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Winter 2009 - Feature
Statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Dedicated in Courtyard
The founder of Modern China has found his way back to ‘Iolani School.
A new statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen was dedicated in a ceremony on November 12, 2008 - which would have been the 142nd birthday of the first provisional president of China.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) attended ‘Iolani from 1879 to 1882. The statue depicts him as a young boy in a brisk walk and holding a book. Its pedestal and surrounding platform were designed in a the shape of a Chinese bagua for balance and positive energy. The statue also faces north east or towards China.
The six-foot-tall bronze statue was designed by Master Chu Tat Shing in Hong Kong and was shipped to Hawaii. Chu also created a similar statue for Honolulu's Chinatown Gateway Park and one that stands in the entrance way to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Museum in Hong Kong.
The ‘Iolani statue and its surrounding garden were gifts to the school from City Mill Company, Ltd. and the David C. Ai Charitable Trust. City Mill President Steven Ai ’72 serves on the ‘Iolani Board of Governors, the Sun Yat-Sen Hawaii Foundation Board of Governors, and is a son of David C. Ai and grandson of C.K. Ai. C.K. Ai and Sun Yat-Sen were 'Iolani schoolmates and lifelong friends.
Members of the Sun Yat-Sen Hawaii Foundation and other special guests were present. Rev. Daniel Leatherman delivered the opening prayer and retired Bishop Richard Chang ’59 closed the ceremony with a blessing. Students and teachers gathered on the lawn to listen as speakers honored its most famous alumnus.
At age 14, Sun Yat-Sen entered ‘Iolani after leaving Cuiheng Village, Xiangshang County, Guangdong Province. ‘Iolani provided him with his first exposure to Western education and ideals. Eventually, he went on to become a patriot in China, leading the 1911 revolution against the monarchy. In 1912, he was named the first provisional president of the Republic of China. Throughout his lifetime, he maintained contact and friendships with Hawaii residents and supporters.
A new statue of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen was dedicated in a ceremony on November 12, 2008 - which would have been the 142nd birthday of the first provisional president of China.
Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) attended ‘Iolani from 1879 to 1882. The statue depicts him as a young boy in a brisk walk and holding a book. Its pedestal and surrounding platform were designed in a the shape of a Chinese bagua for balance and positive energy. The statue also faces north east or towards China.
The six-foot-tall bronze statue was designed by Master Chu Tat Shing in Hong Kong and was shipped to Hawaii. Chu also created a similar statue for Honolulu's Chinatown Gateway Park and one that stands in the entrance way to the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Museum in Hong Kong.
The ‘Iolani statue and its surrounding garden were gifts to the school from City Mill Company, Ltd. and the David C. Ai Charitable Trust. City Mill President Steven Ai ’72 serves on the ‘Iolani Board of Governors, the Sun Yat-Sen Hawaii Foundation Board of Governors, and is a son of David C. Ai and grandson of C.K. Ai. C.K. Ai and Sun Yat-Sen were 'Iolani schoolmates and lifelong friends.
“This is my Hawai‘i. Here I was brought up and educated; and it was here that I came to know what modern, civilized governments are like and what they mean.”The dedication ceremony opened with a lion dance and Chinese drummers followed by remarks from ‘Iolani Chairman of the Board James Kawashima ’60, ‘Iolani Headmaster Dr. Val Iwashita ’67, and students Olivia Fatongia ’09, Alex Tom ’11, Sarah Fang ’09 and George Webster Ross IV ’10.
- Dr. Sun Yat-Sen in 1910
Members of the Sun Yat-Sen Hawaii Foundation and other special guests were present. Rev. Daniel Leatherman delivered the opening prayer and retired Bishop Richard Chang ’59 closed the ceremony with a blessing. Students and teachers gathered on the lawn to listen as speakers honored its most famous alumnus.
At age 14, Sun Yat-Sen entered ‘Iolani after leaving Cuiheng Village, Xiangshang County, Guangdong Province. ‘Iolani provided him with his first exposure to Western education and ideals. Eventually, he went on to become a patriot in China, leading the 1911 revolution against the monarchy. In 1912, he was named the first provisional president of the Republic of China. Throughout his lifetime, he maintained contact and friendships with Hawaii residents and supporters.