A Brief History of Bow Yee Tong 

After the sandalwood trading era, Chinese were brought to Hawaii under contract with the sugar plantations. After the fulfilment of their contract, some of them returned to China while others remained here for further economic ventures. With rice being the main staple food, many of them became rice planters and they leased lands from the small Hawaiian Kuleana. Rice plantations blossomed throughout the islands’ swamp or marshlands. 

With the increasing number of rice plantations and hired hands, they all had one thought in common that was to band together, to share the good of building fellowship, provide social and recreational outlets. Help one another and provide lodging for fellow travelers and care for the elderly. Societies were formed and clubhouses were built. 

There was one society in Kaneohe which was first located on William Henry Road and later moved to Lilipuna Road. It was founded by the Hakka people and is known as the Chung Hing Goon See. 

A second society founded by Punti people known as Bow Yee Tong, was organized and established in 1903 on a parcel of land, in Heeia near Kamehameha Highway, generously donated by two well respected and successful members of the Kaneohe community: Mr. Yim Hoon Wai and Mr. Y. Ah Lin.  The Bow Yee Tong building was constructed on the land, along with a community living quarter, Lau Yun Fong, and a kitchen. 

The Chung Hing Society and Bow Yee Tong Society were later consolidated in 1933 and adopted the latter’s name. Bow Yee Tong was later incorporated in May 1947 under the laws of the Territory of Hawaii. The meaning of the name, Bow Yee Tong, is as follows: 

Bow means to protect or care for. 

Yee means justice or righteousness. 

Tong means hall. 

The upkeep of the Bow Yee Tong building, also known as Goon See, was solely supported by members of ordinary income upkeep of the building became a financial drain; donations were nil; the building became run down and portions of the floor were unsafe to walk on. After the storm of January 13,1970, the building lost its roof and was water damaged. The Executive Board decided that the building was too run down and unsafe for people to use for worship. 

In 1966, the Bow Yee Tong was in the way of a proposed shopping center, Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center, and the members were approached by a developer, Thomas McCormack, for a land exchange. After many legal obstacles, the land transaction was finally consummated on March 31, 1970. Bow Yee Tong was awarded 34,000 square feet of land on Lilipuna Road which was zoned for residential use. 

What began as a secret society in 1903 and restricted membership to men only was open eventually open to women in 1972. 

On April 4, 1979, Bow Yee Tong signed a lease with Lilipuna Partners for sixty-five years. Condominiums were built on the property by Lilipuna Partners. This property was later sold in the early 2000s under the leadership of then president, Audrey Choy. 

Although Bow Yee Tong still does not have a hall in which to hold its meetings, it has achieved a greater goal in this community. Bow Yee Tong offers scholarships and donates funds to charitable organizations.