The Indian family that built a business empire in Hawaii from scratch

In 1915, a young Indian entrepreneur named Jhamandas Watumull arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii, with a dream of starting a business. At just 29 years old, he partnered with his friend Dharamdas to open a retail shop on Hotel Street, where they sold a variety of exotic goods imported from the East, including silks, ivory crafts, and brassware. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 1916 when Dharamdas succumbed to cholera. In response to this loss, Jhamandas called upon his brother Gobindram to help manage the store while he continued to oversee their operations in Manila. Over the years, the Watumull brothers traveled frequently between India and Hawaii, working diligently to expand their business. Today, the Watumull name is synonymous with Hawaii's rich history, as the family has become deeply intertwined with various sectors, including garment manufacturing, real estate, education, and philanthropy in the arts. They are recognized as one of the wealthiest families in Hawaii, and their journey is a testament to their perseverance and dedication. Jhamandas, who was born in pre-independent India, came from a family that valued education despite not being wealthy. After a tragic accident left his father paralyzed, Jhamandas' mother made the difficult decision to send him to the Philippines to seek work. In 1909, he established his own trading business in Manila with Dharamdas. The brothers decided to move to Hawaii after their business in Manila suffered due to the US government's restrictions on foreign businesses. They soon renamed their store the East India Store after Gobindram took over management. As the years passed, their business flourished, transforming into a major department store with multiple branches across Asia and Hawaii. By 1957, the Watumull business had expanded to include ten stores, an apartment complex, and various commercial developments. The Star-Bulletin newspaper described the products sold at their store as woven with 'romance and mystery,' transporting customers to distant lands. One of the most iconic items they sold was the Aloha shirt, which became a popular souvenir for tourists visiting Hawaii. In the 1930s, as Hawaii emerged as a favored destination for wealthy travelers, the Aloha shirt, characterized by its vibrant colors and island motifs, gained immense popularity. Dale Hope, an expert in Hawaiian textiles, noted that the Watumull's East India Store was among the first to offer shirts featuring Hawaiian designs. Gobindram commissioned his artist sister-in-law, Elsie Jensen, to create unique patterns that replaced traditional Japanese motifs with local Hawaiian themes. These designs were hand-blocked onto raw silk in Japan and quickly became a commercial success, even reaching international markets like London. The Watumull store attracted many American movie stars, including Loretta Young and Lana Turner, who came to purchase these fashionable shirts. Gulab Watumull, Jhamandas' grandson, remarked in a 1966 interview that 'Watumull has become a synonym for Hawaiian fashions. ' The family later acquired the Royal Hawaiian Manufacturing Company, further solidifying their influence in the Hawaiian fashion industry. Despite their success, the journey to US citizenship for Jhamandas and Gobindram was fraught with challenges. Discrimination and restrictive immigration laws plagued their early years in the country. In 1922, Gobindram married Ellen Jensen, an American woman, but she lost her citizenship due to the Cable Act, which stripped citizenship from women who married immigrants. Ellen became an advocate for reforming this law and successfully regained her citizenship in 1931. Gobindram finally became a US citizen in 1946 when a new law allowed Indians to naturalize. Meanwhile, Jhamandas continued to divide his time between India and Hawaii. During the partition of India in 1947, the Watumull family relocated from Sindh to Bombay, leaving behind much of their property. Eventually, Jhamandas' son Gulab joined the family business in Hawaii and eventually took over its leadership. In 1955, the brothers decided to split the business, with Jhamandas and Gulab retaining the retail portion while Gobindram's family focused on real estate. Jhamandas permanently moved to Hawaii in 1956, a few years after the passing of his wife and one of their sons, and became a US citizen in 1961. The Watumull family has always maintained a strong connection to India and its people. Gobindram was an active supporter of India's independence and frequently traveled to Washington to advocate for the country's freedom. His home in Los Angeles became a gathering place for those concerned with Indian independence. The Watumull Foundation sponsored lectures by prominent Indian leaders at American universities, and Gobindram's wife Ellen played a key role in bringing an international parenthood conference to Delhi in 1959, which led to the establishment of India's first birth control clinics. The family's philanthropic efforts have included funding educational institutions in both Hawaii and India, supporting art programs in Honolulu, and promoting cultural exchanges between Indian and Hawaiian communities. Many of the grandchildren of the Watumull brothers now work in various capacities in Hawaii. In recent years, as the family business shifted its focus to real estate, the last Watumull retail store closed its doors in 2020. The company expressed gratitude to its customers for their years of support and fond memories. JD Watumull, the president of the company, stated, 'The Hawaiian Islands continue to be our family's focus today and in the future.