Model Mother of the Year

Elizabeth Cypher Lau was born in 1919, one of six children of George and Elizabeth Lum Ho Cypher. The family relocated to Kaneohe when he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Police Department.

Elizabeth met Henry Lau at McKinley, and were married in 1939. Henry attended UH and graduated from Honolulu Business College. He worked as a fiscal officer at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Elizabeth attended Canon School of Business.

Elizabeth and Henry have three sons and one daughter, and their five-generation family includes 19 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Their children are:

GORDON G.J. LAU graduated from Iolani School and attended UH Manoa. He served in the Army as a member of the honor guard and was stationed at Fort Shafter. Gordon is married to Risa Amano Lau. They have six daughters and one son, and four grandchildren. Gordon is presently working for TheBus Co.

HARRIET DECOSTA graduated from St. Andrew’s Priory and attended UH Manoa. She is the widow of Howard DeCosta, and they owned H & H Chevron in Kahalu’u. Harriet has three daughters and one son; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Harriet has been actively involved with the Hawaiian Civic Club for nearly 40 years. She is the current treasurer of the Ko’olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club.

HENRY C.F. LAU JR. graduated from Castle High School. He served in the Army and after his discharge, he worked as an auto mechanic. Henry and his wife Cheryl have their own business in maintenance and security. They have five children and eight grandchildren.

MILTON LAU graduated from Kansas State University. He retired from the City and County of Honolulu. Milton is married to Anne Marie Lau, and they have five children and six grandchildren. Milton is the owner of Ka-Hoku Productions and for nearly 30 years produced many of Hawaii’s signature events and music festivals throughout the state. He has produced shows in large cities on the mainland as well as Tokyo and Taiwan. Milton started the Aloha Week “Downtown Ho’olaule’a”, the Downtown Block Parties on Merchant Street, and the Aloha Week “Windward Ho’olaule’a”. Currently, he is actively involved in promoting the culture and arts of Hawaii and developing programs that benefit our local community and tourism. He works with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and many of Hawaii’s largest hotel chains including the Hilton, The Starwood, The Outrigger Waikiki & Reef Hotels, and others.

Elizabeth was the first woman distributor for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1952, supervising 58 carriers.

Elizabeth and Henry moved to Hong Kong in 1966 when he was transferred to the American Consulate. Elizabeth became the first American president of the Women in Relief Society (WRS), a philanthropic and educational women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).

1967 -Hong Kong, First American President for the WRS of LDS (Chinese branch)
1970 –in Kaneohe, Vice president, WRS
1971 –President, WRS
Helped to found the Kualoa-He’eia Hawaiian Civic Club. Of its 30 years, Elizabeth has been its president for over 25 years.
Active in the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs for over 30 years, 2005-2007 -president of the Ko’olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; currently, a Lifetime Honorary Member.
1972 First president of the Kaneohe Stake Relief Society; president for 12 years
For the past 15 years, she has been a researcher in the Genealogy Library.
Monetary donations to help hurricane victims in the South Pacific.
Helped to found the KEY (Kahalu’u Ecumenical Youth) Project in Kahaluu, and today, she is a charter member.

Member of Buck Toy Club from 1940.
1973, first woman president of the Lau Association.
First female president of Leong Doo Society
2008, the second female president of Lung Kong Kung Shaw; presently a director.
1980 - instrumental in convincing the then United Chinese Society to include women in their membership; currently assistant treasurer.
Director in the Chung Shan Society. Prior to that, recording secretary.

Elizabeth was also involved in politics and business. She opened a fine jewelry store in Kaneohe. As a registered Republican, Elizabeth actively campaigned for her favorite candidate.

Throughout her incredibly active life spanning nine decades, Elizabeth Cypher Lau has nurtured her family by giving them roots and wings. For the thousands who have crossed her path and have had the privilege to know her, she has given them a glimpse of humility and service.

