Maurice J. Sullivan
NoSpamlchow
A Tribute To Maurice J. Sullivan (1908-1998)
Maurice J. Sullivan died yesterday. Mr. Sullivan is touted as the founder
of Foodland Super Markets. In the Sunday Honolulu Advertiser, the article
written by Jean Christensen touts Mr. Sullivan as "one of the most
successful entreprenurs in Hawaii's history" The article goes on to say
that Mr. Sullivan's "community involvement puts him in company with Henry
Kaiser, Herb Cornuelle and Chinn Ho".
I am sure that the good people of Hawaii will sorely miss Mr. Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan got his start, as many of the old timers in Hawaii know,
when he first got a job working as a grocery clerk in LAU Kun's grocery
store. Mr. Lau Kun (Lau is his last name) was the leading figure for the
Han Dynasty throne and a descendant of China's Chou Dynasty (1122-256
B.C.). So, when the many families of the Chou Dynasty came to Hawaii, Mr.
Kun Lau was also brought to Hawaii. Like many traditional Chinese men,
here in Hawaii, Lau Kun did not write a written will. The customary
practice of the local Chinese community was to allow the manager of the
store, a son, to inherit or manage the store upon the death of the senior
father. The same was done for the Chuns in Hawaii and others. Upon the
death of LAU Kun, the leading Prince for China's throne from the Han
Dynasty lineage, Mr. Maurice J. Sullivan continued to manage Mr. Lau's
business and made it the success it is today.
HIS IMPERIAL MAJESTY Yao Sui,
Emperor of China
c/o: Lester D. K. Chow
P.O. Box 4604
Honolulu, Hawaii 96812
ElRoi1811
>Maurice J. Sullivan died yesterday. Mr. Sullivan is touted as the founder
>of Foodland Super Markets.
So then what, going get sale this week or what?
NoSpamlchow
ElRoi1811 (elro...@aol.com) wrote:
:
: >Maurice J. Sullivan died yesterday. Mr. Sullivan is touted as the founder
: >of Foodland Super Markets.
:
: So then what, going get sale this week or what?
NoSpamlchow (lc...@lava.net) replied:
You should ask the family of Foodland Super Market that question. Send
them an e-mail and also post your letter on the Internet. The problem
with rich people is that they steer clear of the general public. My
article below was placed here on the Internet to set the Advertiser's
story about Foodland straight. Apparently, I assume, Irish people think
little or nothing about the Chinese and I wonder why LAU Kun was not given
cerdit for being the founder of Foodland. I would completely agree that
Maurice J. Sullivan was the man responsible for the great growth of
Foodland, but LAU Kun and the Chinese community (with Japanese friends)
have been responsible for Foodland's phenomenal growth and Mr. Sullivan's
success.
PS: I wish I were that lucky, as to inherit someone's business just by
being the manager. Best wishes to the Sullivan family. Patrick, Kitty,
Jenai, and Colleen.
A Tribute To Maurice J. Sullivan (1908-1998)
Maurice J. Sullivan died yesterday. Mr. Sullivan is touted as the founder
Gerald Smith
I certainly hope that your continuous racist statements
are not an example of all Chinese.
The man died, he did help Hawaii, why does this have
anything to do with Irish not respecting Chinese or any
other race. If your looking for someone who shows disrespect
towards others because of their race, look in the mirror.
NoSpamlchow wrote in message ...
NoSpamlchow
Gerald Smith (GERAL...@worldnet.att.net) wrote:
: I certainly hope that your continuous racist statements
: are not an example of all Chinese.
: The man died, he did help Hawaii, why does this have
: anything to do with Irish not respecting Chinese or any
: other race. If your looking for someone who shows disrespect
: towards others because of their race, look in the mirror.
I view your post as a nasty one. My original post was to shed a bit of
light on the history of Foodland Supermarket, Mr. Maurice J. Sullivan, and
LAU Kun. Without people like myself doing oral history, much of Hawaii's
history would be lost. I am sorry, if you did not like my posting. It
was NOT meant as a racist statement as you have said.
