"Guest blogger and dear friend Chester "Unc" Lau passed away..." ( In memory and honor) 'Chester "Unc" Lau' (Blog #2058)

Guest blogger and dear friend Chester "Unc" Lau passed away

Aloha Readers,

Chester "Unc" Lau one of my dear friends and frequent guest bloggers 

of this blog passed away on Sunday, May 31, 2020, at the age of 95.

(Unc) was one of my first friends when I moved to Honolulu from Alaska back in 1999.

I would see him at many potlucks and parties and we hit it off immediately

since we were both into visual arts and enjoyed talking politics

and telling jokes.

He would always call me 'Rabbi Kimo' and would frequently ask me if I had any kosher kimchee?

Unc was a cameraman for the original Hawaii Five-0 and personal

friends with Jack Lord!

Unc was also a cinemaphotographer in the military 

as well as Hawaii Five-0!

who played the lead role of Steve McGarrett.

We stayed close friends even after I moved to Kauai.

This blog will include Unc's autobiography along with 2 of Unc's writings.

The first, "Sample for your final exit," all about being prepared for death.

The other about Jack Lord, and Hawaii Five-0.

"Tales from the original Hawaii-Five-O."

You can read Unc's other blogs by placing his name in the internal search engine at the top of this blog. Unc guest blogged from 2011-2018 on a weekly basis. Many were hilarious jokes

and others were very serious matters...

A Hui Hou, and RIP Unc.

From Chester's niece

Our beloved Uncle Chester Lau will be laid to rest:

Time: 11 AM

Date:  Tuesday, June 16, 2020

Location:  Hawaiian Memorial Park,

                 45-425 Kamehameha Highway,

                 Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744

                 (808) 233-4400;

                 Garden of Love II, Section C, site 2

The Park has no maximum attendance since this service is held outdoors.  They ask that you observe all COVID-19 mitigation rules, wear face masks, and observe 6-foot social distancing.

There will be a committal tent set up at the site that day.  About 10 chairs will be provided; pls allow those who are elderly or infirm to be seated.  The site is on a slope and is wheelchair accessible.  Parking is available on the adjacent road.  According to his instructions and pre-arranged contract, Uncle will be cremated, placed in a closed urn, then inserted into a concrete vault to be buried at the site.  The service is expected to last 15-20 minutes.

We’re sending this to all known interested parties.  Please forgive me if someone was unintentionally missed, and feel free to forward this email.

Allena Kaplan,

Chester’s niece

 Below photo of Unc with his boss

Wm F. Sullivan at a Waikiki Photoshop,

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

Unc was really passionate about creating

 a National day To Help US Veterans

  and  their families for their risks

 and sacrifices to keep America FREE.

Dakinetalk's favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

RIP 'UNC'

Note,
Unc called his friends, "Uncle C's Mafia," and would periodically send out group emails.
This email was sent out to Uncle C's Mafia on 02-22-20, it was titled,
"Uncle C's Autobiography."
Page 1 of 1 page
Obituary for Chester Lau's Life's Odyssey & statement of Desire.  
This is listed in my Best Personal  CDs for Executors.
Born in April 25,1925 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Veteran in U.S.Army in the Korean War,
Master Sergeant, Official U.S. Army Signal Corps Motion Picture Photographer with duties in Europe, Japan & Korea from  April 1946 to 1955.  Worked as a cinematographer in the Motion Picture Industries in Hollywood & Honolulu, Inventor, Book publisher.
Personal Desires
Absolutely NO VIEWING of the remains, cremation desired with cremains placed in the Columbarium at  Hawaii Veterans Cemetery, Kaneohe, Hawaii. Simple private service with Military Honor Guards.Inscription on the urn to read :
                                                                                                                                                                                                  CHESTER P.K. LAU  
He loves life, Liberty & the Pursuit of Happiness
MUSIC
Aloha attire requested, No tears.  Donation to Chester Lau's Scholarship Foundation. Request 30 seconds music of the Strauss Waltzes, Verdi's Aida's Triumph March & Verdi''s La Traviata: Limbiamo, America the Beautiful, The Star-Spangled Banner & end with the French national anthem  La Marseillaise for service if possible.

