Carol Haruko Ueoka Lau's Obituary
January 21, 1930 - May 21, 2026
Carol Haruko Ueoka Lau, remembered for her kind, generous and compassionate heart, lived a life in service to her family and community. If asked what Carol’s superpower was, her family and friends would resoundingly agree: she was always making sure everyone was well fed and had happy tummies.
She cared for so many and never thought twice about extending her aloha to strangers—after meeting a woman one day, she kindly offered to be her chauffeur for weekly grocery shopping trips as her new friend was blind. She made it a mission to treat people to her famous pumpkin and cherry pies, chocolate dobash cake, and many other delicacies. Another wonderful gift she loved sharing was the bounty of fresh vegetables grown by husband, Bill, in their large garden.
Carol’s career as the cafeteria manager at Aiea High School incorporated her love for the culinary arts. She was in charge of feeding everyone from the day the school opened in 1961, serving more than a thousand students and faculty members each day. When they think of Mrs. Lau, many alumni picture her smiling face greeting everyone in the cafeteria and remember the yummy apple crisp from the school lunches. Nourishing the school community brought her great joy and fulfillment.
Carol’s Buddhist upbringing on the grounds of the Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission nurtured her core value of service to others. The Rev. Sokyo and Tomiyo Ueoka welcomed her into their family as their tenth and youngest child. As a nisei with six brothers and three sisters, she lived a simple and carefree life on the shores of Paia Bay on Maui. In her early years she was a tomboy, swimming and fishing in the ocean with her extended family, including many nieces and nephews who were close in age to her. She would impress the lifeguards with her strong crosswise kick at the Aiea Recreation Center pool, even in her retirement years.
She passed on to her grandchildren the Ueoka family’s love of cooking, baking, keeping clean spaces and cultivating compassion. In her later years, she would reflect on how, as a new bride, she learned to cook many dishes from her mother-in-law, Beatrice Kam Lau, whom she considered the kindest and most patient person she had ever met. If you asked her grandchildren what they cherished most about Grandma, they would say her desserts were among their sweetest memories.
She drove like a speed demon, loved to watch action movies, and enjoyed detective shows were FBI, Mannix and Cannon. Reflecting on her in her 20s, one of her favorite lines was, “I had more guts than brains!”
Those whose lives were touched by Carol consider themselves blessed by her love. A private service was held by her family, including her husband of 70 years, William Lau, and six children: Kathleen (Harold) Fujii, Donna (Ken) Hayashida, Laurie (Jim) Brooks, Gerald Lau, Michael Lau, and David (Techie) Lau. Her 11 grandchildren and 2 great-grandchildren include Kacyn (Rachel Chang) Fujii, River Chang, Kraig (Catherine Wang) Fujii, Kai (Cynthia Do) Hayashida, Noah (Alexandra Armenta) Hayashida, Noemi Armenta Hayashida, Malia Brooks, Keola Brooks, Alika Brooks, Erin Lau, Michelle Lau, Jacob Lau and Logan Lau.
The family requests no koden. Donations received will be directed toward the Aiea High School Carol Lau Scholarship and the Mantokuji Soto Zen Mission in her memory.
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