April 19, 2013 PRESS RELEASE
An exhibit of more than 100 rare photographs of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, known as the Father of Modern China, will make its first ever appearance in the United States at two exhibits to be held in Honolulu and in Maui during the month of June.
In addition to the photo exhibits, a forum titled “Sun Yat-sen, Sun Mei and Hawai‘i (孙中山孙眉与夏威夷)” will be held at both exhibit sites. Speaking at the forums will be Professors QIU Jie, HUANG Xiangnong, and CHEN Diqiu, who are experts in modern Chinese history, especially in the study of Sun Yat-sen.
During his lifetime, Dr. Sun spent more than seven years in Hawai‘i; he has been quoted as having said, “This is my Hawai‘i . . . here I was brought up and educated, and it was here that I came to know what modern, civilized governments are like and what they mean.”
Dr. Sun formed his first revolutionary society, Xin Zhong Hui, in Hawai‘i, and people in Hawai‘i gave major financial and moral support for the cause of a modern and democratic China. Dr. Sun’s older brother, Sun Mei, paid for Sun Yat-sen’s education at Iolani School and Oahu College (now Punahou School). He was a member of Dr. Sun’s revolutionary society and gave all of his wealth to the point of bankruptcy to support his brother for the cause. Sun Mei’s great-grandson, Victor Sun, is donating a statue of Sun Mei to Maui County Council; the statue will be unveiled on June 3rd, 2013.
Locations:
MAUI – University of Hawai‘i Maui College, Maui, Hawai‘i
Campus map http://maui.Hawaii.edu/images/uhmc_map_2011.pdf
Photo Exhibit: June 3–14, Maui College Library
Forum: 2:00–5:00pm, June 3rd, Lecture Hall, ‘Ike Le‘a Building (New Science Bldg.)
HONOLULU – State Capitol Building (basement)
Photo Exhibit: June 4–14
Forum: 3:30–5:30pm, June 5, State Capitol Auditorium
Photo exhibits: Two sets of photos will be exhibited at the State Capitol Building
1. “Sun Yat-sen and the United States (孙中山与美国)” —a gift from the U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou. The 50 photos were originally curated by the American Institute in Taiwan (美國在臺協會) and National Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hall台(灣國父紀念館), in Taiwan, with some of the materials coming from collections at the U.S. Archives and the Hoover Institute. The U.S. Consulate in Guangzhou and General Sun Zhongshan’s Former Residence in Guangzhou (廣州孫中山大元帥府) subsequently remounted the materials; the newly remounted display was exhibited for the first time on March 12, 2013, in
Guangzhou; the exhibition in Hawai‘i will be its U.S. premiere.
2. “Sun Yat-sen’s Relatives and Descendants (孙中山的亲属与后裔)” —a gift from Sun Yat-sen Museum in Cuiheng, Guangdong Province, Dr. Sun’s birth place. The photo exhibit, comprising some 60 photos, given its U.S. premiere, is expected to generate a significant amount of public interest in Hawai‘i.
The City of Zhongshan will send a high-level delegation consisting of top leaders of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Zhongshan Overseas Friendship Association, Foreign and Overseas Chinese Affairs Bureau, the Museum of Dr. Sun Yat-sen, Zhongshan Research Institute, Zhongshan Daily and Zhongshan TV station. Sun Yat-sen and Sun Mei’s descendants will attend all the major events in Maui and Honolulu.
The two forums and photo exhibits have free admission and are open to the public. The Honolulu forum and photo exhibit are proudly presented by The Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawai‘i Foundation.
Supporting sponsors are:
• Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawai‘i
• East-West Center
• Center for Chinese Studies, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
• Confucius Institute at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Contact persons:
Ms. Joanne Tachibana, Dr. Sun Yat-sen Hawai‘i Foundation.
(808) 387-7271; e-mail: sunyatsenhawaii@gmail.com
Mr. Wen Chung Lin, Chinese Chamber of Commerce
(808) 533-3181; info@chinesechamber.com
