During Asian American Pacific Islander (AAIP) Heritage Month, we celebrate stories of leadership, commitment, and lasting impact. In the world of real estate management, few stories capture those qualities as clearly as the Lum family.
The Lum family’s connection to IREM® spans generations and reflects a deep belief in the value of learning from others and contributing to a professional community.
It begins with Y.T. Lum and his wife, Louise. Y.T. was a second-generation Chinese American, born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii. Louise came from Shanghai. Together, they built their life in Hawaii, where Y.T. began managing family-owned commercial real estate and leased land.
From early on, Y.T. believed that to grow professionally, you had to connect with others. He pursued appraisal work and property management not just as a job, but as a craft. He became one of the earliest professionals in Hawaii to earn both appraisal and property management credentials, and he helped found the local IREM chapter.
He also began hosting local meetings, bringing professionals together to share ideas, discuss challenges, and learn from one another. That exchange of knowledge became a cornerstone of his approach.
But his commitment to IREM went even further.
In those early years, attending national meetings was no small feat. Travel from Hawaii to the mainland required a five-day journey by boat each way. Y.T. and Louise made that trip regularly, attending meetings in Chicago and other cities. They were not just attending for the sake of it. They wanted to learn, build relationships, and bring new ideas back to Hawaii.
That dedication shaped both their professional lives and the local community they helped build.
After Louise passed away in 1963, Y.T. looked for a meaningful way to honor her life. He established a fund in her name at the Appraisal Institute, which helped create the Louise and Y.T. Lum Library, a lasting resource for real estate professionals.
He later extended that vision by establishing additional funds across several organizations, including IREM. In 1975, he created a fund to recognize professionals making meaningful contributions to the field. His focus was simple: honor the practitioners doing the real work day in and day out.
That spirit continues through the Lum family today.
Across three generations, four members of the family have earned the CPM® designation. His son, Tan Tek Lum, went on to serve as IREM President in 1982, a milestone that reflected both personal achievement and the family’s growing influence in the profession.
Today, the Lum family remains connected to IREM, continuing a tradition of involvement, learning, and contribution.
Their story is a reminder that strong professions are built through relationships, shared knowledge, and a commitment to something bigger than oneself. It is a legacy shaped not by a single moment, but by decades of dedication.
And it continues to this day.
Learn more or submit a nomination for the Louise L. and Y.T. Lum Award.
Check out a 2025 interview with Wing Tek Lum in JPM®.