About Ted - Big Island Home
In 1991 Ted and his wife Terri Lum moved to Hilo near Ted’s grandmother in Mt. View, Dora P. Fairchild, who was born in Kohala, and late grandfather, William D. Fairchild. The Big Island still held onto the rural way of life and the Hongs knew it was the right place to start their new family.
In Hilo, Ted joined the law firm of Roehrig, Roehrig, Wilson, Hara, Schutte and deSilva. He later joined the County’s Corporation Counsel’s Office in 1993 and served as the Assistant Corporation Counsel in the Yamashiro Administration and later as Corporation Counsel during the transition between the Yamashiro and Kim Administration.
Ted now works from his own Hilo law office, focusing on Labor and Employment Law. He often speaks to public and private sector groups about employment issues.
Ted proudly served as Governor Lingle’s Chief Labor Negotiator during the first two years of her administration. Ted was also selected by Governor Lingle to serve as the Regent for the University of Hawaii, representing East Hawaii. He teaches at UH-Hilo. He is a member of the Kaumana School Elementary Safety Committee. He has also served on the Governor’s Council of Advisors for East Hawaii, the State Merit Appeals Board and the Hawaii State Society of Human Resource Management Board.
Ted and Terri live in Kaumana in Hilo. Their oldest child is Katharine Hong (12), is in the 7th grade at Hilo Intermediate School. Their youngest child is Noah Hong (10), attends Kaumana Elementary School.
Terri Lum and Ted have been married for nineteen (19) years. Terri is a licensed, private practice Social Worker with a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Washington in Seattle. She has worked with agencies like the Sex Abuse Treatment Center in Honolulu, the University of Hawaii at Hilo, Women’s Center, the Casey Family Program and EPIC Ohana Counseling. Terri is active in Hawaii Island Junior Bowling, Girl Scouts and the Cub Scouts.
Ted serves as the District Chair for Boy and Cub Scouts for the PuKaHi District (Puna-Kau-Hilo) until 2009. He is the Cubmaster for his son’s Cub Scout Troop. He is a proud member of the Rotary Club of Hilo Bay.
Ted also successfully coached the Hilo High School Mock Trial Team to their first State Championship (1992).