NEW YEAR OF THE CHINESE

When the hour hand was nearly at 12 midnight this past Tuesday, it was the time when the previous year was disappearing and the new year appearing for the Chinese. The town was noisy with the deafening sound of popping firecrackers. It was as if there was a great battle being waged. And at the edges of town where the Chinese lived, there was the deafening sound of the firecrackers going off without rest, and it continued until the previous year faded away and we came into this new year. They were perhaps happy to have this year. But should they be Hawaiians, they would be intent upon porose.*

On Wednesday morning, the Chinese were seen visiting houses here and there, giving their happy new year greetings to their friends, and they opened their hearts to all who visited their homes. There were many haole and Hawaiians who went and celebrated konohi at their friends’ and they were welcomed nicely.

At the Chinese Consulate there was held a great reception and the band was there bringing honor to the Chinese New Year. That day of the Chinese was truly peaceful; there was no rioting. On the days of Chinese New Year, there was gambling held at their homes. And some were filled with all ethnicities.

*Not sure what “porose/porese” might refer to. …a ina paha no na Hawaii aia ma ka porose ko lakou hooikaika.

(Aloha Aina, 1/31/1903, p. 5)