Ha Soo Whang (Korean: 황해수; RR: Hwang Hae-su; 1892–1984), was a Korean American social worker. She was the first Korean social worker in Hawaii, and acted as a bilingual interpreter for the families under her care.[1] A graduate of Athens College, she was affiliated with the YWCA's International Institute.[2] She is credited with spreading the art of Korean dance in Hawaii.

Career

Whang was born in Korea and was educated in missionary schools there.[3] She came to the United States and attended Athens College for Young Women (Athens State University). On her way back to Korea in 1922, she stopped in Hawaii, and was offered a job at the YWCA International Institute.[4] While there, she started the HyungJay Club, where young Korean-American women could learn about traditional Korean culture, and the Mother's club, where elderly Korean women could become more familiar with American culture. Her goal was to bridge the gap between first- and second-generation Korean-Americans, but was foremost concerned with the well-being of the Korean community in Hawaii.[5]

Dance

Before Whang began her work, "respectable" Korean women did not dance, and men did so only when they were intoxicated. Whang did not teach dance herself, but rather found dancers who were willing to teach and connected them with students. Susan Chun Lee and Chai Yong Ha were two dancers she worked closely with in this capacity. Whang organized performances until 1942, when the International Institute was dissolved.[1] She left Hawaii in 1943.[6] Her work promoting Korean dance and culture in Hawaii was continued first by Halla Pai Huhm, then Mary Jo Freshley.[3]

Personal life

Her family was involved with the Korean National Association and her brothers were ordained Methodist ministers.[7] Her nieces, Mary and Elizabeth, came to live with her in Hawaii after their mother, Chang Tae Sun, died.[8]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Asian settler colonialism : from local governance to the habits of everyday life in Hawai'i. Fujikane, Candace,, Okamura, Jonathan Y. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. 2008. ISBN 9780824833008. OCLC 647928155.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  2. ↑ "Honoring the Leaders". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. 12 January 2013. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  3. 1 2 Van Zile, Judy. "The public face of Korean dance in Hawaii: a story of three women" (PDF). World Congress of Korean Studies.
  4. ↑ Mast, Robert H. (1996). Autobiography of protest in Hawaiʻi. Mast, Anne B. Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press Press. ISBN 9780824817848. OCLC 35025928.
  5. ↑ Asian/Pacific Islander American women : a historical anthology. Hune, Shirley., Nomura, Gail M. New York: New York University Press. 2003. ISBN 9780814736333. OCLC 51616195.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  6. ↑ From the land of hibiscus : Koreans in Hawaiʻi, 1903-1950. Chʻoe, Yŏng-ho, 1931-. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. 2007. ISBN 9780824829810. OCLC 256472669.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  7. ↑ Chang & Patterson 2003, p. 127.
  8. ↑ "Roberta W.S. Chang Collection - Center for Korean Studies Collections". Center for Korean Studies Collections. Retrieved 2018-02-16.

Bibliography

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