Posted on: Saturday, August 21, 2004
Hiram Fong funeral Friday, lying in state Thursday night
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Advertiser Staff
Funeral services have been set for former U.S. Sen. Hiram Leong Fong, who will lie in state before his burial next week.
Fong's body will lie in state in the atrium of the State Capitol beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday. A short service with prayers and speeches will be held at 6.
Fong's body will remain at the Capitol until 8 a.m. Friday, when it will be moved to Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary, 2233 Nu'uanu Ave. Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m., with a funeral service to begin at 11:30 a.m. A private burial will follow.
Fong, who died Wednesday, joins at least four other Hawai'i politicians and one revered Native Hawaiian singer who have had Capitol atrium honor.
The public is invited.
Fong was a Republican who won the hearts and votes of Democratic-dominated Hawai'i to become America's first Asian-American U.S. senator.
He was born into poverty in Kalihi on Oct. 15, 1906, as Yau Leong Fong.
He worked from a young age shining shoes, delivering poi and selling newspapers. Fong was a member of McKinley High School's Class of 1924, which included businessman Chinn Ho, former Supreme Court Justice Masaji Marumoto and real-estate magnate Hung Wai Ching among its doctors, educators and executives.