ElRoi1811
> Without people like myself doing oral history, much of Hawaii's
>history would be lost.
Oh boy!! The History of FOODLAND must be preserved at all costs! You must have
ate your manapua this morning, choke posts!!! And the best one was the post
with all the fake letters that you posted to show agreement with you..I would
have loved to see any of these letters actually posted to this newsgroup so we
can see they are actual people and not just figments of the emperors
imagination.
Why arent you working at the Bishop museum? I mean with your credentials...oh
nevermind, I know why now....
You know after about a week egg rolls go bad and a sign of food poisoning is
mental confusion...
LRR
Gerald Smith
Is the remark below a figment of the imagination?
How can you make this assumption?
If this is not a racist statement I apologize. It's probably more
the thinking of a twisted sense of values
NoSpamChow blurted
Martin H. Cady
MY 2 CENTS:
Mr. Sullivan was a very nice gentleman. When my dad passed away last
year, my family received a generous donation from Mr. Sullivan toward
his funeral. The check was signed by Mr. Sullivan. Mahalo to the
Sullivans and Foodland. They do care!!
Pua
Please no flames. This is a fact.
NoSpamlchow
Martin H. Cady (ma...@pipeline.com) wrote:
: MY 2 CENTS:
Martin,
I think your post is a nice and very complimentary one. By the way,
who is your father and what is his relationship to Foodland and the
Sullivans.
Lester
Pua Cady
lc...@lava.net (NoSpamlchow) wrote:
>: MY 2 CENTS:
>Martin,
>Lester
PLEZZZZZZZZZ don't flame me!!!!!! Have repect for my Dad!
My father (step) was Ben D'Amato, he was (I believe the title to be)
Assistant Store Director. He worked in Ewa Beach and Pearl City. Many
people besides my ohana will miss him dearly.
PUA (Marty's wife)
Norman Roberts
Did anyone notice the account in Mid-Week telling of Mr. Sullivan's
difficulties in getting the first Foodland started? He couldn't get
stock from either of the Big Five's two wholesale outlets. He couldn't
get loans from the Bank of Hawaii. He couldn't get advertising from the
Advertiser or the Star-Bulletin without paing cash up front. In those
days, according to the article, the Big Five's Piggley Wiggley stores
had the monopoly and, of course, no one wanted the competition from an
upstart haole malihini with Chinese money. There were no supermarkets
before 1948 because the powers that were believed that Japanese women
would not push a cart in a store. Mr. Sullivan believed that anyone
would push a cart if the price was right. He was able to get supplies
directly from the mainland to open the first Foodland on time, and
grocery shopping in Hawaii hasn't been the same since. Does this
picture seem familiar to people today who are trying to start new
businesses here?
Something there is that doesn't love anything new and different.
|\|
Rick Ermshar
Norman Roberts wrote a wonderful note that included:
>> Did anyone notice the account in Mid-Week telling of Mr. Sullivan's
difficulties in getting the first Foodland started? [...] He couldn't get
advertising from the Advertiser or the Star-Bulletin without paing cash
up front. <<
Just FYI, Norman, that's a standard practice in the publishing business,
whether it's newspapers or magazines. First-time display advertisers
*always* have to pay cash up front to establish their creditworthiness,
whether it's here in Hawaii or anywhere on the mainland.
Judy Barrett
Rick Ermshar wrote:
Gee, too bad about all the trouble those Dun & Bradstreet guys go to putting
out their list and rankings of creditworthiness.
Judy
Norman Roberts
Rick Ermshar wrote:
>
> Just FYI, Norman, that's a standard practice in the publishing business,
> whether it's newspapers or magazines. First-time display advertisers
> *always* have to pay cash up front to establish their creditworthiness,
> whether it's here in Hawaii or anywhere on the mainland.
