Pam Chun

Smithsonian Institute
Sponsored by the Hawaii State Society and the Smithsonian
Washington DC
Wednesday, June 16, 2004

Kiriyama Pacific Rim Book Prize
Fiction Judge
2008
2007

2007 Asia Pacific Leadership Award
University of San Francisco
Center for the Pacific Rim

2004 Outstanding Overseas Chinese
Chinese Consolidated Women's Association & the Chinese Six Companies
San Francisco

In 1990, Senator Hiram Fong, Hawai‘i's first U. S. Senator, told me that he had known my great-grandfather, Lau Faat Leong. L. Ah Leong, as he was known then, had owned one of the largest retail/wholesale businesses in the Hawaiian Islands in the early 1900’s.

I was mystified. I had never heard that name before. When I asked my elders who was this L. Ah Leong, they asked why I wanted to know. And anyway, there wasn’t anything good to say about him.

Yet, at the corner of King and Kekaulike Streets, you will see “L. Ah Leong Block - 1909” in huge gold letters towering over the heart of Honolulu’s Chinatown.

Despite his phenomenal success, L. Ah Leong is not mentioned in any book on Hawai‘i’s history, nor in any book about the Chinese in Hawai‘i. It took me ten years to discover he had built a successful business, was known to the Hawaiian monarchy, knew the American businessmen who became the powerful elite, and was able to use the laws to his advantage.

Despite turbulent times, L. Ah Leong amassed a business empire in Hawai‘i and China, had five wives, estates in two countries, and dozens of children.

THE MONEY DRAGON is a portrait of an Asian-American tycoon who had the power and influence to circumvent discriminatory U.S. laws and racial profiling. But the empowered women in his family complicate his plans. Like King Lear, Ah Leong makes a tragic decision that shatters his family. The book includes authentic historical documents and photos of Ah Leong and his family.

THE MONEY DRAGON was #1 on Hawai’i’s Best Seller List upon its release and stayed on the Best Seller list for many months. Pam received a Gubernatorial Commendation from the Governor of California for THE MONEY DRAGON. She has spoken at the Smithsonian in Washington DC, the National Archives and Records Administration Conference on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, The Chinese Historical Society of America, University of San Francisco Center for the Pacific Rim, The Hawai’i State Library and national organizations and bookstores in the San Francisco Bay Area, Seattle, Hawai’i, and Washington DC.

THE MONEY DRAGON was named one of 2002's Best Books of Hawaii. In 2003 it received a Ka Palapala Po`okela Award from the Hawaii Book Publisher’s Association for excellence in literature about Hawaii.

Pam Chun and THE MONEY DRAGON is featured in the new documentary, HAWAII'S CHINATOWN premiering Oct 2004 at the Hawaii International Film Festival.

Pam Chun received a Gubernatorial Commendation from the Governor of California on the day of THE MONEY DRAGON's release. The Commendation states "By sharing your talent and unique perspective, you have given greater insight into the cultural traditions of the Chinese-American community. Your dedication to artistic excellence has made a lasting impact on your community and on the literary field."