HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES	H.R. NO.	298
TWENTY-FIFTH LEGISLATURE, 2009
STATE OF HAWAII

HOUSE RESOLUTION

honoring the chinese chamber of commerce of Hawaii for having celebrated their 60^th narcissus festival.

WHEREAS, the State of Hawaii supports and acknowledges the importance of organizations that preserve the culture and values of Chinese Americans in a multi-cultural society; and,

WHEREAS, established in 1911, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, formerly known as the Chinese Merchants’ Association, serves the local Chinese business community with the mission to promote business and economic development with focus on China and Southeast Asia, to preserve Chinese culture, and to encourage civic responsibility; and,

WHEREAS, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii has raised funds to provide relief to victims of natural disasters in China, provided financial assistance to schools in China, assisted many elderly, indigent Chinese return to the homeland, and helped Chinese immigrants navigate the immigration and naturalization procedures; and,

WHEREAS, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii has been involved in Chinese trade exhibitions, conducted management training programs, and worked with the State of Hawaii in promoting investment missions to Taiwan, Hong Kong, and China; and,

WHEREAS, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii has participated in many community activities, such as the Community Chest under the present Aloha United Way, and the Red Cross, the largest and most extensive project that the Chinese Chamber takes on is the annual Narcissus Festival; and,

WHEREAS, the vision behind the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii’s Narcissus Festival was realized in 1950 through the dedicated time, labor, financial support and resources of its founders, each committed to the preservation and expansion of Chinese culture and traditions; among these men included: Henry Awa Wong, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, Honorary Mayor of Chinatown; Frederick K. Lam, M.D., Kan Leong, the first festival chairperson, Given K.W. Tang, Wah Chan Thom, Bing Fai Lau, and Walter Aloiau, and many others; and,

WHEREAS, inspired by an old Chinese saying, "marn see hee tau nurn", meaning "among a thousand things, the beginning is the hardest", despite the challenges of implementing a festival of its magnitude, founders of the Narcissus Festival saw and seized an opportunity to promote commerce during a trying time in our Nation’s history, the Narcissus Festival has thrived and flourished since its inception sixty years ago and now possesses the distinct privilege of being the State’s first and oldest ethnic festival; and,

WHEREAS, the Narcissus flower, namesake of the Festival (also known as Sui Sin Fah in Chinese), abounds in auspicious symbolism by virtue of its association with the lunar new year; ever-abundant in the springtime, and through the release of its sweet, delicate fragrance, the Narcissus flower, beloved to the Chinese, came to epitomize purity of heart and soul in the Chinese culture, fitting qualities for contestants in the Festival’s annual Narcissus Queen Pageant; and,

WHEREAS, traditionally held in mid-January, the Narcissus Queen Pageant is the oldest ethnic pageant in the State of Hawaii in which participants desirous of the opportunity to represent the Chinese community while adhering to the highest standards of personal conduct each succumb to rigorous pre-pageant preparation and an intense selection process, before the new Queen and her Court are ultimately selected by judges among a pool of worthy contestants; and,

WHEREAS, the Pageant, now in its sixtieth year, showcases the beauty and poise of its contestants, and overtime has eliminated the need for a swimsuit competition, instead adding a talent category in its place; each contestant is judged on the basis of their overall performance in four areas: talent, performed at the selection of the contestant, the cheong sam gown phase, a question and answer phase based on Chinese history and traditions, and a personal interview conducted by Pageant judges; and,

WHEREAS, on January 10, 2009, the 60th Annual Narcissus Queen Pageant was held at Hawaii Theatre Center during which contestant Lisa Wai Hah Wong, daughter of Dr. Roger and Darlene Wong, was crowned as the 2009 Narcissus Queen and members of the Court: Tina Ng crowned first princess, Dan Yuan, crowned second princess, Kacie Pang crowned third princess, and Kristine Duong crowned as fourth princess; and,

WHEREAS, on January 17, 2009, the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the Narcissus Queen Coronation Ball with 60 years of past presidents, 40 years of prior Narcissus Queens, and present Chinese Chamber officers including President and past-chair of the Narcissus and Splendor of China Festivals Ted T.C. Li; President-Elect and 60th Narcissus Festival General Chairman Dennis J. Hwang; 20-year Narcissus Queen Pageant Chairman and current Secretary of the Chinese Chamber Michele Ching; and past President of both the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Palolo Chinese Home Wes Fong; and,

WHEREAS, with each passing year, as the Narcissus Festival grows in renown and popularity, it serves to strengthen and reinforce the Chamber's efforts in promoting the Chinese cultural heritage while aiding the Chamber’s ongoing progress towards the revitalization of Chinatown; now, therefore,

BE IT RESOLVED, by the House of Representatives of the Twenty-fifth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2009, that this body hereby honors the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii for having celebrated sixty years of success, memories, and history through their presentation of the Annual Narcissus Festival; this body offers its heartfelt thanks to the Chinese Chamber and its members, both past and present, for their dedicated efforts in tending to the growth of the Narcissus Festival which, like the flower it represents, has bloomed into the deeply respected and valued tradition and source of pride for which the State of Hawaii offers its deepest gratitude.

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title: 

Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii's 60^th Narcissus Festival