Thanks, Rick. The article wasn't clear about that. However it did
state that Sullivan was unable to establish a monthly advertising
account with the local newspapers. He had to pay cash for every ad he
ran in the beginning and for sometime thereafter. Apparently other
merchants had regular accounts and were able to pay for advertising on a
monthly basis. The writer of the article wanted to show how the
"establishiment" worked to prevent competition.
|\|
gi...@lava.net
In <nortle-889...@news.lava.net>, on 03/12/98
at 03:35 AM, Norman Roberts <nrob...@hawaii.edu> said:
:Rick Ermshar wrote:
:>
:|\|
I think that at the time Maurice started his business, the local advertising
establishment, in particular the newspapers were somewhat removed
from mainland practices... Most businesses operated slightly different
than they would have on the mainland, or they didn't survive....
Even today, the local media overtly show biases. I will not soon forget
Jeremy Harris' appearance on Joe Moore's newscast immediately
after the debate he wouldn't participate in.... I have never watched one
of his newscasts again...
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
gi...@lava.net
-----------------------------------------------------------
Rick Ermshar
Norman wrote:
>> Thanks, Rick. The article wasn't clear about that. However it did
state that Sullivan was unable to establish a monthly advertising account
with the local newspapers. He had to pay cash for every ad he ran in the
beginning and for sometime thereafter. Apparently other merchants had
regular accounts and were able to pay for advertising on a monthly basis.
<<
It would've been nice if the article had given more details. Apparently
they didn't say how *much* longer he had to pay cash (one month? six?),
and also, perhaps the other merchants had been running ads for *years*.
<shrug>
In any case, this was just one example of how difficult it was for him to
get started.
By the way, did you hear that Estelle Kelley passed away the other day at
age 91? She and her husband Roy (he died in March of last year) were the
co-founders of Outrigger Hotels & Resorts here way back in 1947, and like
Mr. Sullivan, they were *very* involved in community affairs.
Rick Ermshar
Judy wrote:
>> Gee, too bad about all the trouble those Dun & Bradstreet guys go to
putting out their list and rankings of creditworthiness. <<
Dun & Bradstreet is a membership service which rates highly visible major
corporations -- kind of a TRW but for the Wall Street set. I doubt that
Dun & Bradstreet (or any other credit rating firm) even existed waaaaay
back when Mr. Sullivan opened his first shop and in any case they don't
piddle around with small businesses.
And most publishing companies don't want to pay to belong to the credit
rating services, which is why they simply ask for cash up front for the
first few runs of any display advertiser except for major firms such as
Costco or Sears, etc.
However, if you'd care to share with us the benefit of your long
experience in the publishing and advertising fields, please do.
Judy Barrett
An sadly misinformed "expert" claimed:
> Dun & Bradstreet is a membership service which rates highly visible major
> corporations -- kind of a TRW but for the Wall Street set. I doubt that
> Dun & Bradstreet (or any other credit rating firm) even existed waaaaay
> back when Mr. Sullivan opened his first shop and in any case they don't
> piddle around with small businesses.
For more accurate historical information (from the 1840s),
see:http://www.dnbcorp.com/timeline.html
For better information on their scope, (45 million companies worldwide), see:
It is by using information and credit rankings provided by D&B that companies
can determine which previously-unknown-to-them companies have credit the
equal of a Sears or Costco. It's also how they know when those major players
are getting in trouble.
> And most publishing companies don't want to pay to belong to the credit
> rating services, which is why they simply ask for cash up front for the
> first few runs of any display advertiser except for major firms such as
> Costco or Sears, etc.
I am certain that is true of the marginal publications with which the
informant claims to have experience.
To quote the apparently still-unread article from Midweek:
"Sully steamrolled ahead--until it came to advertising in the daily papers.
COMMON PROCEDURE WAS TO RUN ADVERTISING ON CREDIT AND PAY ON MONTHLY
STATEMENTS. Not so with Foodland."
> However, if you'd care to share with us the benefit of your long
> experience in the publishing and advertising fields, please do.
No, but thanks for the demonstration of creative writing skills and the
perils of failing to properly research a story.
Olelo No'eau #1481
Kama'oma'o, ka 'aina huli hana.
At Mama'oma'o, land of activities.
