1993 Model Mother of the Year

Mo Ching Lum Chang (1894 - 1995)

Mo Ching Lum Chang was born in Pang Larm Village, Sam Heong, Gook Doo, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China. She was the first daughter and had two brothers and two sisters. Her parents were Mew Sun Luke Lum and Mui Chin Lum, a travel agent.

Her early education consisted of a few years of studying Chinese. She learned to cook and sew for the family. When she was 17 years old, she married Quon Chang, an American citizen, from the neighboring village of Oo Syak. Two months after her marriage, Quon left for Honolulu, returning to China two years later. He remained in China for 11 years at which time, four sons were born: Walter (1915), Wah Jip (1919), Wah Chock (1921), Wah Fong (1924). Quon left once again for Hawaii in 1924, taking his oldest son Walter. Quon was a tailor who sewed khaki military uniforms. Four years later, Wah Jip came to Hawaii. Wah Chock and Wah Fong, sponsored by their two older brothers, came to Hawaii in 1938.

In 1937, Mo Ching Lum Chang was widowed. During that same year, her home was completely destroyed by Japanese bombs, and she relocated to Macau with her two youngest. The following year, her two youngest sons left for Hawaii. All alone, she now turned to the study of Buddhism.

  • Walter Wah Lai worked for Hawaiian Electirc Company, Pearl Harbor Navy Shipyard, and an engineering firm until he retired. He passed away in 1997.
  • Wah Jip was a navy chief in World War II, an estimator for Pacific Construction Company, and owner of W.J. Contracting, Inc. and Francoll Construction Corporation. He was licensed in building and engineering construction until retirement.
  • Wah Chock was a Navy veteran of World War II, a civil engineer technician for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Fort Shafter until his retirement.
  • Wah Fong is a retired Federal civil service employee.
It was not until 1956 when immigration quota laws were lifted that Mo Ching Chang was able to enter the United States through the sponsorship of Wah Jip. In 1990 when she was 96 years old, Mo Ching Chang became a United States Citizen. Mo Ching was a member of Gook Doo Sam Heong Society, Sam Heong Temple Society, Oo Syak Gee Lu Society, Lum Sai Ho Tong, Chinese Buddhist Association of Hawaii, and Hsu Yun Temple. Mo Ching had 13 grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

- Wah Jip Chang