John Hui and Vernon CW Ching say the Hawaii Chinese Chamber of Commerce has become a bridge in economic exchanges between China and the US island state. [Huo Yongzhe / China Daily]

HONOLULU — The Hawaii Chinese Chamber of Commerce, turning 100 years old on Nov 26, has been taking advantage of its geographical and cultural position in serving as a bridge for business and culture exchanges between China and the Pacific island state.

The anniversary will be celebrated at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.

The past decade has been an important one for the chamber, a time when it developed from the Chinese Merchants’ Association founded by 13 young Chinese merchants in Honolulu in late 1911, to an influential organization with more than 350 members today that plays a leader’s role and an active voice for the Chinese community in Hawaii.

Recently, China’s rapid growth has brought hundreds of delegates to Hawaii seeking enormous opportunities in business, education and cultural exchange. The Chinese chamber has welcomed and hosted an average of 20 delegates from China each year.

“The chamber has actively facilitated this important exchange, making China-Hawaii relations flourish in various fields,” John Hui, president of the chamber, said.

Hui started to visit China regularly seven years ago and is very confident in the Chinese market. With his network of contacts and businesses in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, the chamber helped in the signing of a new sister city agreement between Honolulu and Chengdu in September. In addition, the chamber is facilitating more exchange students to come from Sichuan and hopefully a direct flight connecting Hawaii to Chengdu, the major city in Southwest China.

Talking about the APEC being held at Honolulu now, Hui thinks the recent surge in Chinese tourists to Hawaii will bring Hawaii as well as the United States many business opportunities. “More dramatic growth depends on making the US visa process for Chinese easier and for more direct flights between the Chinese mainland and Hawaii,” he said.

According to Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, the number of Chinese visitors to Hawaii will increase annually by 20 percent from 2012 to 2014. By 2014, Hawaii will have 140,000 Chinese visitors a year.

As an important part of its centennial celebration, Vernon CW Ching, former president of the chamber and the US China Peoples Friendship Association Honolulu Chapter, is working on a special centennial edition about the chamber’s history.

“The centennial book will cover not only the 100-year history of the chamber but will also include individuals, most of whom are Chinese and have done much not only to the chamber but also to the Chinese culture and business in the state of Hawaii,” Ching said.