How the first Indians to immigrate to Hawaii became one of the wealthiest families there

The son of a brick and tile contractor from Hyderabad, he moved to Hawaii in 1914 and opened a retail store in Honolulu with a business partner. He is said to be the first businessman to immigrate to Hawaii from India. He reportedly built a business empire in Hawaii and his family is now one of the “richest” families on the island.

Jhamandas Watumull is vice president of Watumull Properties, and Honolulu magazine reports that “the family’s real estate arm is known for its retail, multiple startups, philanthropic career and Aloha clothing.” More than 100 years ago, 29-year-old Jhamandas Watumull moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, and opened a retail store and import business with his partner Dharamdas.

The Rise of Watumulls

JD Watumull was born in Hyderabad, then a British colony in India and now part of the Sindh province of Pakistan. He was 14 years old, the oldest of nine children, when his life changed. His father was a bricklaying contractor who suffered an accident that left him paralyzed for life, Hawaii Business News reported.

After the accident, Watumul first moved to Manila, Philippines. He lived with his brother and worked in a textile factory in Manila, SAADA reported. Later, he founded a retail business specializing in imported goods from the East.

After World War I crippled the Philippine economy, Watamul moved to Hawaii in 1914. He had no idea that the fifth generation of Watamul would make his home here. He didn’t realize the legacy he was about to create.

After arriving in Hawaii, Watamull and Dharamdas opened a retail store in downtown Honolulu, which was eventually named the East India Store.

They sold goods from East and South Asia, including ivory, crafts, brassware and silk, Hawaii Business News reported. “Aloha shirts” were a sought-after souvenir among tourists in the 1930s and were also sold at “East India Stores.”

The store was successful, but the early days were difficult. They later expanded into a full-line department store on Ford Street. It became a large department store.

Dharam Das died of cholera in 1916 in India. Jhamandas’ brother Gobindram Jhamandas became his only business partner in 1917. The family expanded the business by investing in a clothing manufacturing factory called Royal Hawaiian Manufacturing.

In 1937, Gobindram Watumull built the Watumull Building as the company’s headquarters. By 1957, their properties included 10 stores, a Waikiki apartment building and various commercial developments. In 1973, the number of stores expanded to 29.

During World War II, military personnel replaced tourists as the main customers. Apparel industry sales are limited to local markets due to disruptions in apparel shipments from the continental United States. SAADA reported that “merchandise from Asia was discontinued. Watumull switched to selling Hawan and continental US merchandise and focused on women’s clothing.”

However, like any other success story, Wattamoors’ journey was fraught with challenges posed by discrimination, immigration laws and disease.

After India’s independence in 1947, Gulab Watumull arrived in Honolulu to run the family business with his brother Rama and father J. Watumull. Gulab managed the Leilani Gilt Shop from 1948 to 1952.

At the same time, the original Watumull’s East India Store was renamed “Watumull’s”

aloha shirt

The BBC quoted Dale Hope, an expert on Hawaiian textiles and patterns, as saying that Watumul’s East India store was one of the first on the island to introduce Hawaiian pattern designs.

The designs were originally commissioned by Gobindram in 1936 from his artist sister-in-law Elsie Jensen.

According to SAADA.org, the first custom Aloha shirt was commissioned by shirt manufacturer Musa-Shiya. A special order was a shirt made of yukata fabric. The shirts are either ready to wear or made to order. Their target is tourists.

“Ellery 1. Chun, owner of King-Smith Clothiers, patented his limited-production shirts as the “Aloha Sportswear” (and, in 1937, the “Aloha Shirt”) as part of the company’s growth during the Great Depression. way. The clothing was contracted by Wong’s Products and sold for $1.95 each,” SAADA reported.

Later, artist Elsie Jensen Das (Ellen Jensen Watumull’s sister) was commissioned by Gobindram Watumull to create the first 15 Hawaiian floral designs. The original idea was inspired by the patterns of curtain fabrics sold in East Indian shops.

charity

The Watumull family has also been involved in establishing several local charitable and educational institutions, including the Rama Watumull Foundation, the J. Watumull Estate and the Watumull Foundation.

Gobindram’s wife, Ellen Watumull, joined the League of Women Voters of Hawaii to repeal the 1922 Cable Act, which prohibited U.S.-born women from marrying non-citizens, SAADA.org reported Retain your U.S. citizenship.

She also organized the first International Conference on Family Planning in India in collaboration with the Vatumul Foundation and Margaret Sanger.