Koreans immigrated to
Hawaii because they wanted better living conditions and
better opportunities for their children's education. They
also desired to make money in the sugar cane fields and
to seek religious freedom. In 1903, the first major group
of Koreans arrived in Hawaii. This was when the SS Gaelic
from Inchon, Korea arrived. During the next two and a
half years, sixty five boats from Korea landed in
Honolulu with 7,843 Koreans workers. Many went to work on
plantations on the islands of Oahu and Hawaii.
Plantation
Workers in Hawaii
Korea was experiencing a high degree of politiccal instability and social disorganization. There was also widespread famine resulting from the droughts in the preceding years. Additionally, Koreans were recruited as cheap labor. The plantation owners also hoped that they wouldn't cause a labor struggle, such as the Japanese labor monopoly. American missionaries, such as the Reverend George Heber Jones, persuaded the poor members of the congreagations to emigrate. Nearly half of the first shipload of 101 Koreans belonged to Reverend Jones's congregation. Later, in 1905, 11,000 Koreans came to Hawaii. The majority of these immigrants came from the provinces of Hwanghae and P'yongyang in what today is North Korea.
When they arrived in Honolulu, the immigrants were dispatched to the plantations on every major island. The most was on the islands of Kauai and Hawaii. They were unaccustomed to agricultural work, thus plantation life was difficult. Over two thousand left the plantation for the United States in 1907.
On the plantation, the Koreans had a two-bedroom house, with a kitchen and parlor, a toilet and a garden area. Some of the vegetables they planted were cabbage, radish, eggplant, and soybeans. In front of many houses, there was a ti plant, to guard the family against evil spirits. Koreans brought with them their own unique foods and cooking style. Korean food is known for its spiciness and taste. The basic seasonings in the Korean foods are red pepper, green onion, soy sauce, bean paste, garlic, ginger, sesame, mustard, vinegar, and wine. Some holidays that the Koreans brought to Hawaii are Solnal (New Years) and Seokka Tanshinil (Buddha's Birthday). Solnal is celebrated on January 1. During Solnal, people eat "Tok," meat fritters, dried persimmons, a variety of walnuts, dates, vegetables, traditional cookies, etc. The dish of the Korean's New Year's day is Tokkuk. On New Years, Koreans do "Chesa" or the offering to ancestors. The Chesa are served with liquors and teas. People traditionally do kite flying, yute, top-spinning, snow sliding, etc. Seokka Tanshinil is celebrated on May 8. On that day, people decorate the temples with beautiful and colorful decorations.
The immigrants on the plantation organized themselves. The tonghoe (village council) dealt with practical immediate issues that related to survival and maintenance. Each plantation tonghoe was represented in the district assembly of the island. In turn, each district assemby was represented in the general assembly of the Koreans, which met annually on Oahu. They provided members with collective protection against non-Koreans.
The Koreans also celebrated Chusok (Harvest Moon Festival). Chusok is celebrated on August 15. People pay respect to their ancestors, play special games, and jam the highways with cars trying to get to their hometowns. Other special occasion were the ceremonial weddings. The wedding couples wear traditional robes.
An important event that
affected Koreans in Hawaii was the Korean War. The war
put North Korea against South Korea. Eventually North and
South Korea came to an agreement. Yet, they still have
the barbed wire fence that separates the two countries
until one side gives up and lets the other side make all
the decisions. Many Koreans in Hawaii became frightened
that they would no longer be accepted.
Koreans
originally came to Hawaii to work on sugar cane
plantations.
By 1919, military bases during World War I and the recruitment of strike breakers made it possible for Koreans to leave their plantation for better paying jobs. Additionally, men sent for "picture brides" from Korea. Between 1921 and 1925, about 800 brides arrived from Korea. This more than doubled the number of women and it also changed the ethnic community in Hawaii. They ranged from seventeen to twenty five years old. They mainly came from the southeastern region of Korea. Many were from economically and socially deprived areas. These women were progressive, determined, and resilient to put up with the hardships in Hawaii. These women formed their own organizations and dedicated it to educating their children, assisting churches, boycotting Japanese commodities and helping other Koreans in distress. The Koreans faced many challenges in coming to Hawaii such as adapting to new cultures. Additionally, they had to adjust to the climate and physical features of Hawaii.
Korean War
http://www.koreanwar.com/
Sugar Plantations
http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/USASsugar.htm
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