I found this little WWII story in my dad’s handwritten notes about his early experiences in business in Hawaii after coming to Hawaii in 1939 as an employee of Dohrmann Hotel Supply Co., a large mainland restaurant equipment dealer.

P.Y. Chong, who was the owner of Lau Yee Chai in Waikiki, Hawaii’s most popular Chinese restaurant, wanted to do his part for the men in the service of their country.

We designed, supplied and set up a steak house located where the Ilikai Hotel now stands. P.Y. was a great host. Trailer Mercer of the Star-Bulletin’s advertising department prepared a lot of his ads, all featuring “Me PY Chong Number One China Cook!”

P.Y. was a friend of all and had his steak house broiling steaks in his charcoal broiler into the wee hours.

At one time he had trouble getting meat so located several small calfs that he had grazing behind the steak house. When the Board of Health heard the report, he was instructed to have them removed.

P.Y. and I loaded them in our flatbed truck with the side gates up for the trip to Woodlawn where he owned property. With P.Y. sitting along side me early on a Sunday morning with the cows mooing, we cruised the quiet residential Manoa area en route to Woodlawn Meadows.

Later in life he was swindled and had to file bankruptcy. He was down and out–he owed us a few dollars but even tho broke, gave us the balance that was due on his account. In my sixty six years in business, that Chinese gentleman is the only person who ever showed that kind of gratitude.