Konohī
Cover Image: Chinese New Year (detail), Hawaiʻi. Photo by Joe Carini, February 1979. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 101830
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Image: Chinese New Year, Hawaiʻi. Photo by Joe Carini, February 1979. Bishop Museum Archives, SP 224261
Image sharing on social media is welcome. For all other uses please contact Archives@BishopMuseum.org.
Image: La nui o na Pake. Ka Nupepa Kuokoa, February 6, 1869, p. 3.
Holiday of the Chinese—This coming Thursday, the 11th of this month is the new year of the Chinese, called by them “Ko-nohi.” The doors of their businesses will be closed on that day.
Image: Ka la Konohi o na Pake. Ke Au Okoa, February 18, 1869, p. 2 (digitized from microfilm).
The New Year Day of the Chinese.—The Thursday of this past week was the New Year’s day of the Chinese. It was celebrated with great joy by the traders and the Chinese of the “Land of Flowers.” From Wednesday night, the firecrackers made popping noises until dawn. The doors of the Chinese businesses were shut, and they did no work other than to make merry, and welcome their friends of all ethnicities. It was fine, and their tables were laden with foods of all sorts.
Image: “O ka Poano ae nei…” Ka Elele Poakolu, January 26, 1881, p. 1.
This coming Saturday is the first day of the new year for the Chinese (Konohī). That is the first day of the first month of the seventh year of the reign of His Imperial Majesty, Kong Shu (光緒), called by the name, the Son of Heaven. This new year will be called the year Sun Gee [?], and according to the annals of that country, this is the 4581st year since the reign of their first Emperor.
Image: O na La Konohi Keia o ka Lahui Pua o Kina. Ke Alakai o Hawaii, February 14, 1929, p. 2 (digitized from microfilm).
THESE ARE THE NEW YEAR DAYS OF THE FLOWERY PEOPLE OF CHINA
Just as always with the Chinese people, this year they will do so as well, that being to celebrate their one important day in the year that is known to us as Konohī.
These years however, they have split somewhat: some celebrate the day we do, that being the 1st of January, while some celebrate their day which has been celebrated from ancient times. This is a day on which some of our people dash about visiting for the new year the homes of Chinese people; they are a pleasant people to those who visit their homes on that day.
There is one troublesome thing about that day; that being you do not sleep at night and that they wake people up with their setting off of fire crackers that night until dawn; and those who have to go to work the following day are inconvenienced.
This post is part of He Aupuni Palapala: Preserving and Digitizing the Hawaiian Language Newspapers, a partnership between Bishop Museum and Awaiaulu with assistance from Kamehameha Schools. Mahalo nui loa to Hawaii Tourism Authority for their support. Learn more about this project here.
