Journeys of Three Generations
From China, America, Hawaii
by
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CHAPTER ONE - Grandfather
This is about three generations of an Asian-American family. When my husband died I was filled with grief. We were married 39 years and I couldn't believe he was gone. At the suggestion of my dog’s vet, I decided to attend a hospice grief support group. Five weeks after he died I attended my first meeting. At one of the sessions a suggestion was made that we write about the memories we shared with our spouse. I began to think it was a good idea but why only my spouse? Why not all of my loved ones I had lost? So, I’m writing about my grandparents, parents, and myself. At this hospice grief group I met men and women with whom I identified. They also had a difficult time with losing a loved one. I bonded with several of them and felt fortunate to have found this group.
Let me start with my grandparents. My grandfather was born in Ping Tong Village in China in the year 1857. He received money for passage from relatives and his district association. He stepped out with faith and hope in his heart. He left China on a steamship and sailed to America when he was 20 years old. When he arrived in America he said his name was Chun AhPing. His first name was AhPing and last name was Chun. Somehow his last name Chun became his first name and AhPing became his last name. He arrived in the United Sates in the year 1877 before the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882. He remained in San Francisco for a year working on the railroads as a laborer.
During this period in history there was a great deal of discrimination against the Chinese immigrants.
The Chinese Exclusion Act was signed into law in 1882, halted Chinese immigration for ten years and prohibited the Chinese from becoming US citizens. There were several acts following the 1882 act. The act of 1929 capped overall immigration to the US at 150.000 per year and barred Asian immigration. This law was repealed by another act in 1943 during World War II when China was an ally in the war against Japan. After 80 years it was the 1943 act which allowed them to migrate to the United States.
The Chinese immigrants were not welcomed. However, this did not discourage my grandfather. In 1878 he signed a three year contract with other Chinese laborers to work in Hawaii’s growing sugar industry. He spent most of his life on the island of Maui and Molokai. Upon his arrival he and fifteen of his countrymen worked on a sugar plantation on Molokai. When he arrived he found only two Chinese men on the island. Life was simple but hard. My grandfather was very industrious and managed to survive and progress through sheer hard work. After two years at the plantation he and the others were asked to leave because the owners were closing down the plantation due to financial difficulties. Since they were under contract, they tried to get the owners to provide promised passage to return to California. Since they were unable to receive funds to return to California my Grandfather and the others left Molokai to seek employment on the other islands. One of his friends remained on the island, purchased property and opened a store.
Grandfather left Molokai to work on the Puunene Sugar Plantation on Maui where he was employed as camp cook for five years. After working for the Puunene Sugar Plantation, he went to Kipahulu to work as a plantation overseer. Grandfather remained in this capacity for ten years until he was transferred to Lahaina where he continued as an overseer. After 5 years at Lahaina, he returned to work at Kipahulu as the manager for the Kipahulu Sugar Plantation. The plantation was losing money until my grandfather took over. He worked at this plantation for nine years. In 1915 when the owner sold the plantation, he decided to relocate his family to Honolulu. He had saved his money and wanted to retire early.
While he was working in Maui, he went back to China to visit his parents. During his stay in the islands, he made two trips back to China. His first trip in 1899 his parents found him a bride. He married my grandmother in the traditional Chinese custom.
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About the Book
Author Barbara Yuen O’Connor’s grandfather left the China mainland in 1877 when he was twenty years old. It was the beginning of an amazing journey that took him to San Francisco just a few years before the Chinese Exclusion Act. He ultimately went to Hawaii to work on the sugar plantations, and it was there that he and his wife raised twelve children.
The second generation continued the family’s tradition of working hard, putting family first, and traveling. Barbara, a member of the third generation, was a schoolgirl when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The cowardly bombing changed everything. Barbara suddenly had to participate in air raid drills, learn how to use a gas mask, and endure food rationing.
In this tribute to three generations, Barbara looks back at growing up during the war, surviving three recessions, and finding the love of her life—her late husband of thirty-nine years, Frank. Even though times were not always easy, she and her family always treasured their freedom and heritage.
About the Author
Barbara Yuen O’Connor was born on the Hawaiian island of Molokai. Her relatives moved to the island from China, and each generation of her family has always put family values above everything else. She currently lives in California.