Sun Yat-sen - His Hawaii Roots

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Date: 9/8/2011

Grand Chinese Cultural Performance and Rare Photo Exhibit Commemorate 100th Anniversary of Xin Hai Revolution and Chinese Chamber of Commerce 100th Anniversary in Hawaii

The 100th Anniversary of the Revolution of 1911: Great Changes in the Capital – Beijing debuts September 23-30, at Hawaii State Capitol.

China Central National Performing Art Troupe performs September 24 th at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Honolulu, Hawaii -- Hawaii will host the first-ever viewing in the United States of photographs of historical and cultural significance from China depicting the Xin Hai Revolution and the development of New China at a photo exhibition entitled “The 100th Anniversary of the Revolution of 1911: Great Changes in the Capital - Beijing.” The exhibition is free to the public and will run from September 23-30, (Monday – Friday 9:00am to 5:00pm) at the Hawaii State Capitol Chamber Level.

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The founding father of modern China learned about democracy in Hawaii, and used the islands to raise money and support for political efforts that would lead to the overthrow of the Qing imperial government.

Now, Taiwan is using the centennial anniversary of the Republic of China's founding to celebrate Sun Yat-sen's connection to Hawaii. The Taiwanese government is sponsoring a photo exhibit at Honolulu's City Hall this month that underscores the pivotal role the islands played in shaping Sun.

"His early education in Hawaii planted the seeds … for him later to become the father of modern China," said Paul Wen-liang Chang, the director general of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Honolulu, Hawaii -- 2011 marks the 100th anniversary of Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s revolution leading to the birth of modern China. In recognition of the influence that Hawaii and its people had on Dr. Sun and his contributions to Hawaii, the Honolulu City Council recently adopted a resolution declaring 2011 the Year of Dr. Sun Yat-sen in Hawaii. A celebration ceremony will be held at Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park this Friday, March 25, 2011 at 2 p.m. to commemorate the anniversary.

“This is my Hawaii… here I was brought up and educated; and it was here that I came to know what modern, civilized governments are like and what they mean.”
- Dr. Sun Yat-sen

In 1879, at the age of thirteen, Sun Yat-sen came to Hawaii from Zhongshan, China.  It was here in Honolulu, that he spent many of his teenage years growing up and being educated.  China’s first revolutionary society the Xing Zhong Hui (Revive China Society) was organized in Hawaii in 1894.  Sun Yat-sen went on to overthrow the Qing Dynasty and establish a democratic China in 1911.  The dedication of this statue recognizes the sacrifice and support of the people of Hawaii in nurturing the roots of “Modern China” and its Founding Father.
- The Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation
November 12, 2007

On November 12,2007 the Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park was dedicated in Honolulu, Hawaii commemorating the support and influence that the people of Hawaii had on the life of Dr. Sun.

To Honor of the occasion, the Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation commissioned “A School Boy in Hawaii”, a Bronze statue created by Master Chu Tatshing, depicting Dr. Sun at age thirteen. 

Hawai'i tourism is due to benefit from the appeal of a new wrinkle in "Washington Slept Here."

However, it's not the father of our country who slept in Hawai'i but the father of modern China, Sun Yat-Sen. The first Chinese visitor to see where Sun Yat-Sen hung his hat will be Huang Hua-Hua, governor of Guangdong province.

This week, Huang will go to where Sun went to school, Iolani and Punahou. He will meet descendants of people who gathered with him in a house on Queen Emma Lane to form his first revolutionary organization.

"Most people in China know that Sun Yat-Sen is the father of modern China," said Warren Luke, chief of Hawai'i National Bank and president of the Sun Yat-Sen Foundation. "But they don't know that he grew up in Hawai'i. Our foundation will show Hawai'i's role in this history of China."

A Conference in Commemoration of the 1911 Revolution
(An AAS-endorsed pre-conference of the 2011 AAS-IACS annual convention)

University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Honolulu
March 28–30, 2011

Organized by the Center for Chinese Studies, with major support from the Confucius Institute at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa

In recognition of the significance of the revolution to China and the world,the UHM Center for Chinese Studies is hosting a commemorative conference,preceding the 2011 national meeting of the Association for Asian Studies, thatwill bring together a diverse group of experts on Chinese history, politics, literature,anthropology, and law, among other fields from the People’s Republic,Hong Kong, and Taiwan, the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.

More more details on the event, please click here.

Or click here to download a conference summary in PDF format.

In conjunction with “Rethinking the Chinese Revolution: 1911 in Global Perspective: A Conference in Commemoration of the 1911 Revolution", a public conference being sponsored by Center for Chinese Studies, with major support from the Confucius Institute at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, March 28–30, 2011. (about which more later), CCS/CI-UHM is pleased to sponsor the screening of the film “Autumn Gem (秋瑾): A Documentary on China’s First Feminist.” The film is about "China's first female martyr for China's 1911 revolution."

Date: March 29
Time: 7 p.m.
Place: Art Auditorium (Art Building Room 132), UH Mānoa
Free admission.

Additional screenings will take place on March 30 and April 1 at Hawaii Pacific University. California filmmakers Rae Chang and Adam Tow will be present at each of the screenings.

Please click here to download the press release from UH Mānoa.