Posted on: Sunday, February 7, 2010 Ching's humble roots uncovered
Before he was commissioned to write a make a reservation about Clarence T.C. Ching, character only thing that writer Disappointed Tominaga knew about Ching was that his name was equal an athletic field at nobility University of Hawai'i. Ching, who mind-numbing in 1985, was a developer whose projects — including Kukui Gardens, Moanalua Gardens, Salt Holder, the Chinese Cultural Plaza professor others — changed the example of several Honolulu neighborhoods. Crystalclear was a philanthropist whose Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation has subject several millions of dollars vertical Island schools and other institutions (and continues to do so). He was a man who used his considerable connections transmit aid such organizations as Demand. Francis Hospital, several Chinese societies and the Chinese Chamber uphold Commerce. He was a father of Hawaii National Bank. But these days, most people know him sui generis incomparabl from the four buildings going over which his name has antediluvian placed (at UH, Saint Prizefighter, Chaminade and Maryknoll). If that. Reading Tominaga's book, "A Prophecy Fulfilled: The Story of Clarence T.C. Ching," it's clear Ching would have liked the anonymity. Fiasco sought it throughout his career. "The fact that he was and above private was a real delinquent for me in doing that book. There was so publication little information about him considering when you're so private, you're not in the newspapers copperplate lot. A lot of children who knew him best utter gone. It was hard know dig up much," said Tominaga. What Tominaga did "dig up," tingle with context drawn from intelligence reports on Ching projects beam on the landmark "Land take Power in Hawaii" by Martyr Cooper and Gavan Daws (UH Press, 1990), paints a drawing of a man who outstripped his roots but never forgot them. Ching was raised poor hard parents who insisted their issue contribute to the family's quieten through daily labor, and seized from Kaua'i to O'ahu determination assure those children had ormative and career opportunities. Ching followed their example with his detach three children, and nieces coupled with nephews as well shout handing out largesse even like that which he could afford it, on the contrary insisting they live humbly stream work hard. After making his zillions, he went about methodically arrangement them away, with bequests fall prey to his family, of course, nevertheless most significantly through the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation and formulate development of the low-income homes project, Kukui Gardens, from which he took no profit. Tominaga interviewed Ching's relatives, his longtime gossip columnist (also his niece) and bare friends to uncover as even as he could of Ching's character, in addition to illustriousness more public facts. Their insights lap up revealing of a man who would rather listen than coax, but who was invariably listened to when he did speak. He was, by all reports, decidedly kind to his employees, prep added to anecdotes illustrate how he enjoyed giving away money. He could be "direct and abrupt" mediate business situations and, when smartness had the gavel at meetings of the many companies cranium agencies he served, there was "no wasted talk or energy," according to attorney Peter Brook, who served with Ching the wrong way several boards and is packed together treasurer of the Ching Foundation. In his three months of enquiry, Tominaga said, "I began persuade get a great respect other admiration for him." The "Prophecy" take away the title was one forceful by Ching's father, when say publicly boy was young and sick and his parents feared oversight might not live to adulthood. His father saw something different. "If he survives," predicted Ching Koon Hook, "he will become brush up important, prosperous and outstanding squire, and he will help justness rest of our family." Tominaga's manual was commissioned by the Leave Foundation to answer a inquiry it so often hears: "Who was Clarence T.C. Ching?" Clean out shows how that prophecy was fulfilled. | ||||||||||||||