Ghosts who do not go to the po of their ancestors often wander about in
certain areas. Kama'oma'o, Maui, is such a place. The activities of such
ghosts usually annoy the living.
Judy
E Ola!
NoSpamlchow
Pua Cady (p...@pipeline.com) wrote:
: lc...@lava.net (NoSpamlchow) wrote:
: >: MY 2 CENTS:
: >Martin,
: >Lester
: PUA (Marty's wife)
I don't flame people. Usually they do it to me!
Lester
NoSpamlchow
Norman Roberts (nrob...@hawaii.edu) wrote:
: Did anyone notice the account in Mid-Week telling of Mr. Sullivan's
: difficulties in getting the first Foodland started? He couldn't get
: stock from either of the Big Five's two wholesale outlets. He couldn't
: get loans from the Bank of Hawaii. He couldn't get advertising from the
: Advertiser or the Star-Bulletin without paing cash up front. In those
: days, according to the article, the Big Five's Piggley Wiggley stores
: had the monopoly and, of course, no one wanted the competition from an
: upstart haole malihini with Chinese money. There were no supermarkets
: before 1948 because the powers that were believed that Japanese women
: would not push a cart in a store. Mr. Sullivan believed that anyone
: would push a cart if the price was right. He was able to get supplies
: directly from the mainland to open the first Foodland on time, and
: grocery shopping in Hawaii hasn't been the same since. Does this
: picture seem familiar to people today who are trying to start new
: businesses here?
: Something there is that doesn't love anything new and different.
: |\|
Since I started this post, maybe it wouldn't be fair to add some extra
comments. This is the kind of oral history and comments, I wanted to
see on the Internet. People sharing their personal experiences about
Hawaii. Speaking as a layman historian (and Asian ancient history
pre-history scholar), this is the kind of thing that should be posted,
instead of the personal attacks and flames. I, also, believe that people
have the right to defend themselves, if attacked and their defense should
never be censored. If people feel wronged, the best thing is to quietly
and politely ask the person doing the posting to explain and to allow you
to add your own personal experiences to his or her treasure of knowledge.
I do know what Mr. Roberts is saying is true. Many people, not only
Maurice Sullivan, faced this kind of thing here in Hawaii. This kind of
testimony is valueable evidence of Hawaii's unique culture, growth, and
development.
Thank you for your post.
Lester D. K. Chow
NoSpamlchow
Judy Barrett (j-ba...@worldnet.att.net) wrote:
: Olelo No'eau #1481
: Kama'oma'o, ka 'aina huli hana.
: At Mama'oma'o, land of activities.
: Ghosts who do not go to the po of their ancestors often wander about in
: certain areas. Kama'oma'o, Maui, is such a place. The activities of such
: ghosts usually annoy the living.
: Judy
: E Ola!
So true!
Lester
Darrell Kaleolani Travis
Judy Barrett wrote:
> A sadly misinformed "expert" claimed:
Judy is very correct on this D&B matter!
D&B has been around for a very long time and have been
rating small companies since way before Mr. Sullivan was born!
Even our small company has a D&B file and our own *special*
D&B number!... And we're probably 20 times smaller than
Mr. Sullivan's company!
Thanks for the information Judy!
Keep up the good works!
--
_______________ _____
______ /___ /____ /_ // from the windy Windward side
_ __ / __ //_/_ __/ // Darrell Kaleolani Travis
/ /_/ / _ ,< / /_ // pii...@aloha.net
\__,_/ /_/|_| \__/ //
Rick Ermshar
Darrell wrote:
>> D&B has been around for a very long time and have been rating small
companies since way before Mr. Sullivan was born! <<
So it would seem. But the exact date that Dun & Bradstreet was founded is
irrelevant to the discussion of Mr. Sullivan's initial problems. Let's
not get too sidetracked with trivia here.
