Plague & Persecution in San Francisco and Honolulu Chinatown

Abstract

This study explains why the responses to bubonic plague outbreaks in San Francisco and Honolulu's Chinatowns differed during the late 1800s and early 1900s. Both cities, unprepared for the plague, resorted to drastic measures. Chinatown served as the epicenter of the outbreaks in both cities, but in Honolulu, colonial authorities empowered the Board of Health to deal with the plague crisis and burn Chinatown. In San Francisco, a strong Chinese community with legal support prevented a similar fate but opted to condemn buildings and fix public health issues. This study fills a gap by comparing these cases and examining the consequences of de facto indirect rule in San Francisco's Chinatown and direct rule in Honolulu. Using historical process tracing and archival data, it deepens our understanding of ghettoization, governance, and ethnic enclaves during pandemics. This research informs responses to pandemics by revealing how governance, social dynamics, and community resilience interact with anti-Asian sentiment. Understanding these experiences can foster more equitable solutions to public health crises.