Dr. Busaba Yip invites the community to Wo Hing Museum to view the numerous Chinese New Year displays for the Year of the Water Tiger, and to meet Dennis Ryan, who will show and explain his Chinese coin and artifact collections. Located at 858 Front St., Wo Hing is open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

LAHAINA — For many years, the Lahaina Restoration Foundation and the Wo Hing Society have coordinated the Chinese New Year (CNY) festival at the Wo Hing Museum on Front Street. This year, there will be no Lion Dance or community celebration in town. However, in order to keep the CNY tradition alive, Wo Hing has lunar new year offerings and blessings beginning the month of February, as well as numerous displays and a special invited guest.

“This year, 2022, we celebrate the Year of the Water Tiger, which begins on 1 February and continues until 21 January 2023,” said Dr. Busaba Yip, cultural director and docent at the Wo Hing Museum, Society Hall and Cookhouse.

“We are in the 4,719th Chinese year, and the tiger is the third animal in the 12 zodiac signs. In Eastern culture, the tiger symbolizes power and passion, with unpredictable quality. The tiger is also known for its fearless and restless nature, while the element of water implies creation, growth and development, yet with caution.

“The tiger personalities are powerful individuals, authoritative, brave and self-assured with a strong moral compass and belief system. They enjoy competition, or even fighting for a cause, but can sometimes struggle with their emotional and sensitive natures. The Year of the Water Tiger has different things in store for each of the Chinese zodiac signs and people of the different elements, so prepare wisely.”

A Chinese Taoist master said that this year is for moving forward and is a good turning point for individuals, families, communities, and the world. It is a time to set personal and career goals and establish plans with cooperation. Health and safety continue to be a concern, and it remains a challenge to carefully prepare for the significant changes in our lives and futures.

The date for CNY is determined by the lunar calendar, usually occurring between 21 January and 20 February. Each year, the date falls on the second new moon after the winter solstice. The ancient Chinese calendar on which the lunar new year is based functioned as a religious, dynastic and social guide presided over by the 12-year cycle of the animal zodiac.

Legend tells us that Buddha summoned all the animals of the forest to him, but only 12 answered. To honor these animals, Buddha named each year according to the order in which the animals appeared: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, ram, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.

Each year is honored by cleaning the entire house, paying off debts and forgiving old grudges so that nothing bad is left behind and the year can begin with a good start. People go from home to home to visit relatives and friends. Each household prepares a tray of sweetmeats called Chuen-hop (togetherness) to welcome the visitors. Traditionally, the New Year’s celebration begins two weeks before New Year’s Day.

“At Wo Hing, this year’s preparation included cleaning and putting up special offerings and decorations at the Society Hall and Cookhouse with Nin Wah, New Year hopeful messages and good wishes on little red papers displaying the symbols for good luck, health and happiness,” Yip said. “The altars were cleaned and an offering to the ancestors was made with oranges, pomelos, tangerines and potted flowers. Inside the Wo Hing Cookhouse, good-luck candy and tangerines were offered on an altar for the kitchen god, Joo Guan.”

Additionally, this year Wo Hing has a very special celebration and display for the Year of the Water Tiger. Yip is delighted to welcome back the museum’s good friend and special guest, Dennis Ryan, who will be sharing his collections of Chinese coins and artifacts. A retired educator, Ryan has traveled to China, Hong Kong, India, Tibet, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Guam, Morocco, Chile and Peru, as well as numerous other countries, working in the coin and artifact business. He brings his knowledge, wisdom and extraordinary assortment of relics to Wo Hing.

“We are grateful to Mr. Ryan for sharing his pieces of tiger-related artifacts from as early as 476-221 BC to the Qing Dynasty 1644-1912 AD,” Yip noted.

“One of the items is from the Western Han Dynasty 206 BC to 7 AD, a tiger nephrite jade-celestial deity, called Guardian of the West. Ryan is presently speaking with visitors about the items in his collection and the significance of the tiger in Chinese history and tradition on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wo Hing’s unique displays and Ryan’s talks are the emphasis for the Year of the Water Tiger celebration and blessings.”

Yip concluded, “CNY is a time to reflect on our lives over the past year and to plan for the future. In the Year of the Water Tiger, it is important for us to restore and build our immunity and vitality. Our hope for the community is to be safe and to live a healthy and happy life. The most common greetings heard are Kong Hee Fat Choy, May Wealth and Prosperity be Yours, and Sen Nien Fai Lock, Happy New Year!”