HENRY WAH KAM FONG / 1918-2003
Former assistant
police chief was
‘good staff man’
Retired Honolulu Assistant Police Chief Henry Wah Kam Fong died June 19 of congestive heart failure. He was 84.
Fong joined the Honolulu Police Department in 1941, and worked under police chiefs Dan Liu and Francis Keala. He was promoted to assistant police chief in charge of administration in 1968, where he served until his retirement in 1973.
"He was a good financial officer," said retired Assistant Chief Clarence Liu, who served with Fong. "He was very loyal to the chief. He was a good staff man."
Liu also noted that Fong was a good musician as well.
Fong was born Nov. 19, 1918, in Waipahu. He graduated from McKinley High School in 1937, where he was band captain. He also attended the University of Hawaii.
Fong played a number of musical instruments. He played the string bass with a dance band at the Coconut Grove in Kailua.
From 1937 to 1941, Fong performed with the Royal Hawaiian Band, in which he played the sousaphone.
In 1941 he joined the Honolulu Police Glee Club, playing the string bass.
Fong is survived by wife Nora, son Henry W.S., daughter Henrietta F. Yamaguchi, sister Ella Fong and three grandchildren.
Services were private.