I can’t find a definitive answer to that question. I’ve found everything from the late 1880s to 1903. 1903 seems to mark the first significant wave of Korean immigrants. They came to Hawaii to be laborers in the growing sugar industry.

The reason I was looking at all was because tomorrow I’m off to my once a year historical reenactment. I wanted to see if it was all possible that a Korean would be a part of a pre-1880 reenactment. For those of you who don’t know, the family business is on my father’s side deals with historical reenacting (the muzzleloaders, clothes, parts, books, etc…). When I was growing up, I was his little shadow and I went to many of the historical reenactments with him. As I got older, it was my job (and thus not as much fun).

Now, I go because of tradition. I do one a year in Kalamazoo, Michigan. My father swings by the house and picks me up on his way. So, for one week-end a year, I dress up in funny clothes and help run his booth. I wear a long chemise, a big skirt and a bodice. I generally ruin the look by wearing my brown boots and my watch, but how authentic do I really have to look? I’m a Korean wearing a colonial costume. According to the history information, we weren’t even in Hawaii yet and Hawaii wasn’t a state until later anyway.

So, while I’m getting prepared to go back in time, I figured I’d revisit some old blogs about the topic too:
Link: Dressing Up

Link: Living History and Me

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