Ruddy F. Tongg Sr. was born into a poor plantation family — his father earned 30 cents a day. But he grew up to become one of Hawai'i's wealthiest and most colorful businessmen in the years just before and after statehood.
Tongg is best known as the founder of Trans-Pacific Airlines, the inter-island commercial carrier he created in 1946 that is now Aloha Airlines. He also founded Tongg Publishing Co. and served as board chairman for Honolulu Trust Co., American Finance, Hawaii Thrift & Loan and Hawaiian Motors.
Tongg labored as a houseboy and a cannery worker to pay his way through the University of Hawai'i. After graduation in 1925, he borrowed $500 so he could operate a printing shop and publish a Chinese-English newspaper. It eventually became Tongg Publishing.
His reputation as a good businessman was well established by World War II. Tongg created investment groups, or huis, that combined their money to purchase land sold by people leaving Hawai'i. By the end of the war, Tongg had amassed nearly $1 million in real estate and businesses.
Tongg spent the last 24 years of his life disabled after a tragic polo accident at Kapi'olani Park. He suffered massive head injuries in 1964 when his horse fell during a match.
He died in 1988 at age 83.