The original point remains -- the Honolulu newspapers do NOT use any
credit service to prequalify a display advertiser and they never have,
according to a manager there. *Everyone* pays cash the first few times in
order to establish credit with them.
gi...@lava.net
In <nortle-889...@news.lava.net>, on 03/13/98
at 11:50 PM, ZZS...@prodigy.com (Rick Ermshar) said:
:Darrell wrote:
:>> D&B has been around for a very long time and have been rating small
:companies since way before Mr. Sullivan was born! <<
:So it would seem. But the exact date that Dun & Bradstreet was founded is
: irrelevant to the discussion of Mr. Sullivan's initial problems. Let's
:not get too sidetracked with trivia here.
Facts are relevant to most *intelligent* readers...
:The original point remains -- the Honolulu newspapers do NOT use any
:credit service to prequalify a display advertiser and they never have,
:according to a manager there. *Everyone* pays cash the first few times in
: order to establish credit with them.
Was this the same manager Mr. Sullivan dealt with? Was he even employed
by the paper, then. About 15 years ago, I ran some displays ads and did not
have to pay cash up front... A REAL journalist deals in FACTS. A GOOD jour-
nalist will provide those facts and references before making wild and unsub-
stanitated claims in a discussion such as this...
"Just the FACTS, ma'am."
P.S. it is FACTS, not FAX....
--
-----------------------------------------------------------
gi...@lava.net
-----------------------------------------------------------
kdu...@aloha.net
Hey, you just saved me a lot of time! Good thing I read on before responding
to an obviously misinformed, juvenile post on the realities of commercial
credit. You've handled that part nicely.
What's sad is that once again, the attention has been distracted. "Sully" was
a great man. Very likely not perfect. But, he made a difference. His
business provided jobs (and still does). And he was one of the major
philanthropists in the islands. After he made it, he shared it! Both dollars
and time. We could endlessly debate this, but I think most of us have seen
some positive effect, some residual that this man walked on the earth.
Most people with any knowledge at all about the history of Hawaii or the
history of Irish immigrants to "America" know that it wasn't easy for any
outsider to make a "go" (wasn't that easy for some insiders, either) and there
were many obstacles to overcome. I'd rather celebrate Sully's success and the
way he shared that. That was, I think, the intent of this thread. Not to
once again allow a narcissist to draw the attention away and cheapen a tribute
to someone who made a difference here.
Happy Patrick's Day next Tuesday!
Kathy
A simple Irish lassie with more than 20 years in commercial credit [g]
In article <nortle-889...@news.lava.net>,
> Olelo No'eau #1481
>
> Kama'oma'o, ka 'aina huli hana.
> At Mama'oma'o, land of activities.
>
> Ghosts who do not go to the po of their ancestors often wander about in
> certain areas. Kama'oma'o, Maui, is such a place. The activities of such
> ghosts usually annoy the living.
>
> Judy
> E Ola!
>
>
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
http://www.dejanews.com/ Now offering spam-free web-based newsreading
kdu...@aloha.net
In article <nortle-889...@news.lava.net>,
ZZS...@prodigy.com (------) wrote:
>
>
> Darrell wrote:
> >> D&B has been around for a very long time and have been rating small
> companies since way before Mr. Sullivan was born! <<
>
> So it would seem. But the exact date that Dun & Bradstreet was founded is
> irrelevant to the discussion of Mr. Sullivan's initial problems. Let's
> not get too sidetracked with trivia here.
> The original point remains -- the Honolulu newspapers do NOT use any
> credit service to prequalify a display advertiser and they never have,
> according to a manager there. *Everyone* pays cash the first few times in
> order to establish credit with them.
>
>
The exact date that an imposter reaches our shores is irrelevant to the
discussion. Let's not get too sidetracked with trivia here. An imposter won't
last any longer in the credit community than in the music community. Probably
not as long -- everyone knows banker types have hearts of ice [g]. So, put on
your sweats.
The original point, I think (?) was not about the availability of credit. It
was about the hurdles (business climate) for someone starting a business in
Hawaii at the time. Sully had some advantages (as lchow pointed out) and some
disadvantages (described subsequently). I think they are all true and all are
important. It's what we do with what we have that will live on, for good or
not so good. It's also how times have changed or not that will matter.
