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“'‘Me,
P.Y.Chong!,’ he brashly called himself, and so he was known far
and wide, the original owner of the world-famous Waikiki Lau Yee Chai
restaurant, building in 1929 at the corner of Kuhio and Kalakaua Avenues.
… My dad was a waiter at the restaurant. His uniform consisted
of a solid blue cheong sam and black satin Chinese cap with a flashy
red button on top. There were times when he needed a fresh uniform and
would call home for it. Then I would take the parcel of clothing to
him, riding the streetcar all the way from downtown, where we lived,
to Waikiki. The decor at the entryway was awesome. Past the ornate moon
gate doorway was a red, fenced-in fish pond with carps and a rock garden
taller than myself. A man-made waterfall greeted me. It was in this
restful atmosphere that I would be served a steaming bowl of won ton
mein made by my dad. I savored and slurped it slowly, making it last
as long as possible. I know he loved me.” Gloria
B. K. Tamashiro,
Honolulu
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