Lum Yip Kee Ltd. funds renovation of Shidler Graduate Reading Rooms

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Contact:
Dolly Omiya, (808) 956-5645
College of Business-External Relations Office
Posted: Jun 3, 2014

From left, Wing Tek Lum, Kahu Ah Leong, Tan Tek Lum and Dean Roley.
From left, Wing Tek Lum, Kahu Ah Leong, Tan Tek Lum and Dean Roley.

With a traditional Hawaiian blessing, the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa unveiled its newly upgraded Lum Yip Kee Graduate Reading Rooms to students and faculty recently. Funded by a gift from Lum Yip Kee Ltd., a local investment and real estate company, the rooms received needed electrical work and an updated computer room that includes new computers, workstations, chairs, carpeting and mobile tables for group work.

Lum Yip Kee Ltd. first established the room in 1976 in honor of Honolulu entrepreneur and banker Lum Yip Kee (1866-1943), recognized as one of Hawai‘i’s pioneers in agriculture, merchandising, banking and land development. Since then, the room has gone has through numerous renovations, all funded through the generosity of Lum Yip Kee Ltd.

"We are extremely grateful to Lum Yip Kee Ltd. and the entire Lum family for their continuous investment in our graduate students,” said Shidler Dean Vance Roley. “In the last 37 years, thousands of graduate students have utilized this room as a resource to study, collaborate in groups, practice presentations, and develop ideas that will further their academic and professional careers. I think Lum Yip Kee would be proud that his legacy continues through the success of our students.”

Added UH Foundation President and CEO Donna Vuchinich, “Lum Yip Kee Ltd. and the Lum family’s ongoing generous support have made it possible for our students and faculty to work and learn in a state of the art environment, building pride and excellence in our faculty and students. We are deeply grateful for their continued investment that will help our students remain competitive.”

Today, Lum Yip Kee Ltd. remains a family-run company. Two grandsons, Tan Tek Lum and Wing Tek Lum, serve as President and Executive Vice President, respectively. They are joined by great-grandchildren, Melissa Y.J. Lum, Secretary, and Jeffrey M.C. Lum, Treasurer.

(Full caption) From left are Lum Yip Kee Ltd. Executive Vice President Wing Tek Lum, Kahu Bruce Ah Leong, Lum Yip Kee Ltd. President Tan Tek Lum, and Shidler College of Business Dean Vance Roley.