When I came here ten years ago, one of the first people I met was credit
manager for a local print publisher. We were members of the same national
credit professionals organization, NACM, and wonder of wonders *gasp* we spoke
the same language!!!!. He knew what TRW and D&B were (d-uh). I knew what
political "reality" was (d-uh).
Hawaii companies use all the universally available credit information when
making decisions about granting credit. Just like businesses in any other
locale, they also rely on word on the street, and they are careful with brand
new companies -- higher risk!
The hurdles that Sully (and others) faced have very little to do with this.
Hawaii companies that grant credit use the same tools as any other company
operating in much of the world. They aren't ignorant or behind the times.
They may give in to political pressure. So what else is new? That's not
unique and it's certainly not news. But the "political" part is NOT policy.
Anyone with credit knowledge knows there are federal laws governing "fair
credit" and they also know how to comply with those laws.
There's most likely Olelo No'eau for this, the closest I've got in English is
"keep your mouth shut and no one need know how ignorant you are"
And from the "wisdom" of the farmers in my home state, I can improvise: must
be one fine [musician/writer/DJ/fill in the blank] 'cause he don't know squat
about business or business credit. (obviously intended as a compliment,
yeah?)
But heck [g] lie about one area of expertise, why not go for broke? Worst
that happens is you get BUSTED!
I'd be real surprised if there's anyone making business credit decisions in
this state who would admit to not using "formula" at least as a starting
point. It's pretty safe to say they wouldn't want to be quoted, even
anonymously (yeah right - in this case 50% chance of guessing it right!). OH
DARN! It's those pesky federal laws again. *sheesh*
Some people do care, though. And they might not take too kindly to being
"quoted" or misquoted in a public forum in a manner that makes them look
unprofessional or irresponsible. It might resemble "defamation"? Gee, d'ya
think? Starting to look like a "class" [action]?
Kathy (just a poor and simple banker person who can barely read and write)
Judy Barrett
kdu...@aloha.net wrote:
> There's most likely Olelo No'eau for this, the closest I've got in English is
> "keep your mouth shut and no one need know how ignorant you are"
Here are a couple:
#1189
I kani no ka pahu i ka 'olohaka o loko.
It is the space inside that gives the drum its sound.
It is the empty-headed one who does the most talking
2343
No nehinei a'e nei no; heaha ka 'ike?
[He] just arrived yesterday; what does he know?
Happy to help,
Judy
kdu...@aloha.net
Thanks, Judy - Perfect!
In article <nortle-889...@news.lava.net>,
Judy Barrett <j-ba...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
>
> kdu...@aloha.net wrote:
>
> > There's most likely Olelo No'eau for this, the closest I've got in English
is
> > "keep your mouth shut and no one need know how ignorant you are"
>
> Here are a couple:
>
> #1189
> I kani no ka pahu i ka 'olohaka o loko.
> It is the space inside that gives the drum its sound.
>
> It is the empty-headed one who does the most talking
>
> 2343
> No nehinei a'e nei no; heaha ka 'ike?
> [He] just arrived yesterday; what does he know?
>
> Happy to help,
> Judy
-----== Posted via Deja News, The Leader in Internet Discussion ==-----
NoSpamlchow
kdu...@aloha.net wrote:
: Hey, you just saved me a lot of time! Good thing I read on before responding
: to an obviously misinformed, juvenile post on the realities of commercial
: credit. You've handled that part nicely.
: What's sad is that once again, the attention has been distracted. "Sully" was
: a great man.
True, but all about him was not perfect. Part of the reason anyone
receives a good press is due, sometimes to the fact that a man received
public support. Though I do not want to say anything against the man,
Kitty his daughter is married to a Chinese man whose last name is Ch'ing
and the Ch'ing surname goes back to China's Chou Dynasty, but due to his
inheriting LAU Kun's grocery store as his start in business the Chinese
community felt obligated to support LAU Kun's grocery store now
named Foodland. A person with the support of the community will develop
an attitude which is community oriented and if the community (non-white)
works with him towards profit, that man is more apt to see things the
community's way. So, I am adding this to the legacy of Maurice J.
