Laura Yuen Chock, the fourth of six children, was born July 18, 1927 in Hilo. Her father was Mun Hon Yuen, an immigrant from Canton, China. Her mother was Fannie Yen Tai Loo Yuen, a Honolulu- born Chinese American. Chock's parents owned the Hawaii Chicken Store, a poultry and herb business located on Mamo Street in downtown Hilo. Chock and her family lived in two-bedroom quarters above the store. When not helping her parents in the store, Chock grew up playing in her downtown Hilo neighborhood. She attended Hilo Union School, Hilo Intermediate School, and Hilo High School, graduating in 1945. She later obtained her bachelor of education degree from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa and eventually earned her master's degree and flfth-year teaching certificate. Her flrst teaching job was at Keaukaha School in 1957. After two years, she moved on to Hilo Union School. In 1963, Chock worked in the teacher-training program under the Department of Education. She completed her teaching career at Waiakea Waena School. Chock retired in 1978. Chock was interviewed at the Pacific Tsunami Museum in downtown Hilo. Her family's store and home·were heavily damaged in both the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis. Chock, her younger siblings, and her parents literally ran uphill for their lives in the 1946 tsunami. In the 1960 tsunami, both of Chock's parents were trapped in their store by the encroaching waters. They were later found and rescued. The business continued until 1966, when Chock's father died. Chock lives in Hilo with her husband, Tai On Chock, whom she married in 1947. The couple raised four children and currently has four grandchildren.

Scope and Content Note
This interview provides a comprehensive account of Laura Yuen Chock's life.  She was born in 1927 in Hilo, Hawaii to Chinese immigrant parents who owned the Hawaii Chicken Store. The narrative offers a vivid depiction of her childhood, growing up in a bustling downtown Hilo neighborhood, assisting in the family store, and attending local schools. Chock later pursued a career in education, working in the teacher-training program under the Department of Education. A significant portion of the interview is dedicated to Chock's recollections of the 1946 and 1960 tsunamis that heavily damaged her family's store and home. She provides a detailed account of the terrifying experiences, including the urgent evacuation, the aftermath, and the resilience demonstrated by her family. The narrative also highlights the impact of these events on the local community and the subsequent recovery efforts. Chock's personal life is also explored, including her marriage, her four children, and four grandchildren. She shares anecdotes from her family life, including the living conditions above the family store, where six children shared one room. She also discusses her husband's education and her own career progression as a teacher and supervisor. The interview concludes with Chock's reflections on her life after retirement, her continued connection to her community, and the lessons she has learned from her experiences. She emphasizes the importance of respecting the ocean and water, likely influenced by her experiences with the tsunamis. Overall, this interview provides a rich, personal perspective on life in mid-20th century Hilo, the impact of natural disasters on the community, and the resilience of its inhabitants.

Program Note:  
This interview is part of the Center for Oral History's project Tsunamis Remembered: Oral Histories of Survivors and Observers in Hawai‘i. Interviews from this project are available in the Center's ScholarSpace open access repository.

The Center for Oral History (COH), in the Department of Ethnic Studies at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, collects, documents, preserves and highlights the recollections of Native Hawaiians and the multi-ethnic people of Hawaiʻi. It produces oral histories and interpretive historical materials about lifeways, key historic events, social movements and Hawaiʻi’s role in the globalizing world, for the widest possible use.