003.
The Qing Ming Observance
Manoa Chinese Cemetery
Model Mother & Father of the Year recognition
Since 1957, the United Chinese Society of Hawaii (UCS) has sponsored the annual Model Parent Recognition Program. Respect for one’s parents is practiced in many cultures throughout the world. In the Chinese culture, filial respect is rooted in the philosophy of Confucius who lived from 551 BCE to 479 BCE. His teachings focused on the comportment of individuals and their relationships with others. One of those relationships was that of parent and offspring:
The Master said: “As long as his father lives, a son should study his wishes; after he is dead, he should study his life. If for three years he does not forsake his father’s ways, he may be called dutiful.”
…the Master said:” Meng-sun asked the duty of a son; I answered ‘Obedience.’” “What did ye mean?” said Fan Ch’ih. “To serve our parents with courtesy whilst they live,” said the Master; “to bury them with all courtesy when they die; and to worship them with all courtesy.”
Sometime in the spring, organizations are invited to nominate individuals for the Model Parent Award. Selection is made on four criteria:
- The accomplishments of the individual
- his/her community service
- his/her contributions to the family
- the achievements and successes of the children
Judges are from the greater community and represent government and business sectors. In recent years, some of the judges include: Federal Judge Helen Gilmore; Mrs. Ed Case, former Congressional Representative; Chief Justice Ronald Moon (now retired) Police Chief Lee Donahue, (now retired); Alies Samtani of Andy Mohan, Inc; Speaker of the House, Calvin Say; Glenn Wachi, Sr. V.P., First Hawaiian Bank; Richard Mirikitani, President of Castle and Cooke.
Model Parents are given a banquet in their honor. UCS is proud to uphold the culture and tradition of honoring parents through its Model Parent Recognition Program.
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Model Citizen of the Year
The Model Citizen award is given to the individual who best exemplifies service to the community.
220 Years: The Chinese in Hawaii 1789-2009
220 Years the Chinese in Hawaii 1789-2009 or 220 Years at Sandalwood Mountain is a celebration of the Chinese in Hawaii. While there are records indicating that Chinese were in the Hawaiian Islands prior to 1789, historically, Hawaii has used 1789 as the start date. In 1939, the sesquicentennial celebration took place, and in 1989, the bicentennial celebration was called “The Year of the Chinese”.
The United Chinese Society of Hawaii (UCS) established in 1884 began planning for Project 220 in April 2007. At its inception, the goal of UCS was to be inclusive and to have broad input from many of the Chinese organizations and societies on how best to celebrate the 220th anniversary. All societies were invited to the first planning meeting in July 2007. Subsequent meetings were held in October 2007, and in 2008, January, April and October. At each meeting, email lists grew as more people attended. During the planning and discussion phases, several projects emerged. Representatives from the individual organizations received their group’s sanction and support of those projects.: One group decided to plant a sandalwood tree which will be planted sometime this year. (Kung Sheong Doo). Another organization (Wong Mung Duck Tong) decided to do a project on ancestral villages. There was a consensus among most of the seniors present that educating the younger people of the Chinese culture was essential to Project 220.
In keeping with its mission of perpetuating the Chinese culture, UCS chose to undertake cultural projects that would be free and open to the public. One was the 2009 souvenir calendar of Chinese plants which are significant to the Chinese culture. Photos of the flora used in the calendar were taken by Ron Nishi at the Lyon Arboretum. The unique calendar includes Chinese Lunar dates as well as holidays that are observed in Hawaii. The cover photo was done by award-winning Star-Bulletin photojournalist, Dennis Oda. The calendar design and layout was done by award-winning designer, Clifford Cheng of Voicedesign.
Throughout the year, there will be a series of free lectures, demonstrations and exhibits. The City and County of Honolulu is a co-sponsor with UCS on the yearlong celebration. Other supporters and organizations are noted at each event.
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