 Her father was a Chinese immigrant and had a close friendship with Sun Yat-sen. Chan completed her higher education at Punahou School and Yale Law School respectively before settling in Hong Kong with her husband Hin Cheung Chan to raise a family.In 1941, she returned to Hawaii where she was admitted as the first Asian female to practice law.From 1943-1976, Chan organized and oversaw the Circuit Court Small Estate and Guardianship Division.