Support The Wo Hing Society of Lahaina

The uncontrollable fire that devastated Lahaina Town on August 8, 2023, claimed all of the Wo Hing Society buildings. The first few days I cried and cried. I looked at photos remembering how much I loved being at Wo Hing, and now it is all gone. Truly, there are no words for such a great loss.

The Wo Hing Hall, Temple, Cookhouse and Museum played an important role in preserving and honoring the history of the Wo Hing Society and the Chinese in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii. The early Chinese immigrants had integral roles and contributions to Hawaiian history. They were seamen craftsmen, laborers and entrepreneurs all developing Hawaii’s economic and agricultural taro farms, rice and sugar industries. 

The Wo Hing Society Hall and Temple was built on Front Street and served generations of Lahaina Chinese families since the early plantation days. The upstairs of the Wo Hing Society Hall was a Temple for religious celebrations and the ground floor served as a social gathering place. The Museum on the

first floor of the Hall had a collection of Chinese artifacts along with memorabilia. The Cookhouse was a community kitchen where members would cook for special events. 

The complex is also the place that holds the history on Maui of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and his elder brother Sun Mei on Maui which lead to the establishment of the modern Republic of China.

The Wo Hing Society is a nonprofit corporation that serves to perpetuate and maintain the Chinese culture in Lahaina, Maui. In its early years, the society provided members with a sense of community and mutual support. We also shared, with our visitors, the significance of learning from the past and how it

applies to our future generations.

Throughout the years, the Wo Hing Society of Lahaina conducted a Chinese Lunar New Year event, a Mid-Autumn Moon Festival, a Kite Festival, and many other celebrations that the community and visitors loved to attend. They learned so much about Chinese culture and have been touched by the history.

When the time is right and finances have been acquired, we plan to rebuild the Wo Hing Society Hall, Temple, Museum and Cookhouse to continue sharing and honoring our Hawaiian Chinese history. We plan to rebuild the Museum and to once again provide a cultural tie to the Chinese history here on

Maui. We send prayers to all the Lahaina community and Maui to come together to rebuild our beautiful community.

With your support, we have faith, hope and trust in the future.