Edwina Wong
| Edwina Wong Age: 76 Birthplace: Wahiawa, Hawaiʻi Photographer: Makana Gabrielle Baker, Age 13 ~ Wahiawa Middle School |
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| Mrs. Wong was born in Wahiawa where her family roots are strong. Her grandparents and parents are long-time residents of this central O`ahu community. Her father owned the Post Service Garage at Schofield and later opened Ace Service Motors in Wahiawa, now the current location of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mrs. Wong attended Wahiawa Elementary School, Leilehua High School and received her degree from Ouachita Baptist University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Mrs. Wong first taught at Hana High School and served as Iliahi Elementary School’s librarian until her retirement in 1995. | |
| Being the first-born son, it was my father’s duty to take care of his parents so he moved them from Palama (where his father lived with his picture bride) to lower Wahiawa where we lived next to Oshiro’s Pig Farm with my sister and mother. | |
| Throughout high school and college, I worked for Del Monte Pineapple Cannery as a trimmer. It was a good experience because I learned how to spot a sweet pineapple. | |
| Our family was active and busy at the First Baptist Church of Wahiawa. Reverend and Mrs. Dan Kong were like parents to us. We were involved with many church activities: Friday youth nights, youth choir and the different organizations in the church. We would look forward to summer camp at Pu`ukahea in Waianae. | |
| The greatest gift in my life is my family of two sons, three granddaughters with one on the way, and having been born in Hawai`i and living in Wahiawa all of my life. If I could give any advice to the younger generation, it would be to get a college degree, do your best in everything you do and make plenty money! | |
Be compassionate to each other and follow through with your commitments even though it might be hard. |
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Makana Gabrielle Baker
| I have lived in Wahiawa my whole life and my family has roots here so I thought this project could help me learn more about the area and my childhood home. I think through this project, others who don’t know about the history of Wahiawa can learn more about it from the kūpuna’s stories and possibly form a connection with and value our community more. Mrs. Wong made me realize that Wahiawa used to be more “together” in the older days. | Makana Gabrielle Baker Age 13 Wahiawa Middle School Photographer: Lisa Uesugi Kūpuna Edwina Wong Age 76 |
During the summer months, I like to reread old stories I wrote. It’s refreshing. I also take voice, acting and Jiu-jitsu classes. I want to attend Oxford University and hopefully become a social worker. |
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