Ching Ming is an observance rooted in Taoist religion, in which families gather at cemeteries to clean and decorate ancestors' gravesites and present them with offerings of incense and traditional foods. It's an occasion to show respect and eat together — the living and, symbolically, those visiting from the spirit world.

Ching Ming, also spelled Quin Ming but pronounced the same, has been observed in China for about 3,000 years. The monthlong observance begins tomorrow.

In Manoa, the late George Chew Kai Young is credited with taking the event, considered equivalent to our Memorial Day, from small family gatherings to a grand cultural celebration, drawing hundreds of people to elaborate ceremonies and banquets.

Young was a tireless volunteer and president of the Lin Yee Chung Association, the group that manages the cemetery.

Since then the United Chinese Society has taken over fund-raising to ensure it will continue in the grand style as Young envisioned.

"People are donating generously," said George's widow, Jeanette Young. "If we didn't do this, it would just fade away."

She and George's brother James C. M. Young are part of the organizing leadership for the free event, which includes music, costumes, firecrackers and offerings.

"When I was a little kid, my parents said we have to go up to the mountain and have Ching Ming," said James Young. "It was kind of spooky then walking up the hill in the bushes. Now it is nice and clean. People remember what a good job my brother did and we have to keep it up."

Ching Ming is celebrated wherever there are people of Chinese ancestry, said Ted Li, past president of the Association of Chinese from Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

From left, Danny S.M. Young, vice chairman of the United Chinese Society; Harry Wong, one of the coordinators for the Ching Ming celebration; Jeanette Young; and James C.M. Young at Manoa Chinese Cemetery, where many will gather Wednesday. Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

Their group consists of more recent immigrants to Hawai'i and they keep their event simple and family oriented, Ti said.

"We won't be doing a very elaborate thing like the Manoa group," Ti said. "We will go up there and offer food, burn incense and paper money and pour wine and tea. It is the same as where we come from."

Michele Choy is a fourth-generation American and has worked to preserve the traditions of her forebears.

As the chairwoman and adviser for the Narcissus Queen pageant, Choy added cultural education classes including Chinese cooking and Ching Ming to the annual event.

"We don't look at like a beauty pageant but as a cultural pageant," Choy said. "By adding instruction to the pageant, it helps to perpetuate the traditions. Many of them have gone to Ching Ming as little kids but they don't know the symbolism of the food, what the fish stands for. Everything the Chinese do has a symbolism. If they become too Americanized, they will lose that. But at least they will remember their grandparents taking them to the grave on Ching Ming."