Kung Hee Fat Choy! Happy Chinese New Year-Hawaiian Style! part I. Celebrating the Chinese influence on Hawaiian culture!
There are few places in the world that have embraced the Chinese Culture quite like Hawaii. In this three part blog series I will cover how the Chinese have become an integral part of Hawaii's history and culture and the many contributions Chinese Hawaiians have made to our island paradise.
Kung Hee Fat Choy or Chinese New Year is an eagerly anticipated event here in Hawaii and is marked by a number of activities centered in the China Town area of Honolulu. One such event is the New Year's Parade which attracts thousands of locals and tourists alike to the historic and festive down town. To say that China Town is a mob scene during the Parade is an understatement as the raw energy of the event is punctuated by the crackle of fireworks and the push of eager revelers.
The highlight of the parade are the multitudes of Lion and Dragon Dances that entertain the crowds during the event.
One of my earliest childhood memories is of the Lion Dance, a staple performance in the New Year celebrations, here in Honolulu back in the early 1970's. There are several legends surrounding the origin of the Lion Dance but many attribute it's conception to a Ching Dynasty Emperor who had a dream of a dancing lion and instructed his vassals to re-enact the event.
The lion consists of two dancers who are most often Kung Fu practitioners. One dancer controls the head, usually constructed from paper mache and bamboo; whose job it is to animate the lion's eyes, mouth, and ears so as to create different expressions and moods. The other dancer provides the body and the tail movement and is concealed from view by a colorful cape intimating the lion's fur and body.
In attendance are three musicians who accompany the dance with cymbals, gong, and drum. An additional dancer dressed as the Buddha cajoles the Lion into his dance with a folding fan.
As is tradition on-lookers appease and implore the dancing lions for a prosperous year ahead by 'feeding' the lions coins and packets of money.
Chinese American Social and Business organizations proudly march in the New Years Parade which draws thousands of spectators.
A Dancing Dragon poses for a photo op.
Originally created as ritual rain dance, the Dragon Dance today symbolizes success and good luck in the coming year for all humanity. The Chinese considered dragons to be benevolent creatures who possess the ability to control the weather. As China is primarily an agricultural society the arrival of the rainy season was of great concern to the Chinese population. Legends has it that the Dragon Dance was first conceived as a means of appeasing the "Dragon King" into releasing rain, so as to quench the drought stricken countryside.
The Dragon Dance continues to be an integral part of Chinese New Year celebrations. In the dance itself, a team of dancers carry the dragon effigy on poles. The lead dancers operate the head movements with great thrusts, lifts, and dips. With rhythmic undulations the dancers mimic the movements of the dragon through the street.
Dragon Dancers snake their way down Hotel street in Honolulu.
China Town closes down to traffic as New Year revelers take to the streets to sample the food, watch the parade, and participate in the various entertainments celebrating the coming year. Dim Sum anyone!
Chinese New Year began this year on January 26th and lasts 15 days ending on February 9th.
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