Thursday, October 11, 2012

Aloha to Maui - the Wo Hing Museum in Lahaina



Lahaina - "cruel sun" - is a whaling port turned tourist town in West Maui.   Nestled in the north side is the Wo Hing Museum.  The Chinese symbols wo hing refer to "peace, harmony, and prosperity."  


From the Lahaina Restoration Website (at this link),

In 1909 the Chinese living in Lahaina formed the Wo Hing Society, a branch of the Chee Kung Tong, a fraternal society with chapters throughout the world. In 1912, using private donations, the society built a two-story temple on Front Street. The building served as a fraternal and social meeting hall.


Upon entering, one is greeted by a ceremonial lion – the “Dancing Lion of Taipei” – a traditional symbol of good luck.


It housed a sacred altar room on the second floor for religious ceremonies. 


Here are gifts for their religious ceremonies .... 


... including fruit, candy, and coins! 


We found a dragon for a New Year's parade!


The kitchen outside demonstrated how the immigrants cooked ...


 .... that is one big wok!


Do you like Chinese food?  One randomly selected commenter from this week's blogs wins a book choice from my convention stash.  This giveaway is open to all readers.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 13, 10 pm in Hawaii.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 14.

Mahalo,

Kim in Hawaii


Also from the Lahaina Restoration website,

Dr. Sun Yat-sen, known as the Father of Modern China, was a Chinese revolutionist and a western medical doctor who began his education in Hawaii. From 1879 to 1910 he made six trips to Hawaii and spent more than seven years in the islands preparing for the 1911 Chinese revolution which led to the overthrow of China’s Manchu Qing Dynasty. Dr. Sun was then elected as the first provisional president of the Republic of China. His brother Sun Mei, a silent hero behind the revolution, operated a large cattle ranch in Kamaole, Maui and he, as well as many Chinese on Maui, provided crucial financial support for the revolution.

15 comments:

  1. Chinese food is one of favorites. Mexican food comes in first but Chinese comes in a close second. Whenever i order out, hubby tells me I order too much, but I want leftovers for lunch the next day. See, always thinking ahead. lol

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  2. Yes, there are some Chinese foods that we almost everyday. Like Chinese Noodles, Yang Chao, Siopao (Steamed Buns) and etc.

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  3. I love, love, love chinese food. I love fried rice and egg rolls. I love just about anything with chicken & pork. Love beef & broc. Not a big eater of anything with seafood. Yucky. Now I am hungary for shinese food. Dang.
    Christinebails@yahoo.com

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  4. I do like Chinese food, but only the Chinese food from the restaurants in England. I've tried the Chinese food here in the USA, and didn't like it. It tastes completely different to the Chinese food in England.

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  5. Yes, I do like Chinese food. In fact we had take out Chinese food for dinner a couple of nights ago. I can always count on it, especially when I just don't feel like cooking.

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  6. I love eating Chinese! A friend went to China last year and found the original Chinese food not so much to her taste. I'm not sure what the "real" Chinese food is lol but I think I would enjoy any type.

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  7. I love Chinese food, both the authentic and the Americanized version.

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  8. I have to be in the mood to eat Chinese food.

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  9. I love Chinese food and have been known to eat it several days in a row!

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  10. I like SOME chinese food. There are too many varieties...

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  11. Love love it whoo
    Kimh

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  12. Love it! My husband does not and unfortunately, we haven't found a decent Chinese restaurant in Columbus, OH. :(

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  13. definitely love chinese food :)

    when we are praying our ancestor or our Gods, but we never offered starfruit

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  14. I love Chinese food as I grew up on it. I really like how many varieties there are to our cuisine from different parts of China.

    Thanks for sharing these photos! We also have a similar Dr. Sun Yat-sen statue in our local Dr. Sun Yat-sen Chinese Garden :)

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