Posted on: Sunday, January 30, 2005

OUR HONOLULU

By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist

Don't be disappointed that the big Chinese new year celebration at the Cultural Plaza yesterday was canceled yesterday. You'll have lots of opportunity to share in Chinese new year festivities during the next 2 1/2 weeks. This is because Chinese pick different dates for their celebrations.

"Even today, the Chinese can't get together," said Larry Ing, dean of Chinese newspapermen in Our Honolulu. "No wonder people get confused. They get the dates mixed up."

Jeweler Albert Lui, vice president of the United Chinese Coalition, a new society, gives a different reason why Chinese are socially democratic. He explained that the hydra-headed Chinese new year originated in ancient China when people lived in agricultural villages and didn't have television or telephones.

"It was winter, nothing grew, time to take a break and celebrate the harvest," said Lui. "One or two days wasn't enough to have parties from farm to farm and village to village. It takes time to let everybody travel back and forth. Nobody had cars. New year's became a 15-day celebration. This year the (start of the) lunar new year falls on Feb. 9, a week from Wednesday, and the celebration lasts half a month."

So why was there a Chinese new year celebration yesterday, a week BEFORE the lunar new year? James Yan, industrious editor of the Hawai'i Chinese News, the only Chinese-language newspaper published in Hawai'i, gave the answer. He explained that yesterday's celebration was put on by the Chinese Merchants' Association.

The merchants were reminding people to buy their red paper and special treats and other items for Chinese new year's day. Lui pointed out that haoles do the same thing. "You have Santa Claus parades at shopping malls before Christmas so people will buy toys," he said.

This conversation took place over dim sum at the Golden Palace on King Street. Yan helpfully drew up a Chinese new year schedule on a kitchen check borrowed from the waitress. Do you have your pencil ready?

The Chinese Chamber of Commerce will put on a new year celebration at Fort Street Mall on Friday and Saturday. The United Chinese Coalition will celebrate at the Cultural Plaza on the same days. Both events are free.

Whoa! Wait a minute! Chinese new year's day isn't until Feb. 9. What's going on here? Why are these celebrations a few days early?

Henry Lee, executive director of the United Chinese Society, said it's to give Miss Chinatown time to fly to San Francisco and put in an appearance at their Chinese new year celebration.

"Honolulu always celebrates early and San Francisco celebrates late," Lee explained. "I don't know why. The Chinese societies in Honolulu celebrate on the actual new year date."

Sure it's confusing. But think of the fun you'll have.