Legacy of Contribution
The Family Heritage of Ronald Moon
“If you live your life and when you leave, if you cannot point to anything that you left behind,
that is so sad. That is what I mean by leaving something. You got to live your life.”
Lesson Objective
Former Hawaii Chief Justice Ronald Moon shares the story of his grandfather, who immigrated from Korea to Hawaii over 120 years ago. Through Ronald Moon's story, learn about the importance of living together and social responsibility, and reflect on what we can do for the world we live in.
Summary
Ronald Moon says: "I have no reservations in saying that if not for my parents’ teachings and values, I certainly would not be here." How did a sugarcane laborer who came to Hawaii in 1903 with nothing raise his grandson to become the first Korean-American Chief Justice? Like other first-generation immigrants, his grandfather had little, but believed in the importance of living together as a community. Ronald Moon's father also taught him the value of contributing to society. This interview became the posthumous work of former Chief Justice Ronald Moon.
About Ronald Moon
Ronald Moon is the very first and only Korean-American Chief Justice in the United States. He was appointed as an associate justice in 1990 at the age of 49. It only took him three years to become the Chief Justice, and he retired at the age of 70. Commemorating his contributions to the Hawaiian judiciary, the Hawaii State Government named a local courthouse constructed in 2010 the “Ronald T.Y. Moon Judiciary Complex.”
He dedicated himself to making the law accessible to everyone. His aim was to ensure that no one faced barriers to using the court system, while also encouraging legal professionals to play a role in supporting their communities. By motivating lawyers to offer pro bono services, he helped those unable to afford legal representation in civil cases to express their voices in court.
He grew up in Wahiawa, a military base area in Hawaii. His grandfather, Moon Jung Hun, was one of the first-generation Korean immigrants. After his contract as a sugarcane laborer ended, he opened a small tailor shop in Wahiawa.
More than 100 years ago, in the second-floor room of the tailor shop, Moon Jung Hun and his wife had a son, who became the father of Ronald Moon.
Historical Information
1. What was Wahiawa like in the 1920s?
It had a large Korean population, forming a so-called “Korean Town.” Because the largest military base of the Pacific was in Wahiawa, many Koreans operated businesses such as laundries and tailoring shops for soldiers. It is now known as one of the earliest Korean communities in the U.S.
2. When Hawaiian plantation owners recruited Korean immigrants as laborers, the advertisements stated that they would receive high pay (equivalent to about three months' rice expenses for a family of four) and work in favorable conditions, such as free education, medical care, and provided housing. Was this true when the Korean immigrants actually started working in Hawaii?
The first Korean immigrants left for Hawaii with the hope of a better life, but the reality was quite different from what they had expected.
Laborers used a long and heavy blade to cut the sugarcanes, so their hands were always covered in blisters. They also had to wear thick clothes in hot weather to protect themselves from the sharp sugarcane leaves.
Korean immigrants missed their traditional food so they made kimchi to eat. However, because the plantation owners could not stand the smell of Kimchi, laborers were punished when they were found eating it.
3. Both grandfathers of Ronald Moon were first immigrants in Hawaii. What drove these first Korean immigrants to leave their homeland, where their ancestors were resting?
Due to the First Sino-Japanese War*, Korea suffered severe damage. This war led to the Treaty of Shimonoseki, which recognized Korea’s independence from China. However, it also marked the beginning of Japan’s growing influence and control over Korea, eventually leading to the annexation of Korea by Japan in 1910. The war also caused severe economic difficulties in Korea, disrupting trade, damaging infrastructure, and creating social instability, which hindered economic development.
* Sino-Japanese War: was a conflict between China and Japan that arose from competing interests in Korea. The war primarily took place in Korea.
The ‘Donghak Peasant Movement’ (also known as the ‘Donghak Peasant Revolution’) began as a response to social and economic discontent, corruption, and resistance against foreign influence over Korea. However, it directly challenged the ruling Joseon dynasty, weakening its grip on power and further destabilizing the nation. Additionally, the movement attracted the attention of foreign powers, particularly Japan and China, who used the suppression of the uprising as justification to intervene in Korea’s internal affairs. This intervention complicated Korea’s political situation and ultimately led to the loss of its sovereignty.
Discussions Points
-
What role did religion and the church community play in the lives of Korean immigrants and in the independence of Korea?
-
Why is it important to help others, as exemplified by Ronald Moon's father who kept his tailor shop's door open for that purpose?
-
Do you think it's possible to remember and connect with your roots even if you've never been to your home country? How might Ronald Moon have achieved this connection?
-
What do you think Ronald Moon’s father meant when he said, 'Public service is a rent one pays for the space one occupies here on earth?
-
How does the principle of applying the law evenly contribute to the fairness and effectiveness of the legal system? What are the potential consequences when this principle is not upheld?
Film · book recommendation
The Namesake (2003)
by Jhumpa Lahiri
The Namesake explores the immigrant experience in America. It follows the life of Gogol Ganguli, the son of Indian parents, as he navigates his identity and struggles to find his place in the world.