The initial laborers brought to Hawaii to work the sugar cane fields were from China. Like the Japanese immigrants, they also established temples and other buildings for social activities. In 1909 a group of Chinese descended from the original immigrants formed the Lahaina Wo Hing Society, a chapter of Chee Kung Tong, a Chinese fraternal society dating back to the 17th century. In 1912 they built a fraternal hall on this site to serve as a social center for the hundreds of Chinese residents of Lahaina.
The Lahaina Restoration Foundation restored the building in 1983 and installed a display of the history of the Chinese in Lahaina. A cookhouse is also located on the site, separated from the main building as a fire precaution.
Today, the buildings feature displays of cookware, a display detailing the history of the Chinese on Maui, and a theater which features movies of Hawaii taken by Thomas Edison in 1898 and 1903. The buildings are open to the public daily.
The Lahaina Restoration Foundation restored the building in 1983 and installed a display of the history of the Chinese in Lahaina. A cookhouse is also located on the site, separated from the main building as a fire precaution.
Today, the buildings feature displays of cookware, a display detailing the history of the Chinese on Maui, and a theater which features movies of Hawaii taken by Thomas Edison in 1898 and 1903. The buildings are open to the public daily.