Ella Kam Oon Chun
Born(1915-03-28)March 28, 1915
DiedDecember 3, 1979(1979-12-03) (aged 64)
EducationUniversity of Hawaiʻi

Ella Kam Oon Chun, also Ella Chun (March 28, 1915 – December 3, 1979) was a journalist active in Hawaii, notable as the first Asian American woman reporter on the Honolulu Advertiser.

Biography

She attended University of Hawaii and was a member of many clubs; she graduated in 1937.[1] Chun joined The Honolulu Advertiser in 1937, where she was the first Asian American woman reporter.[2][3]

Chun was the first woman journalist of any ethnic background at The Honolulu Advertiser to break away from the "society" pages when she became a City Hall reporter.[2] In 1956, on the newspapers' centennial, Chun was honored as the longest serving reporter at the paper.[2] Chun's work often covered Chinese life in Hawaii, from 150 years of Chinese presence there,[4] to discussions of everyday life of fish sellers.[5] Her work emphasized the positive aspects Chinese Americans brought to Hawaiian and American life. Her work also described cultural differences to overcome prejudices.[6]

She also wrote on human interest affairs, particularly on women.[7]

Chun also served as managing editor for the groundbreaking Waikiki Beach Press, established in 1952, which was one of the first four-color tourist brochures and included serious articles on Hawaiian life, authors, and culture.[8][9]

Chun was friends with American actor Jack Lord.[10]

Honors, awards, and recognition

She was included in Notable Women of Hawaii.[11] The Asian American Journalists Association has honored Chun in the Honor Roll of Asian American Pioneers in Journalism.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Ka Palapala (PDF). Vol. XXI: The 'Flight' Edition. Honolulu: University of Hawaii. 1936. pp. 24, 49, 148, 150.
  2. 1 2 3 Brislin, Tom. "Hawaii Journalism History". University of Hawaii. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  3. ↑ "Journalists laud 106 pioneers of diversity". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. August 10, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Index to the Honolulu advertiser and Honolulu star-bulletin, 1929–1967, Volume I: A to Death". Ulukau books. 1965. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  5. ↑ Schug, Donald M. (2001). "Hawai'i's Commercial Fishing Industry: 1820—1945" (PDF). The Hawaiian Journal of History (PDF). 35: 25.
  6. ↑ Johnson, Carlee J. (2011). Remembering "the American Island of Oahu": Hawai'i under Military Rule, 1941–1945 (PDF). Victoria: University of Victoria. p. 89. ISBN 978-0-494-88310-5.
  7. ↑ Chun, Ella (1952). "An Interest in Each Child". The Honolulu Advertiser. Retrieved September 27, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Helen Chapin's Guide to Newspapers of Hawaiʻi, 1834–2000". Hawaiian Historical Society. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  9. ↑ Chapin, Helen Geracimos (1996). "38. Women in the News: From Society to Social Causes". Shaping history : the role of newspapers in Hawai'i. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press. p. 282. ISBN 0-585-26600-X. OCLC 45729341.
  10. ↑ Lynch, Sylvia D. (March 19, 2018). Jack Lord: An Acting Life. McFarland. p. 6. ISBN 978-1-4766-3175-2.
  11. ↑ Notable women of Hawaii. Barbara Bennett Peterson. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press. 1984. ISBN 0-8248-0820-7. OCLC 11030010.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (link)
  12. ↑ "Honor Roll, Asian American Journalists Association: Remembering Our Roots". Asian American Journalists Association. December 24, 2010. Retrieved September 28, 2022.
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