Taiwanese American Historical Society

Dr. Albert S. Lai (賴信雄)

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Dr. Albert S. Lai (賴信雄)

Identity

FieldValue
Chinese Name賴信雄
English NameAlbert S. Lai
Academic TitleProfessor Emeritus of History
InstitutionUniversity of Hawaii at Manoa
FieldTaiwanese American Studies, Asian American Studies

Overview

Dr. Albert S. Lai (賴信雄) is a prominent Taiwanese American historian and scholar, widely recognized as one of the foundational figures in establishing Taiwanese American Studies as a distinct academic field. His work has been essential in documenting and analyzing the history of Taiwanese immigration to the United States, particularly to Hawaii, and the development of Taiwanese American communities and cultural identity.

Academic Career

Dr. Lai spent his career at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, where he served as a Professor of History. He holds the title of Professor Emeritus, indicating a distinguished retirement after decades of scholarly contribution.

His work at UH Manoa placed him at the center of one of the most significant Taiwanese American communities in the United States, giving him unique access to primary sources and oral histories.

Research Areas

Taiwanese Immigration to Hawaii

Dr. Lai’s research extensively covers the history of Taiwanese immigrants who came to Hawaii, particularly during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His work documents their experiences as agricultural laborers, business owners, and community builders.

228 Incident (二二八事件)

Dr. Lai has written about the impact of the 228 Incident — the violent crackdown by the Republic of China government in Taiwan in 1947 — on Taiwanese diaspora communities. His work examines how this event shaped Taiwanese identity and influenced immigration patterns to the United States.

Taiwanese American Identity

A central theme in Dr. Lai’s scholarship is the formation of Taiwanese American cultural identity — how immigrants and their descendants navigate between Taiwanese heritage and American society.

Community Building

His research also covers the organizational and institutional development of Taiwanese American communities, including religious institutions, cultural associations, and political organizations.

Publications

Dr. Lai has authored and co-authored numerous academic papers and books. His work appears in academic journals and edited volumes focused on Asian American studies, Taiwanese studies, and immigration history.

Key contributions include research published in the Encyclopedia Taiwanese American (台美史料中心), where he is recognized as a “renowned historian for the studying of Taiwanese American and Taiwanese.”

Honors and Awards

  • 賴和紀念特別獎 (Lai Ho Memorial Special Award) — 1997
  • Special Leadership Award — Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (community service recognition)

Community Involvement

Dr. Lai was among the early supporters of Pastor Chang’s pioneering church work in the Los Angeles Taiwanese American community, listed alongside other community founders: “積極參與支持張牧師開拓事工者有高光民、陳昭俊、葉思雅、李宗派、許文彬、王春雄、吳政彥以及賴信雄等人” (Organizations Encyclopedia, 2020).

Impact

Dr. Lai’s scholarship helped establish the understanding that Taiwanese Americans constitute a distinct ethnic group with unique historical experiences, rather than simply being categorized under “Chinese Americans.” This distinction is crucial because:

  1. Taiwanese immigrants have different political and cultural backgrounds from mainland Chinese immigrants
  2. The term “Taiwanese” carries specific political and cultural meanings
  3. Taiwanese American history includes unique waves of immigration and distinct settlement patterns

Community Connections

FPCLA Founding Circle

Listed as one of those who “積極參與支持張牧師開拓事工者” (actively participated in supporting Pastor Chang’s pioneering ministry) in the Los Angeles Taiwanese American community alongside:

Academic and Organizational Ties

Notes

  • Wiki entry created: 2026-05-14
  • Last enriched: 2026-05-14 (1-layer web-out: firecrawl + T.A. Archives who’s who + taiwaneseamericanhistory.org — 15 new linked entities)
  • Sources: Encyclopedia Taiwanese American PDF (2019, 2020), Organizations Encyclopedia (2020), taiwaneseamericanhistory.org Who’s Who #346, FPCLA 50th Anniversary (Our Journeys #231), Taipei Times
  • Chinese characters verified: 賴信雄 (Lài Xìnxióng)

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