Speaker Emeritus Calvin Say (right) presents a proclamation from the Hawaii State House and Senate to Leland Sun, great-grandson of Sun Yat-sen, in Honolulu, Hawaii. K Russell Ho / for China Daily

More than 160 people from the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and the US attended a forum on Aug 6 to commemorate Dr Sun Yat-sen's 150th birthday in Honolulu, where Sun received his teenage education and much support for his revolutionary activities.

Family members, government officials from China and the US, delegates from organizations across the world, academics, supporters and the general public attended the forum.

Leland Sun, great-grandson of Sun and chairman and president of the Sun Yat-sen Center Foundation (SYSCF) delivered the key note speech at the event.

"My great-grandfather, Dr Sun Yat-sen, was a pioneer in the formation of the Republic of China," he said. "People come and want to tell me their stories about how their ancestors were connected to Dr Sun. People who do not know his background tell me how they are amazed by his teachings and heroism.

"Others say that they probably owe their very existence to Dr Sun's actions for freedom for the people."

Known as the founding father and first president of the Republic of China, Sun first came to Hawaii in 1878 as a 13-year-old boy. He went to Hawaii six times for long and short stays and later became the head of China's first republic in history by leading the overthrow of the Qing Dynasty in 1911.

Leland Sun said by setting up the SYSCF and making it a platform to unite and strengthen leadership, encourage nonprofits and educators to continue their good work and inspire new programs and projects, he is following in his great-grandfather's footsteps and passing the inspiring work of Dr Sun on to future generations.

"It is my way of giving back and saying a humble thank you to great-grandfather," he said.

Pearl Sun Lin and Rose Sun Tchang, the two granddaughters of Dr Sun, spoke together at the forum.

"The ideal of fostering world peace through harmonious society is universal," they said. "It is as essential today as it was in our grandfather's time. We believe our grandfather is smiling on all people, everywhere, who strive to promote world peace, justice and equality."

In a written congratulatory letter, Consul General Liu Jian of the consulate general of China in Los Angeles said, "Sun Yat-sen was a great patriot and a great forerunner of the democratic revolution of China. Hawaii was one of the principal places of Sun Yat-sen's overseas revolutionary activities.

"By hosting this forum, I hope we can commemorate Sun's historical merit, carry forward his revolutionary spirit, and unite overseas Chinese compatriots to make an active contribution to China's construction and development, to advancing the reunification of China, promoting the sound and stable development of China-US relations and realizing the renaissance of the Chinese nation," Liu said.

In a special message to SYSCF, David Y. Ige, governor of Hawaii, wrote: "On behalf of the people of Hawaii, I extend my warmest aloha to the participants of the Sun Yat-sen 150th birthday celebration events… I would like to acknowledge the Sun Family and the Dr Sun Yat-sen Hawaii Foundation for their continued dedication toward preserving Dr Sun Yat-sen's legacy."

wangxu@chinadaily.com.cn