Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce
The Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce 2=ホノルル日本人商工会議所 is a business organization that promotes economic growth in Hawaii and Japan.
History
After the Chinatown fire of 1900, 37 Japanese businessmen formed the Emergency Japanese Association to help Japanese immigrants who became homeless because of the fire. The organization was soon renamed the Honolulu Japan Merchants Association. Once all of the Japanese immigrants were rehoused and claims were filed with the Hawaiian government, the group changed their focus to issues of trade between Hawaii and Japan that affected issei business owners. In 1908 the organization changed its name again to the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and from 1916 onward they worked out of an office above the Yokohama Specie Bank branch in Honolulu.In 1939, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce merged with the Japanese Merchants Association and the Honolulu Japanese Contractors Association, and changed its name to the Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
During World War II, many Chamber members were arrested and interned either in Hawaii or on the mainland. Since many members were missing, the Chamber's activities were put on hold until 1947, when the organization reactivated.
In 1960, the Chamber built an office in Moiliili. It included a cultural hall and tea house. In 1968, the organization became an associate member of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii. During the 1980s there was a movement to create a cultural center to preserve Japanese American history in Hawaii. Thus, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii was founded in 1987.
Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce
The Junior Chamber of Commerce was founded by nisei in 1949. Its creation was initially opposed by the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce because they believed that the organization's goals would run counter to the post-war "Americanization" of second-generation Japanese people.They are associated with the United States Junior Chamber of Commerce. Much of their work is focused on community service.