Oo Syak Gee Lu Society was founded in December 1897. Our founding fathers included Chang Yick Leong, Chang Dim Sing, and brothers Chang Batt and Chang Kee. Chang Yick Leong was a merchant and Chang Dim Sing was his assistant. According to records in the book, "The Sandalwood Mountains," Oo Syak has the distinction of being the oldest remaining "Chinese village club" in Hawaii. The society was formed mainly to help the people who came from Oo Syak to work in the Hawaiian Islands, promoting friendship and harmony among them. The village of Oo Syak is within the Gook Doo district of Chung Shan county, which is part of Kwangtung Province.

In 1955, Oo Syak was incorporated under the laws of the Territory of Hawaii. In its charter, the objects and purposes of the corporation include "developing, promoting and maintaining harmony among members of the Oo Syak village of Canton, China who are now living in this Territory, and their descendants; and to do all things which may be deemed charitable, benevolent, educational and scientific to mankind."

The society headquarters was at 312/318 Kamakela Lane near North Kukui Street. This property was donated by Chang Yick Leong when he decided to return to China for his retirement years. The property was listed at 5645 sq. ft. on the property tax bill. On it was a 2-story boarding & rooming house in which about 14 rooms were rented for $10 to $17 a month in 1955. The tenants included Chinese and non-Chinese boarders. Unfortunately in 1960 the city decided to condemn the property and surrounding properties for its redevelopment project.

For a brief period in 1963-1964 when the Society was looking for roots, the society owned a property in Waimanalo. This was a large beach front property approximately half an acre adjacent to Waimanalo Beach Park. This property is on Laumilo street near the present Seven-11 store. Apparently many town members did not like the drive to Waimanalo. Oo Syak members seeing a decent investment in this property, formed a hui and bought the property from the Oo Syak Society.

We currently own an older 6-unit apartment building at 2624 B Kapiolani Blvd. near the intersection of Kapiolani, Date, and Kamoku streets, which we purchased in 1965 soon after selling the Waimanalo property, and we have received rental income ever since. All six units are 1-bedroom units. The property is managed by a third-party agency.

Member Mrs. Eunice Chang Lum Chun was one of the tenants of the old Kamakela headquarters/rooming house. She recalls much of the history of the Kamakela property. In her 80's, Mrs. Chun has helped Oo Syak to know its history. She has provided various stories and translations about Oo Syak Gee Lu Society. Some of these works are attached at the end. She has generously donated the beautiful silk Oo Syak banquet banner that is shown on our web page. Mrs. Chun has also generously willed to the Chinese Palolo Home her assets so that the home may continue to help the elderly. Mrs. Chun continues as the Principal of the Tai Koong Chinese language school.

Left photo taken in mid 50's of members at the front entrance of the Kamakela Lane headquarters

Right photo taken in mid 50's of the members inside the building. On the wall in the back, a portrait of Yick Leong Chang is to the left and one of Dim Sing Chang is on the right.

• Large tree at the top right: Oo Syak, the strongest of the three villages in Sam Heong.
• Bamboo at the top middle: Pang Larm Village.
• Tree at the top left: Que Tau Village.
• Characters at the left: The area of Oo Syak village is a beautiful place to live.
• Characters at the right: Honolulu, Hawaii
• Middle characters: Oo Syak Gee Lu
• Flowers at the sides: Are for the four seasons. Oo Syak and the other villages are strong to withstand the winters.
• Dragons at the bottom: Support Oo Syak.

PAST PRESIDENTS OF OO SYAK GEE LU SOCIETY

2007 Trip to Oo Syak village. "Thanks to member Basilio Chen, of San Francisco, who welcomed us to Oo Syak village and was both an interpreter and "goodwill" ambassador for our trip. He introduced us to new friends and family at our first visit to our ancestral village." - Connie Mark. Trip photos.

First V.P. Edith P.S. Won received a letter from Joyce Chan, Director, Chinese Historical Society of America, dated May 31, 2004, recapping their telephone conversations about the work and life of Holt A. Cheng, MD. The late Dr. Cheng is known to be the first Chinese to pass the California medical exam in August 1900, and he is from Oo Syak Village (called Wu Shi in Mandarin). One account of his early life is as follows: At the age of eight (about 1886) he came to Honolulu, HI to work for his uncle. After hours he went to night school and eventually graduated from high school. After his uncle retired, Dr. Cheng found his way to California where he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons paying his way by picking apples and selling art on the streets. Documents on Dr. Cheng are on file with the Bishop Museum, Lyman Museum and the Hilo Public Library. This first news articles about Dr. Cheng is written by a non-Asian reporter in 1904, Click Here. The next news article was written recently by an Asian reported, Click Here. Also, please read article by Julie Soo.

It was also learned that Dr. Holt A. Cheng, Canton, China was listed on the official list of meat inspectors viseed before U.S. consuls, also official inspectors authorized by the Bristish local government board and approved by the Department of Agriculture, dated December 15, 1910 and October 3, 1913. Under the Inspection of Imported Meats and Meat Food Products, Food and Drugs Act of 6/30/1906, Regulation 32, (a) Meat and meat food products imported into the U.S. shall be accompanied by a certificate of official inspection of a character to satisfy the Secretary of Agriculture that they are not dangerous to health, and each package of such articles shall bear a label which shall identify it as covered by the certificate, which certificate shall accompany or be attached to the invoice on which entry is made, and (b) The certificate shall set forth the official position of the inspector and the character of the inspection.

• Oo Syak Gee Lu Society member Dr. Julie Ann Chang is Mrs. Hawaii United States 2007
  
• Kelly Hu, the well known actress from Hawaii, who co-starred with The Rock in The Scorpion King movie, is a first cousin of Daryl H.K. Hu, Oo Syak Treasurer. Kelly Hu's father is the late Herbert S.H. Hu (Oo Syak member).
  
• Chang Apana, from whom the idea of the character Detective Charlie Chan was created, is the uncle of Charlotte Chang Kop. Chang Apana was born in Waipio on the Big Island. His family moved back to China (I assume to Oo Syak) when he was three, but he moved back to Hawaii when he was 10. Visit Honolulu Chinatown's Charlie Chan web site.

Bobby Chang and his cousin Ed Chang (Oo Syak Past-President, 1998-2001) would like to share an account of the life of their grandfather, Chang Kee. Bobby Chang is the #2 son of Oo Syak Past-President Sing Chang, 1977-1978, and Dorothy Yim Chang. He is married to Oo Syak Director, Chris Chang.

Candice Lee, a granddaughter, shares the following about Chang Kee and Chang Batt.

The Wong Kwok Hometown Noodle house in Honolulu (Sam Heung Lai Hoon Deem) is quite possibly the only noodle shop in America serving the famous Zhongshan Lai Hoon (Cantonese: Lai Funn) made famous by Sam Heung people.

Fishcake dish with lai hoon in soup.

Duck dish with lai hoon in gravy.

Anthony Chang's visit with Basilio Chen



Basilio Chen e-mail attached to photos.
Biography of Henry Chang Manayan.