Abstract

Twenty-five descendents of the first Korean immigrants who came to Hawai‘i between 1903 and 1905 were interviewed between 1998 and 2000 as a project sponsored by the Center for Korean Studies. Nearly all interviewees were over the age of seventy and had lived in Hawaii nearly all their lives. Twenty-five more were added by Roberta Chang.

The interviewees were asked to prepare for questions regarding their parents: their names, from what part of Korea they came, under what circumstances they came to Hawai‘i, how old the parents were when they arrived, what was the family configuration, where they worked, places where they lived, community activities in which they took part, to what church and organizations the parents belonged, who they remember as leaders, any special events, and any other memories.

Interviewees were selected randomly, although attempts were made to have a fair number of interviewees from the Korean Christian Church and the Methodist Church. Please note that interviewees were asked to speak of two major organizations that were begun by the first generation: the Korean National Association (also known as Kuk Min Hur) and the Dongji Hoi. Both organizations are generally associated with the respective churches: the Korean Methodist Church and the Korean Christian Church.

Interviewees talked about other organizations such as the Korean University Club; the Tae Kuk Club; the Delta Frat and Sorority; and the Korean American Club. The latter club began in 1926. It was established by a first-generation immigrant and was quickly taken up by the second generation. The first generation left a hefty endowment to that club.

An in-depth analysis of the interviews has not been made as yet. For this interviewer, the interviews are richly packed with treasured information about the Korean community’s past, but they have to be understood in the context of the general community’s historical events.