ALANA WONG LAU 87, a pioneering woman attorney of Hawaii, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2013 in Honolulu. The second of five children of Ah Kwo and Sun Lin Wong, Mrs. Lau grew up in the McCully neighborhood of Honolulu. A 1946 alumna of the University of Hawai'i, she left Hawai'i for the first time to attend Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois. One of only five women in her graduating class, and the only Asian, she returned to the islands and was among the first women admitted to the Hawai'i bar. Mrs. Lau worked with the Department of Public Works in the Highways Rights-of-Way Division before becoming Deputy Attorney General in 1953, a position she held until 1976. She served in a number of departments during her tenure, notably the Tax, Land, and Social Services divisions. Mrs. Lau then started a solo law practice focused on wills and trusts. She was very proud of her all-women team. Remembering her own struggles, Mrs. Lau felt great responsibility for advising and opening doors of opportunity to women in the legal professions. In 2003, the Hawaii Women Lawyers Association awarded Mrs. Lau its Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2005, the Hawaii State Bar Association honored her as one of six Legal Legends of Hawaii. Mrs. Lau is survived by her sister, Lavinia, brothers Livingston and Alvin, her daughters Laurie and Lisa and two grandchildren. Mrs. Lau's husband of more than 55 years was the late Dr. Lawrence Lit Lau, Jr. A memorial service open to the public will be held for Mrs. Lau at Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary East Chapel on Friday, February 14, 2014 at 9:30 AM. Visitation begins at 8:30 AM. A private ceremony will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Alvin and Trudy Wong 'Ohana Scholarship at the East-West Center Foundation, 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601.
ALANA WONG LAU 87, a pioneering woman attorney of Hawaii, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2013 in Honolulu. The second of five children of Ah Kwo and Sun Lin Wong, Mrs. Lau grew up in the McCully neighborhood of Honolulu. A 1946 alumna of the University of Hawai'i, she left Hawai'i for the first time to attend Northwestern University School of Law in Chicago, Illinois. One of only five women in her graduating class, and the only Asian, she returned to the islands and was among the first women admitted to the Hawai'i bar. Mrs. Lau worked with the Department of Public Works in the Highways Rights-of-Way Division before becoming Deputy Attorney General in 1953, a position she held until 1976. She served in a number of departments during her tenure, notably the Tax, Land, and Social Services divisions. Mrs. Lau then started a solo law practice focused on wills and trusts. She was very proud of her all-women team. Remembering her own struggles, Mrs. Lau felt great responsibility for advising and opening doors of opportunity to women in the legal professions. In 2003, the Hawaii Women Lawyers Association awarded Mrs. Lau its Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2005, the Hawaii State Bar Association honored her as one of six Legal Legends of Hawaii. Mrs. Lau is survived by her sister, Lavinia, brothers Livingston and Alvin, her daughters Laurie and Lisa and two grandchildren. Mrs. Lau's husband of more than 55 years was the late Dr. Lawrence Lit Lau, Jr. A memorial service open to the public will be held for Mrs. Lau at Nuuanu Memorial Park and Mortuary East Chapel on Friday, February 14, 2014 at 9:30 AM. Visitation begins at 8:30 AM. A private ceremony will follow at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Alvin and Trudy Wong 'Ohana Scholarship at the East-West Center Foundation, 1601 East-West Road, Honolulu, Hawaii 96848-1601.Our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the deceased