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	2009 Model Mother of the Year Elizabeth Cypher Lau Elizabeth Cypher Lau was born in 1919, one of six children of George and Elizabeth Lum Ho Cypher. The family relocated to Kaneohe when he was promoted to Lieutenant in the Police Department. Elizabeth met Henry Lau at McKinley, and were married in 1939. Henry attended UH and graduated from Honolulu Business College. He worked as a fiscal officer at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard. Elizabeth attended Canon School of Business. Elizabeth and Henry have three sons and one daughter, and their five-generation family includes 19 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and two great-great-grandchildren. Their children are: GORDON G.J. LAU graduated from Iolani School and attended UH Manoa. He served in the Army as a member of the honor guard and was stationed at Fort Shafter. Gordon is married to Risa Amano Lau. They have six daughters and one son, and four grandchildren. Gordon is presently working for TheBus Co. HARRIET DECOSTA graduated from St. Andrew’s Priory and attended UH Manoa. She is the widow of Howard DeCosta, and they owned H & H Chevron in Kahalu’u. Harriet has three daughters and one son; four grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Harriet has been actively involved with the Hawaiian Civic Club for nearly 40 years. She is the current treasurer of the Ko’olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club. HENRY C.F. LAU JR. graduated from Castle High School. He served in the Army and after his discharge, he worked as an auto mechanic. Henry and his wife Cheryl have their own business in maintenance and security. They have five children and eight grandchildren. MILTON LAU graduated from Kansas State University. He retired from the City and County of Honolulu. Milton is married to Anne Marie Lau, and they have five children and six grandchildren. Milton is the owner of Ka-Hoku Productions and for nearly 30 years produced many of Hawaii’s signature events and music festivals throughout the state. He has produced shows in large cities on the mainland as well as Tokyo and Taiwan. Milton started the Aloha Week “Downtown Ho’olaule’a”, the Downtown Block Parties on Merchant Street, and the Aloha Week “Windward Ho’olaule’a”. Currently, he is actively involved in promoting the culture and arts of Hawaii and developing programs that benefit our local community and tourism. He works with the Hawaii Tourism Authority and many of Hawaii’s largest hotel chains including the Hilton, The Starwood, The Outrigger Waikiki & Reef Hotels, and others. Elizabeth was the first woman distributor for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin in 1952, supervising 58 carriers. Elizabeth and Henry moved to Hong Kong in 1966 when he was transferred to the American Consulate. Elizabeth became the first American president of the Women in Relief Society (WRS), a philanthropic and educational women's organization of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). COMMUNITY SERVICE: 1967 -Hong Kong, First American President for the WRS of LDS (Chinese branch) 1970 –in Kaneohe, Vice president, WRS 1971 –President, WRS Helped to found the Kualoa-He’eia Hawaiian Civic Club. Of its 30 years, Elizabeth has been its president for over 25 years. Active in the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs for over 30 years, 2005-2007 -president of the Ko’olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club; currently, a Lifetime Honorary Member. 1972 First president of the Kaneohe Stake Relief Society; president for 12 years For the past 15 years, she has been a researcher in the Genealogy Library. Monetary donations to help hurricane victims in the South Pacific. Helped to found the KEY (Kahalu’u Ecumenical Youth) Project in Kahaluu, and today, she is a charter member. SERVICE IN CHINESE COMMUNITY: Member of Buck Toy Club from 1940. 1973, first woman president of the Lau Association. First female president of Leong Doo Society 2008, the second female president of Lung Kong Kung Shaw; presently a director. 1980 - instrumental in convincing the then United Chinese Society to include women in their membership; currently assistant treasurer. Director in the Chung Shan Society. Prior to that, recording secretary. Elizabeth was also involved in politics and business. She opened a fine jewelry store in Kaneohe. As a registered Republican, Elizabeth actively campaigned for her favorite candidate. Throughout her incredibly active life spanning nine decades, Elizabeth Cypher Lau has nurtured her family by giving them roots and wings. For the thousands who have crossed her path and have had the privilege to know her, she has given them a glimpse of humility and service.