The Oldtimers

A collection of poetry and vignettes about the old days of Honolulu and the first Chinese Immigrants who settled here.

Occasionally, our meetings are more than just business and food. Sometimes, we like to learn about our roots which, in today's modern chaos, seem like a distant dream.

Mr. Wing Tek Lum was a special guest at our last board meeting which took place at the Grand Chinese Restaurant in Pearl City. And before I get into it, I highly recommend them. The owner is exceedingly friendly, the food is so ono, and the parking for large parties is ideal. I can't say enough good things about them. This refresh of The House of Dragon's old location is truly worth the visit.

Now, at the conclusion of business, Mr. Lum took the stage to read a selection of poems and short stories about his life in the days when everything was black and white and Chinatown was shiny and new. He read to us six excerpts from his book which transported us back to the old shops, to when Popo was just married, when working in the pineapple fields was a right of passage. These precious stories, some based on Mr. Lum's experiences, some on interviews, and others from his imagination, were like windows to the past and really connected us to the stories we were told as small kids. It almost felt like being there and books like this preserve that history and feeling.

Mr. Wing Tek Lum

The nostalgia from his stories was truly heartwarming. It made me yearn for simpler times where all we had to worry about was whether Popo still had any red candies in her bowl, leftover from Chinese New Year. As we grow and Hawaii changes dramatically, the old haunts move and disappear and all we have left are the memories we share and the stories we tell. It's profoundly tragic that, in our busy day to day where we're just trying to make it to the next morning, we allow ourselves to forget our past, our ancestors, and our rich, cultural inheritance. Listening to Mr. Lum made me realize that in the end, we should be preserving our individual histories and we should have pride in who we are and where we came from. It's true that we're all just people when it comes down to it and that our moment on this planet is brief and may not matter in the grand scheme of things, but even our little stories are part of the rich tapestry that makes up the world's history. We should strive to remember and be remembered even if it's in something as small as a book that maybe no one will read or maybe a whole generation will read in school. That's a small way we will live on and benefit the future generations long after we are gone.

Of course, at every book reading, there must be a sale and signing! But this book will always have a special place in my library.

I know I'm waxing lyrical and perhaps having a small existential crisis, but it's so true. Everyone touches someone's heart in a way that matters. That connection to each other reaches far into the past and forward into the future. It's what makes us uniquely human and I'm truly thankful that Mr. Lum took the time to share his stories and perspectives with us so that we can appreciate what our predecessors had to go through so that we can be where we are today. Thank you for your time, Mr. Lum, and I hope your book becomes a best seller one day.

What a spread! Tofu eggplant, honey walnut shrimp, scallops, egg rolls, ginger chicken, beef chow fun, and the obligatory white rice.

And then, of course, the food! We had it buffet style for the first time. Egg rolls were at a premium but otherwise, there was something for everyone and it was a beautiful spread. In the end, everyone had more than enough to eat and some people were even allowed a bonus egg roll. If you attended, what did you think of this style of service? Drop a comment to us to give the Banquet committee your feedback!

Overall, it was a great to bond with each other over our shared histories and Mr. Lum managed to sell a few copies of his book to us as well. If you missed your chance, you can find his book in local book stores, on Amazon, and at Bamboo Ridge's website. I'd link them, but I don't know how far I can go with the free plugs.

Mahalo plenty to Mr. Wing Tek Lum for sharing your voice, your vision, and your story.