Roots of a Revolution: Sun Yat-sen’s Formative Time at Punahou
By President Mike Latham ’86
Dr. Sun Yat-sen is often revered as the “Father of Modern China.” However, long before he united people across his country in the fight for democracy, anti-imperialism, and reform, forever changing the course of history, his vision was shaped here, in this very community, where he was introduced to the transformative power of education and the ideals of freedom, self-determination, and individual rights. These ideals would guide him in his mission to change the course of a nation and inspire countless others around the world.
Dr. Sun first came to Hawai‘i in 1879, as a thirteen year-old. His brother Sun Mei had arrived previously, worked as a farmer and merchant on O‘ahu and Maui, and arranged for Dr. Sun to join him. Dr. Sun eventually made several trips to Hawai‘i during his youth between 1879 and 1910, before launching the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911. His time at Punahou School, then known as O‘ahu College, was profoundly formative. He arrived at Punahou in 1883, following his studies at ‘Iolani, with a keen desire to understand the world and the forces that shaped it.
At Punahou, founded in 1841 by American Protestant missionaries, Dr. Sun was exposed to revolutionary ideas that would inspire his vision for a new China. The teachings of figures like Alexander Hamilton and Abraham Lincoln exposed him to conceptions of republican government and political economy. These influential works on social, political, and economic thought helped Dr. Sun begin to frame his own distinctive vision for China’s political independence and economic development.
Punahou’s Protestant teachings also had a lasting impact on Dr. Sun. Here, he first encountered the concepts of democracy and self-rule – ideas that would fuel his lifelong pursuit of revolution. His studies also allowed him to explore U.S. history, geography, English grammar, and physiology, subjects that broadened his intellectual horizons and solidified his belief in education’s ability to shape individuals and society.
In 1883, Punahou had 158 students, and Dr. Sun’s experience here was not just academic. It was his first co-educational experience, which further broadened his worldview. This tight-knit community of students, both boys and girls, engaged in discussions and activities that shaped Dr. Sun’s understanding of governance, freedom, and equality. His exposure to such an environment deepened his belief in the need for change and the power of education in achieving it.
The support Dr. Sun received at Punahou was also pivotal. Mentored by Rev. Frank Damon and supported by the Damon and Castle families, who were prominent Protestant missionaries in Hawai‘i, Dr. Sun found not only guidance but also financial support for his revolutionary endeavors. Through these relationships and with the backing of like-minded local Chinese families, he was able to further his cause for China’s transformation.
Dr. Sun himself later reflected on his time in Hawai‘i: “This is my Hawai‘i. Here I was brought up and educated; and it was here that I came to know what modern, civilized governments are like and what they mean.” Hawai‘i also exposed him to complex questions related to imperialism as well, as he witnessed both the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy as well as the treatment and conditions under which Chinese agricultural workers labored and the nativism that led the United States government to pass the Chinese Exclusion Act in 1882. Understanding this complex history, and its legacies, is part of the work involved in considering the full range of Sun’s experience in America and the islands.
Today, Punahou continues to share Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s history with our students and the world. Through our Academy coursework in Asian Studies, the Wo International Center, and community tours and visits, we explore this transformative past as we consider profound questions about the future of democracy and individual rights in our own country and around the world.
As we reflect on Dr. Sun Yat-sen’s extraordinary life, we recognize the profound impact that Punahou had on him – an impact that continues to resonate with us today. His story is a powerful reminder of how education can shape a single individual to lead movements of global significance.