Copies of Honorable Military Documents are with Executors or in Borthwick Mortuary's Honolulu office at 1330 Maunalea Street, Honolulu, HI 96817, Ph (808) 522-9300. For immediate cremation, service, and interment at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery at Kaneohe, Hawaii.   Ask the funeral director to process the remains & Make arrangements for Military service at Hawaii Veterans Cemetery. Due to government cut back on budget, Honor Guards may or may not be available at the time, but a request for them anyway, there is no charge for the Honor Guards, but we need to furnish refreshments on-site for the Honor Guards. Ask the Hawaii Veterans Cemetery  & the Military what is permitted. Also, send a letter of thanks to the Commanding General who furnishes the Honor Guards so he can pass on our gratitude to the soldiers involved. get the address from the Funeral Director or Hawaii Veterans Cemetery.
Religion :         Allot 30 seconds service equally for Buddhist, Jewish, Christian, Islam & Atheist.
                    Everyone has only one life to live, I had done things that others can only dream of ...  :-)

1. Soared over the Swiss Alps in a glider.
2.Drove & walked across the 38th parallel in the Korean War with the U.S.Army.
3. Climbed the Great Walls of China.
4. Filmed the conventional military weapon test at Utah  &  Nuclear test in Las Vagas, Nevada in the 1950s.
5. Walked naked amongst 40,000 nudists at Cap d'Agde in the French  R i v i è r a
 6. Filmed the 1952 Summer Olympic Games in Helsinki, Finland for the         U.S.Military.
7. Invented the Pocket Battery Tester model CL-805, patented in U.S. & Taiwan.
8.Author & Publisher for the AIDS prevention booklet  THE FAMILY GUIDE TO SENSIBLE      SEX-ED FOR ADOLESCENTS.
9. Ate a U.S.$ 1,000 per person Chinese banquet with my friend Arthur Lau in Hong Kong ...( before China)                                                                    
I am L' esprit de 1776...Je suis pour  La Liberté ,Egalité et Fraternité

 I am L' esprit de 1776...Je suis pour  La Liberté ,Egalité et Fraternité the venom breathing Freedom fighter for La Liberté ,Egalité et Fraternité with RESPONSIBILITY 
Love to  All.

Uncle Chester

Sunrise photo courtesy;

James "Kimo" Rosen

Appeared on Hawaii News Now, 06-01-20

Sunrise photo courtesy;
James "Kimo" Rosen
Appeared on Hawaii News Now, 05-31-20

Sample For Final Exit   This blog originally was posted on May 18, 2017

it was Blog #1937

Death is inevitable, be glad that your turn will come to

live life to the fullest every minute,

Unc as a young man in Korea

no regrets. It has been a good ride. To ease the burden of your loved ones or executors, you must prepare a list of your important documents in writing; readily show them where to obtain them when needed. It is best in a safe deposit box in a bank with authorized permission and a  key to obtain them and with a revocable trust to avoid probate.

 Prepare for the Final Exit, your survivors will appreciate it.
Don't forget a  REVOCABLE LIVING TRUST to Avoid Probate!

Organizing Paperwork for an Aging Loved One.

Observe changes in their capabilities may signal a need for a “care plan.”

Federal Citizens Information Center When you start noticing changes in mental and physical ability of a loved one or friend, it may signal a need to develop a “care plan.”As a relative or friend ages, you may see a decline in mental and physical capabilities, even though the changes are likely to be slow and subtle. You wonder what can be done if a senior you know needs additional care or support. A “care plan” will help define the services and support needed to provide appropriate assistance. A major part of that plan is the assembling of key documents.

Organizing Documents and Paperwork. Encourage your loved one to organize important medical information and other papers. Offer your help in a tactful way. It’s critical that this is done while your loved one is medically and mentally competent. For example, if he or she has specific wishes for end of life, they need to be documented in one place. The following items should be assembled in one place so they’re available when needed:·Medicare card ·Social Security card ·All health insurance ID cards ·Copy of birth certificate ·Names, phone numbers, and addresses of doctors ·List of current medications, the prescribing physician, and pharmacy ·Will, living will, and power of attorney ·Copies of insurance policies ·Contact information to reach the person’s tax preparer, if one is used Laminated Reference Sheet: It is a good idea for every senior to have a complete list of emergency telephone numbers and information. Laminate the list and put it in an obvious place, such as on the refrigerator door or by the telephone. Put it in a place where Emergency Medical Technicians or others can access it.

Sample of Information by Chester Lau

No one lives forever, be thankful that you have the good fortune to enjoy. Love family and friends while they are alive, to ease the pain for survivors  every one should prepare a step by step "What to do in the event of  one’s demise  in advance."

 Here is one for you. Never be afraid of dying, it will only happen when it's supposed to and when it does happen, it will be all right. The memory of dying should be comfort rather than grief "(Readers Digest) "Better if you owe Government taxes and they can't collect!  Let your loved ones benefit from your blood and sweats instead of the government who don't even say "  THANK YOU  " but wants more !!!  (Chester Lau). BE NICE TO ME WHEN I AM ALIVE, NO TEARS AFTER I AM GONE !!!
Please notify my Executors IMMEDIATELY with this step by step instruction for them to follow in the event of my demise with priority as follow:
1-Executor         Ph:--------------------Cell:--------------------        
                    SSN: _ _ _  _ _ _ _ _ _Email:-----------------------------
Address-----------------------

    I appointed three (3) Executors because, in times of need, not all are available due to work or health issues.

