WAH-CHAN THOM / 1900 - 2003

‘Sage of Chinese culture’
was isle living treasure

Wah-Chan Thom is credited
with fostering the arts in Chinatown

See also: Obituaries

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By Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com

Community leader and internationally recognized Chinese calligrapher and poet Wah-Chan Thom died Saturday at the age of 102.

"I call him the great sage of Chinese culture and calligraphy, and no one could match that," said Wesley Fong, past president of the Hawaii Chinese Civic Association and the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, of which Thom was emeritus director.

In 1988, Thom was recognized as a state cultural treasure and was selected by the Smithsonian Institution to represent Hawaii at its 1989 American Folklife Festival.

He was also selected as Hawaii Chinese Living Treasure in 1982 for his calligraphy and poetry.

"When the poet writes, it takes five words to capture what could be said in 50," said Reuben Wong, president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. "I doubt there are more than two or three in the Chinese community who could do this."

Thom was often asked to write Chinese couplets in calligraphy on long scrolls adorning the stages of special events, which "captured the essence of the occasion or the organization and brought good wishes to the event," Wong said.

Thom was an artist-in-residence at the Ramsay Museum in Chinatown.

He was also recognized for his vast knowledge of Chinese history and culture.

"Mr. Thom was truly a living treasure in the Chinese community and will be sorely missed," Wong said.

During World War II, language schools in Hawaii, mostly Japanese language centers, were closed, and Thom pushed for their re-establishment, daughter Lois Mui said.

A lawsuit was filed with the help of the American Civil Liberties Union, and the U.S. Supreme Court later ruled the schools should be allowed to reopen.

He "helped spearhead the right of parents to educate their children in a language other than English and that it was not un-American," Mui said.

Thom also helped found the 54-year-old Narcissus Festival, designed to stimulate business in Chinatown.

"He formed a committee to get a group together to revitalize Chinatown ... to attract visitors and local people back into Chinatown," said Henry Lee, executive secretary of the United Chinese Society.

A leader in the Chinese community, Thom headed numerous Chinese societies, where he encouraged old and young to get involved, Lee said.

Born April 4, 1900, in Waikane, Thom attended McKinley High School, graduated from the University of Hawaii and got a scholarship by Hawaii Chinese businessmen for saving a life in the 1926 Chinatown fire. He received a master's in business administration from Northwestern University.

In 1932 he married the former Jannie Kwai-Jun Luke.

Thom founded and managed W.C. Thom & Co. and Nu Enamel Co., was vice president and manager of Young's Department Store and owned and managed Mid-Pacific Kona Coffee until he retired in 1969.

Thom is also survived by daughter Adele Chang, son Roland, nine grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, brother Wah-Hui Thom and sisters Ruth Au and Florence Chiau.

Visitation is at 3 p.m. Thursday at Borthwick Mortuary; service, at 5 p.m. Interment is at 11 a.m. Friday at Manoa Chinese Cemetery. No flowers.