Wo Hing Society Hall
Encyclopedia
The Wo Hing Society Hall is a building located at 858 Front Street in the Lahaina Historic District
in Lahaina, Hawaii. Built around 1912, it served the growing Chinese population centered in Lahaina, primarily those working in the sugar cane industry as a social and fraternal hall for the Wo Hing Society. By the 1940s the declining Chinese population in Lahaina slowly made the building redundant and the property was neglected.
In 1983, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation worked with the Wo Hing Society to restore the building to its former appearance. After restoration and construction in 1984, the museum was opened to the public. It currently operates under the name Wo Hing Museum and is one of only two existing Chinese Society Halls on Maui
. It was placed on the Hawaii
State Register of Historic Places on July 30, 1982, and, as Wo Hing Society Building, was listed on the placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 1982.
Sometime around 1909, the Chinese in Lahaina formed the Wo Hing Society, an offshoot of the Chee Kung Tong. Using private donations and funds, in 1912, the Wo Hing Society Hall was erected.
By the 1940s, many of the Chinese in Lahaina pursued new business opportunities in Honolulu. This led to the property being left derelict and prey to termites and rot. In 1983, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation approached the Wo Hing Society and entered into a long-term agreement to help restore the building and open it to the public. Restoration was completed in 1984, and is open to the public. It is considered to be one of the finest surviving Chinese Tong Society Halls in the State of Hawaii.
on the west side of Maui. The second floor features the only public Taoist altar on Maui. Altars to Guan Ti and other Chinese deities are on the floor, with a selection of other Chinese artifacts. The cookhouse was a separate structure, created as a precaution to prevent the risk of fire damage to the main Wo Hing Temple. Today, along with displaying numerous cooking artifacts, it was converted into a mini theater. One highlight is the showing of films of Hawaii taken by Thomas Edison
in 1898 and 1906.
principles, with the entrance (or front) of the building facing the ocean, and its back to the mountains.
Lahaina Historic District
Lahaina Historic District is a historic district in Lahaina, Hawaii, on the west side of the island of Maui.It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1962. At that time it was described: -Buildings:It includes 9 contributing buildings....
in Lahaina, Hawaii. Built around 1912, it served the growing Chinese population centered in Lahaina, primarily those working in the sugar cane industry as a social and fraternal hall for the Wo Hing Society. By the 1940s the declining Chinese population in Lahaina slowly made the building redundant and the property was neglected.
In 1983, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation worked with the Wo Hing Society to restore the building to its former appearance. After restoration and construction in 1984, the museum was opened to the public. It currently operates under the name Wo Hing Museum and is one of only two existing Chinese Society Halls on Maui
Chinese Society Halls on Maui
At their peak, there were six Chinese Society Halls on Maui. Operated by the Gee Kung Tong Society, these halls were created to provide services to immigrant Chinese workers, mostly working for the sugarcane plantations. All provided religious and political help, in addition to mutual aid. Only the...
. It was placed on the Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
State Register of Historic Places on July 30, 1982, and, as Wo Hing Society Building, was listed on the placed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 15, 1982.
History
In 1852, many Chinese were brought to work on Hawaii's sugar plantations, mainly single men. When their contracts expired, some stayed behind and took up other trades. Due to the influx and distance from mainland China, Chinese Tong societies sprouted up to provide Chinese religious and political help, in addition to mutual aid, friendship, and funerary benefits upon death.Sometime around 1909, the Chinese in Lahaina formed the Wo Hing Society, an offshoot of the Chee Kung Tong. Using private donations and funds, in 1912, the Wo Hing Society Hall was erected.
By the 1940s, many of the Chinese in Lahaina pursued new business opportunities in Honolulu. This led to the property being left derelict and prey to termites and rot. In 1983, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation approached the Wo Hing Society and entered into a long-term agreement to help restore the building and open it to the public. Restoration was completed in 1984, and is open to the public. It is considered to be one of the finest surviving Chinese Tong Society Halls in the State of Hawaii.
Buildings
The site is split up into a main building with two floors and a cookhouse to the side. The first floor of the main building houses a collection of Chinese artifacts and memorabilia of Lahaina at the turn of the century. Most cover the years after sugarcane established itselfSugar plantations in Hawaii
Sugarcane was introduced to Hawaii by its first inhabitants in approximately 600 AD and was observed by Captain Cook upon arrival in the islands in 1778. Sugar quickly turned into a big business and generated rapid population growth in the islands with 337,000 people immigrating over the span of a...
on the west side of Maui. The second floor features the only public Taoist altar on Maui. Altars to Guan Ti and other Chinese deities are on the floor, with a selection of other Chinese artifacts. The cookhouse was a separate structure, created as a precaution to prevent the risk of fire damage to the main Wo Hing Temple. Today, along with displaying numerous cooking artifacts, it was converted into a mini theater. One highlight is the showing of films of Hawaii taken by Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison
Thomas Alva Edison was an American inventor and businessman. He developed many devices that greatly influenced life around the world, including the phonograph, the motion picture camera, and a long-lasting, practical electric light bulb. In addition, he created the world’s first industrial...
in 1898 and 1906.
Etymology and culture
Wo Hing literally means "harmony and prosperity" (Wo = Peace and Harmony, Hing = Prosperity) This is reflected in calligraphy boards around the temple. The temple also utilizes Feng ShuiFeng shui
Feng shui ' is a Chinese system of geomancy believed to use the laws of both Heaven and Earth to help one improve life by receiving positive qi. The original designation for the discipline is Kan Yu ....
principles, with the entrance (or front) of the building facing the ocean, and its back to the mountains.
Register of Historic Places placement dates
- Hawaii State Register of Historic Places - July 30, 1982 Site #50-03-1615 Chinese Society Halls thematic group
- National Register of Historic Places - November 15, 1982 #82000173 Chinese Tong Houses of Maui Island TR