Sullivan. It is oral and previously unwritten history, but true. I
believe credit should be given where due. It's not to an Irish heritage,
but Hawaii's local people that helped build Foodland.
ElRoi1811
Pester Chow sez:
> Though I do not want to say anything against the man,
>Kitty his daughter is married to a Chinese man whose last name is Ch'ing
>and the Ch'ing surname goes back to China's Chou Dynasty,
So you are the Emperor of FOODLAND too??? Eh, get me some rice on special
okay? Everything is related to you isnt it?
Why are you such a racist,,, Pester Deep Kukae Chow?
Your little buddy
Larry "the lastest emperor of all" Boy
Norman Roberts
NoSpamlchow wrote:
>
So, I am adding this to the legacy of Maurice J.
> Sullivan. It is oral and previously unwritten history, but true. I
> believe credit should be given where due. It's not to an Irish heritage,
> but Hawaii's local people that helped build Foodland.
This point is important. What I found disapointing about the
Star-Bulletin article and the Mid-Week article was the way the writers
downplayed the "Chinese connection." A possible reason for the early
difficulties was simply that Mr. Sullivan was attempting to expand a
"Chinese store." The haole establishment seems not to have objected to
Chinese, Japanese, and other ethnic businesses as long as they did not
become competition. Foodland was serious competition. Where is Piggley
Wiggley today?
There's an interesting source on local Chinese influences. Char and
Char. "Chinese Historical Sites and Pioneer Families." It's available
in libraries, but it's also available at Border's Waikele. Well written
text (by some of my former classmates and colleagues) as well as some
interesting pictures.
NoSpamlchow
Norman Roberts (nrob...@hawaii.edu) wrote
and NoSpamlchow replied:
I think with Saint Patrick's day coming up, the Irish as well as all
of Hawaii's people have every reason to be proud of Mr. Maurice J.
Sullivan and his accomplishments.
Lester D. K. Chow
kdu...@aloha.net
My apologies. Must not have come across the way it was intended. Sullivan is
the Irish immigrant. As such, he would not have found a natural fit with the
business and political leadership that was in place in Hawaii when he arrived.
It was likely a better climate here in the islands than he would have found
in Boston or New York, but his "Irishness" would still have been a label, and
it would have been applied as soon as he opened his mouth. It's interesting
to me that he alligned with the Chinese community. Another group of
immigrants becoming increasingly successful in a new land, with new
opportunities.
Ethnocentricity is quite common of course. One of the values of learning
about other cultures and other races is seeing some of the parallels that
exist throughout history. Another is learning not to fall victim to
stereotypes.
Sounds to me like Foodland's history would make very interesting reading. A
lot of perspectives and not a product of "the big five".
Thanks for the insights!
Kathy
In article <nortle-889...@news.lava.net>,
lc...@lava.net (NoSpamlchow) wrote:
>
>
> kdu...@aloha.net wrote:
>
> : Hey, you just saved me a lot of time! Good thing I read on before
responding
> : to an obviously misinformed, juvenile post on the realities of commercial
> : credit. You've handled that part nicely.
>
> : What's sad is that once again, the attention has been distracted. "Sully"
was
> : a great man.
>
> True, but all about him was not perfect. Part of the reason anyone
> receives a good press is due, sometimes to the fact that a man received
> public support. Though I do not want to say anything against the man,
> Kitty his daughter is married to a Chinese man whose last name is Ch'ing
> and the Ch'ing surname goes back to China's Chou Dynasty, but due to his
> inheriting LAU Kun's grocery store as his start in business the Chinese
> community felt obligated to support LAU Kun's grocery store now
> named Foodland. A person with the support of the community will develop
> an attitude which is community oriented and if the community (non-white)
> works with him towards profit, that man is more apt to see things the
> community's way. So, I am adding this to the legacy of Maurice J.
> Sullivan. It is oral and previously unwritten history, but true. I
> believe credit should be given where due. It's not to an Irish heritage,
> but Hawaii's local people that helped build Foodland.
>
>