James P.K. Lum

He was born in Honolulu, Hawaii on February 12, 1920. He grew up in Honolulu. He held many jobs from a young age, delivering newspapers and ducks to Chinatown and the Dole cannery. Later he joined the National Guard and was activated to duty on the day Pearl Harbor got bombed. He would often talk about seeing the planes flying over Honolulu and rushing to Pearl Harbor in a taxi to report to active duty. After five years of service which included patrolling the Windward side to enforce curfew and working the motor pool at Guadalcanal, he was honorably discharged from the National Guard.

After his discharge he started a career in Auto Mechanics and met and married his wife Harriet. He and Harriet enjoyed raising their three sons, traveling and ballroom dancing. In 2021 He was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for Chinese American World War 2 Veterans.

He leaves behind his wife of 71 years Harriet, children Mel (Laurie), Billy and Tommy (Lisa), Grandchildren Cassidy, Joshua, Ikaika, Kiana and Regina, Great Grandchildren Mason, Elijah and Uakea.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.BorthwickOahu.com for the Lum family.