2011 Model Mother of the Year

Flora Lu

Flora Lu was born and raised on the small island of Pescadores located off the west coast of Taiwan. She was born into a very large family being the seventh of eleven children. Flora learned to be a hard worker from a very young age. Traditionally the Lu family were fishermen until a typhoon hit her little town. Flora's dad was a well-respected councilman, and even though they were left with nothing, their optimism shown through. Picking up the pieces, the family embarked on the manufacturing and sales of jewelry. The Lu family was exposed to many natural treasures, and started to recycle seashells to make into jewelry, this is where Flora draws her inspiration. Flora's role in the family business was to use her inspiration to create quality jewelry for family to sell.

Flora came to Honolulu in 1982. Her mother joined her shortly after and found great inspiration in Hawaii, living in Waikiki. Her mother's wish was to open up a museum for students to learn about natural treasures. Now her mother's paintings, reflecting her wishes to her children, are displayed within the Lucoral Museum. The museum opened in 1992, and now hosts over 100,000 students. The museum is filled with wonderful exhibits and includes a gift shop, which exclusively sells Flora Lu's designs. Flora is now a world-renowned jewelry designer and has been for over a decade. She has a unique appreciation of the ocean and its many treasures. Flora's versatile and durable jewelry is an expression of her loving relationship with Mother Nature, utilizing simple techniques.

Flora organized a book drive with the Lucoral Museum to send books to the Marshall Islands and Taiwan. Thousand of books were donated, gathered and sent to the islands to promote learning and literacy in the Pacific. The Marshall Islands invited Flora and her sister to teach jewelry design to the women of their islands. They have already made four trips to the islands, and plan to return soon. Flora is actively involved in the Taiwanese/Chinese community through the Hawaii Taiwanese Center. She organized Team Taiwan for the 2011 Honolulu Festival and has done so for the past six years. She is the former president of the Taiwanese Association of America, Hawaii Chapter, and was last year's Chapter Head of the Global Federation of Chinese Business Women. Flora is actively involved with her own community, volunteering at events such as the Sacred Hearts Gala, and the East Honolulu Food Festival. She is also an active member of the Waikiki Rotary Club where she was recently the chairperson for their International Food Festival. She annually walks in the Susan G Komen Race for the Cure with the Taiwanese Women's Association. Flora and her husband Tim Chang also work closely with the Taiwanese Students Association of Hawaii Pacific University, University of Hawaii and Brigham Young University to organize events and actively promote cultural awareness in the community. Flora and Tim are seen as an auntie and uncle to the students, building a sense of community away from home.

Flora and Tim Chang wed in 1981, and will be celebrating their 30th wedding anniversary this year. They have three children that were born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although Flora has been very involved with many of these organizations, and is busy running her business, she is first and foremost a mother. She has never failed to miss a dance recital, piano concert, or kung-fu competition. Their eldest child, Benjamin, is 28 and works for Lucoral Company, managing the marketing aspects of the business. Selena, the eldest daughter, is 25 and is an investment banker for Deutsche Bank in New York City. The baby of the family, Marissa, is 22 and receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Fashion Merchandising in May and will be working as an assistant buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue in June. Flora's children, Benjamin, Selena and Marissa are honored that their mother will be receiving the Mother of the Year Award however, she wins mother of the year every year in their eyes.

-Marissa Chang