Poetry that imagines life in Chinatown Honolulu circa 1900s

Visit this link to read one of the poems and hear a little about the inspiration for the book.

Wing Tek Lum’s third collection of poetry, The Oldtimers, imagines life in Honolulu Chinatown circa 1900. Lum gives voice to the forgotten pioneer generation of sojourners and settlers, detailing the trials and temptations of this bachelor society living far from their homeland—their hard work, their diversions, their challenges, and, even amidst the notorious plague and fire, their perseverance.

Wing Tek Lum’s poetry, renowned for its vivid imagery, emotional depth, and historical consciousness, revives archival voices with insight and empathy. Verses in The Oldtimers reflect on themes of displacement, labor, isolation, familial bonds and obligations, cultural heritage and adaptation, and the preservation of traditions and values amidst the islands’ rapid growth.

Edited by Wing Tek Lum

Softcover, 224 pp