Wai Hin Pang Gum Obituary - Visitation & Funeral Information

Wai Hin (Mom) was the sixth of eleven children of Hung Yee Pang and Sam Auyong Pang (Popo Pang), grandchild of Nee Sun Auyong and Yau Moi Auyong. She was a child born of humble means but much love and determination. The Pang family lived in a big house on Ekekela Street that was always full of the sound of children and in later years, of grandchildren, all raised by the loving hands of Popo Pang. Wai Hin and the Pang daughters sewed clothing on an old manual Singer sewing machine to help support the family. On Sundays, the eleven children would share one chicken purchased by their Dad. To keep them out of mischief, Popo sent Mom, typically with a sister or two, to Bible School with Reverend Paul B Waterhouse where Mom learned Christian songs, and bible study. When World War II came, Mom would have been a High School Senior. However, she was among a select few asked to take the Civil Service exam and go to work at the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard to support the war effort. She was really proud to have been selected, offered a management position, and still received her high school diploma for her previous scholarship and work performance. All that sewing would later come in use, as Mom used her keen sewing skills to make aloha shirts for Moy Lim (Dad), Ronald and Arnold, muumuus for Lorna and Paula and patchwork quilts for our beds. Every piece was one of a kind, made with love. Nothing went to waste. As a mother, Mom was tenacious. She worked with the city to extend the bus route to stop by the Gum household and our elementary school so we wouldn’t have to walk far to catch the bus. She was also very strict, setting high standards for our school work and insisting on proper English (no pidgin). Homework always came before playing. Rumor has it she had eased off by the time Arnold came along. Mom was always there when we needed her. She patched up Ronald when he fell while trying to balance on a chain, comforted Lorna when she stubbed her toes and came home with strawberry knees, and nursed Paula back to health when she had her rare but serious fevers. After a brief panic, when a chicken showed up on our door step, Mom worked diligently with her sister, Kam Oi (Aunty Oi), to figure out the proper Chinese responses and rituals for Lorna’s wedding. She consoled us through emotional crisis when Paula decided not to become a nurse and Arnold decided not to become a doctor, noting that she would always love us, no matter what. She even cashed in her silver dollar collection to make sure we all had food to eat. Even though money was sometimes tight, we always, always had lots of food to eat (a priority) and a safe home to come back to. The cooking was always great too. She faithfully loved our Dad who lived to fish, and patiently stayed up late to help Dad clean large boxes of colorful but smelly fish that he used to catch with Uncle Tommy on the reef outside the airport. Dad grew up in Hanalei and so it’s no surprise that, when they were dating, he sang Hanalei Moon to Mom; She always had a special spot for that song because it reminded her of Dad and I would sometimes sing it to her, as she got older, to remind her of the good old days. [Hanalei Moon] As her mom, Popo Pang, was aging and losing her eyesight, Mom and Popo would spend time together driving around the island. It was Mom’s way of letting Popo know she was loved. Popo enjoyed the company even though she couldn’t see the things along the way. Sometimes we went to Kahe Beach Park, where we ate simple, made at home bag lunches on a picnic bench by the ocean. In her later years, Mom would remember the time spent with Popo and would tear up when she talked about it. Perhaps, because it reminded her of her Mom or perhaps because she just wanted to spend time with us, she loved nothing better than to go on long rides around the island, often to eat at Haleiwa Joes and get pineapple ice cream at Dole. It wasn’t money or fancy things that made her happiest. Mom, perhaps influenced by her mother Sam Auyong Pang (Popo Pang), loved children and grandchildren, and was a key influence in all of our lives. She was a kind, generous and caring soul who derived great joy from being with family and friends. Whether it was to share a meal, talk story, or go riding, it was the company that counted. Also, Mom never arrived empty handed. While we were never rich, Mom found great joy in visiting and dropping off gifts. She looked forward to the annual avocado delivery runs, taking pains to bag up avocados from the huge Gum avocado tree on Peter Street for the relatives and friends. We would stop by, drop off the avocados, chat for a bit, just long enough to see everyone and know that they were okay. When she moved in with Paula, she was overjoyed there were also bananas and calamansi to share. Dad took early retirement and the two had 10 wonderful years traveling to Europe, Asia, and stateside to visit family, fishing, walking at Ala Moana, and enjoying their first grandchild Jon. After Dad passed, Mom had the fortune to meet Hung Kee Tom who, along with his family, became steadfast friends for the next 20 years. They spent their days walking the malls for exercise, doing Luk Tung Kuen, finding new places to eat and exploring the island by car or bus. They were delighted to be in the TV advertisement for Tsukiji restaurant and even more delighted to spend time spoiling grandchildren Kathryn and Christopher. They always had lycee ready for the kids. Mom and Paula found time to cruise on the Holland America to Alaska and the East Coast. Mostly because Paula didn’t like to get up…so on a boat, Mom got up and walked the deck for exercise while Paula slept in. Mom loved the rickshaw and float plane ride in Alaska and eating steamed lobsters in Maine. She and Paula were the only ones enjoying the “lobster gravy”. Mom always saw life positively, regardless of the circumstance. She always had a ready smile, laugh, and often a joke never complaining when we asked her to go to adult day care where she would be safe if she fell during the day so everyone could continue to work. At day care she made new friends easily and was often the first person new comers were introduced to. She was asked to mentor and make new attendees feel welcome and comfortable. She offered suggestions to improve the center and donated her own money to help the center purchase needed equipment. She also really enjoyed the cooking, art, singing, music, exercise classes and BINGO and was thrilled to win the Halloween dress up contest dressed as a ladybug. Mom greeted the staff and the Handivan drivers by name and spent the time to learn all about their families and check after their welfare. She would often share fruits from our trees or some of the snacks Arnold sent. In her last few weeks, Mom took special care to thank everyone and to let them know that she loved them. Even while in intensive care, she made certain to tell us that she loved us all and was thankful for the years of love, companionship and friendship. Mom would want us to remember her but also to live our lives, inspired by her caring touch. As we come to a close we’d like to share a poem that we think reflects Mom’s wish for all of us and a song-- The poem is called “She is Gone” by David Harkins You can shed tears that she is gone Or you can smile because she has lived You can close your eyes and pray that she will come back Or you can open your eyes and see all that she has left Your heart can be empty because you can't see her Or you can be full of the love that you shared You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday Or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday You can remember her and only that she is gone Or you can cherish her memory and let it live on You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back Or you can do what she would want; smile, open your eyes, love and go on. The song…Mom always loved music. After Paula retired, she joined a harmonica band. Mom always kept time with the rhythm or sang along while Paula was practicing, mistakes and all. She went to all of Paula’s annual recitals like a proud Mom would. So for Mom, from all of us, as a farewell and thanks for a life time of love, Aloha ‘Oe, until we meet again. [Aloha ‘Oe] On behalf of our family, thank you for joining us to celebrate Wai Hin, a beloved mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. Please join us for a dim sum lunch and fellowship at Nice Day in Liliha Square immediately after this. Keep her in your hearts but be joyful, love genuinely, and live fully.

Wai Hin Pang Gum

April 19, 1925 - November 29, 2017