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Fond memories
fill aloha to former
U.S. Sen. Fong
Family and friends shared stories yesterday about Hiram Leong Fong as a loving grandfather, compassionate employer and a gentleman gardener who never outgrew a zest for hard work.
The former U.S. senator was buried in Nuuanu Memorial Park after a warm island-style funeral that followed the formal lying-in-state at the state Capitol that saluted Fong as statesman. More than 700 people passed through the Nuuanu mortuary to offer condolences and talk story, and more than 300 people stayed for a multiple-course Chinese lunch after the service.
"He loved to weed, and when he got tired, he lay down under a tree to rest," said Fay Carvalho. She and co-workers from Senator Fong's Plantation and Gardens came early to get seats near the front for the midday service. "Sometimes he'd jump on the tram and give the whole tour himself."
The Kahaluu gardens, which he opened to the public in 1988, were a personal refuge for him, said daughter-in-law Patsy Fong. He did much of the planting himself and would point out the history of each tree, or flowers that had been given by a friend.
Fong, who served three terms in the U.S. Senate, died Aug. 18 at the age of 97.
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"The senator and I made history," said U.S. Sen. Daniel Inouye, who returned from Washington, D.C., to attend. Inouye was elected in 1963, joining Fong, who became the nation's first Asian-American senator in 1959.
Fong was on the powerful Senate Appropriations Committee, and "he told them he wanted the new boy from Hawaii to join him. It made Hawaii the only state to have two members on the committee at the same time," Inouye recalled.
He was not called on to speak, but Inouye told reporters later that despite being from different political parties, he and Fong were united in the desire to help Hawaii.
Kitty Simonds, Fong's secretary in Washington, said, "He was proud of the work he did in the 1960s to make the immigration law more fair, to launch the postal service, upgrade the civil service and to make firearms harder to get."
Simonds and Honolulu attorney Jon Miho shared recollections of the adventures of transplanted islanders with Fong as their employer and "like a second father. He taught us that our life lessons were as important in Washington, D.C., as they were in Hawaii," she said.
Miho said: "His orders were to help everyone from Hawaii; he never asked your affiliation. He was never too big, too important, too busy to help someone from Hawaii. He always remembered that he was a pioneer, a symbol for the Chinese people."
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Miho told the crowd that he once suggested to Fong that he fire an inept staff member, to which the senator replied, "Never take a man's rice bowl."
Fong's service in the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II was honored yesterday by Hawaii Air National Guard members who acted as pallbearers.
After the war, Fong helped found the law firm of Fong Miho Choy & Robinson. In 1946, Fong pooled money with the Chang and Chun families to buy land in Kapahulu where they built Market City Shopping Center. The shopping center, which was anchored by the first Foodland, became a profitable business and the financial foundation for other enterprises. In 1952, Finance Factors Ltd. and the Finance Factor family of businesses was founded with five partners.
Fong's successful political and business career has been overshadowed in recent years by family, financial and legal difficulties, including a feud with his son Marvin. He retired to be an emeritus member of the board last year.
Finance Factors Chairman Daniel Lau said Fong "shepherded Finance Factors in good times and bad. His powerful influence lives on in the lives of all he helped and inspired."
Rather than recount the history of the self-made millionaire, Lau focused on memories of his friendship with Fong, who loved to set off firecrackers at New Year and shared "his bountiful harvest of lychee from the plantation with friends."
Three of Fong's grandchildren spoke during the service.
Fong's wife, Ellyn, who is in frail health, attended the service. It was unclear if Marvin had attended the ceremonies, but he did not sit with the rest of the family at the front of the chapel.
Hiram Fong Jr. spoke briefly, saying: "Each person we talked to today has a story about Dad. Thank you for sharing his life and sharing your stories with us."