Think about it and remember to enjoy every second of your life, because time races by so much quicker than you think.

So take care of yourself, be happy, love deeply and enjoy life!

Here's wishing you a wonderful and beautiful day.

  DON'T COMPLAIN ABOUT GROWING OLD…

FEW PEOPLE GET THE PRIVILEGE

Are you prepared for the FINAL EXIT? In a Disaster,you will know who are your real friends.

Remember New Town ,Connecticut !!! Oklahoma Tornado !!! Storm Sandy?   LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST. ENJOY EVERYDAY but Prepare for the FINAL EXIT for the benefit of your loved ones. Put all assets in writing or best consult estate planning attorneys for legal documents . Death and Taxes are inevitable so prepare for your loved ones or the government will do it for you and that you may not want.
For every day you live is a day closer to your demise--so eat dessert first

Chester Lau   AKA   L'oncle Amusant -
The Fun Uncle in French, in doubt, leave everything to Uncle C! ;-)
-----------------------------------------

P.S.
More reading from Unc on this subject; Warning to seniors and will be seniors.
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2015/10/warning-to-seniors-and-will-be-seniors.html

Hana Hou, (Encore)

Dakinetalks favorite Uncle (Chester Lau)

Unc, has a new feature, for the next few weeks.
 Unc will be writing about his experiences as a cinematographer
 on the Original Hawaii-Five-0 with Jack Lord and James MacArthur.

Tales from the original Hawaii-Five-O 
-Jack Lord-This Blog originally appeared on June 4, 2015

Blog #1553

Editors note;

 Unc, has a new feature, for the next few weeks Unc will be writing about his experiences as a cinematographer on the Original Hawaii-Five-0 with Jack Lord and James MacArthur

Jack Lord was a real professional and he expected his crew to do the same.

 When I worked for Hawaii Five-O, they hired me as a set wardrobe supervisor, why not as a camera person? Since the  Hollywood camera union claimed jurisdiction on films originating from Hollywood and they forbid anyone not in their union to work on-camera jobs.  the situation was later resolved but I had to go to Hollywood for tests to obtain my camera card to continue work with 5-O.

Jack paid major attention on makeup, hair, and wardrobe, because if these 3 crafts were messed up, the whole day's production including shooting is useless, money down the drain !!! Why? Because movie shooting doesn't follow the script in the sequences as written, or when an actor while during a scene unconscionably loosens his tie knot 3 inches,the wardrobe guy better take note.  After 12 or 14  hours workday, the company called a wrap to continue the next day, wow! the next day, wardrobe, makeup and hair must match or the scenes are useless  !!!

One episode involved a fictional death in the family, the scene was filmed in Jack's  Five-O office where lights can be dimmed to set the mood of the scene. Jack was so taken by the storyline that he had the whole production crew in silence, no talking or movement. He actually cried doing the scene. We were are all taken aback by his acting to go from chasing criminals to a dramatic scene.

After the successful take of the scene,I took the liberty of bringing him a cup of water, he sips the water then looked up with appreciative eyes and said, 'who said action is easy?"

 Tales from the original Hawaii-Five-O are from my memory of over a  half a century ago. I will do more if memory can recall all the fun and hard work.

Next online, location on Oahu's North Shore to see the other side of Jack's character.  Aloha, Unc C 


If you haven't already read part 1 of "Tales From The Original Hawaii Five-0," featuring James MacArthur 
as office Danno Williams, check it out below;
http://dakinetalk.blogspot.com/2015/05/tales-from-original-hawaii-five-o-james.html 

Check out the N.Y Times Obituary on Jack Lord;
http://www.nytimes.com/1998/01/23/arts/jack-lord-77-helped-direct-and-starred-in-hawaii-five-o.html

"Unc" as a young man...

Wikipedia on Jack Lord
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Lord

Check out this YouTube video of the original introduction to Hawai'i Five-0. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ9xfNn09eQ

Listen to the theme song from Hawaii Five-0
http://www.televisiontunes.com/Hawaii_Five_0.html

 A note to Unc from Jack Lord star of the original Hawaii Five-O,
where "Unc" worked as a cinematographer

Hana Hou, (Encore) Shared From Facebook...

The original Hawaii-Five-0  was so much better!