Our Honolulu
Big platter of praise for Fong
By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist
A Chinese banquet in Our Honolulu is an unpredictable adventure. The United Chinese Society dinner Sunday honoring Hiram Fong as Chinese Citizen of the Year was no exception.
Two Chinese bagpipers in kilts marched down the center aisle to start the program, followed by Hiram himself, ramrod erect and alert at 95. But it took an hour before we could eat.
First, four splendid lions, with gongs banging, leaped and danced down the aisles to the stage where Fong and society dignitaries stood holding bamboo stems with little red envelopes dangling from the leafy ends. The lions devoured the envelopes and the money inside.
Then they danced back down the aisles while guests "fed" them dollar bills, which is how Chinese athletic societies pay for their gorgeous lion costumes.
A Chinese soprano was followed by four speeches, installation of society officers, the passing of the gavel, introduction of guests and the invocation. Through all this, a young lady of Chinese extraction at my table sat reading a Harry Potter book.
Things livened up at the start of the seven-course Chinese dinner. Glad-handers bounced around, people went to the bathroom and the noise level went up 30 decibels. After dinner, Fong returned to the stage and patiently sat through speeches of praise filled with resounding platitudes that would turn any haole politician green with envy. Finally they gave him a chance.
Did he talk about being of the pioneering generation of the first successful Chinese in Hawai'i? Shining shoes and peddling newspapers as a boy? Becoming the first U.S. senator of Asian descent? Founding a financial empire?
No.
He said he was grateful for the messages of congratulation from Dan Inouye, Dan Akaka, Ben Cayetano and Jeremy Harris because they're all Democrats.
"When I was running for office, nobody in Hawai'i voted Republican," he said.
The delicious dinner reminded him of a banquet for a bride in Hong Kong that had snake and monkey brains on the menu. The bride asked for Charlie, the chef, and told him: "I hope you didn't go out and kill a dog." He answered: "No, when Charlie pick up a dog, he already dead."
Hiram said he was lucky to be in Hawai'i because his father, a See Yup, intended to go back to China until he lost his money on the pier gambling with stevedores. Then his father married his mother.
Her parents brought her home because she was a Lung Doo. She stayed three days and ran back to his father.
"I had a hard time coming into this world," said Hiram.
If he had kept his first car, a 1916 Model-T Ford, it would be a relic worth some money.
"Now the only relic I have is my wife," he said. "I think I'm being honored because there are so few Republicans left."
Hiram Jr., making a speech to honor his father, said: "Fortunately, my mother (age 90) is hard of hearing."
Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.
