Abelina Madrid Shaw
A Life of Quiet Determination
Written by Mila Medallon Kaahanui
1940
Photo Gallery
Abelina Madrid Shaw — community advocate, legal pioneer, and champion of Filipino veterans rights in Hawaii— Community Service
Key Achievements
Legal Pioneer
First Filipino female graduate of the UH Richardson School of Law
Government Leader
First Filipina Chief of Staff, City and County of Honolulu
Veterans Champion
Led Filipino WWII Veterans Memorial and Congressional Gold Medal efforts
Educator
Taught at Punahou High School and University of Hawaii
Plantation Roots
Grew up in Kauai plantation, fourth of eight children
In Their Words
“It's not often one finds role models who can inspire and guide our personal and professional choices. She was my role model.”
“We grew up poor, but our parents always made us feel secure. Growing up in a plantation gave me a strong sense of community and concern for others.”
“Abby has climbed from Hanamaulu to the top of state government because of her talent.”
She's simply Abby, a soft-spoken, straight-talking lawyer who tends to downplay her successes or flaunt her laurels.
Unsurprisingly, she has inspired some friends like Emme Tomimbang Burns.
Some people lead loudly and talk about what they've done with bravado. Others, like Abby, don't say much about what they've done.
The project costs more, but Mayor Harris fully supported their mission with a substantial grant from the city.
More than two decades later, in 2017, while others on the project lost interest in the veterans' cause, Abby led a delegation of Filipino veterans and their families to Washington, DC.
For over two decades, Abby steadfastly and quietly kept working with the veterans.
Abby grew up in a plantation on Kauai, the fourth of eight children of Venancio and Rosenda Madrid.
In 1965, Abby left Kauai to attend Western State College of Colorado.
In 1994, Abby was a Court Staff Attorney when I introduced her to newly elected mayor Jeremy Harris.
In a recent phone interview, Harris said he had admired Abby Shaw for many years.
47 candles lit in memory
