News>Base community celebrates Asian-Pacific American Heritage with dancing, music
Photos
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Ari Soto, left, Jadelyn-Marie Colon, center, and Nena Soto, right, perform a traditional Hawaiian dance to the song "That's the Hawaiian in Me" at the Base Exchange May 21. Approximately 20 different dances were performed highlighting the different cultures of Asian-Pacific Americans. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown/Released)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Chastity-Johanna Colon performs a traditional Hawaiian dance to the song "Take Me Back" in the front of the Base Exchange May 21. Misawa residents had the opportunity this month to taste the different foods from various Asian countries, watch cultural performances, and learn more about Asian American history and culture. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown/Released)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Diane Bundang helps Chief Master Sgt. Russell Hastings, 35th Fighter Wing command chief, try Tinikling during the Asian-Pacific American Heritage cultural show May 21. Tinikling is a pre-spanish dance from the Philippines that involves two people beating, tapping, and sliding bamboo poles on the ground and against each other in coordination with one or more dancers who step over and in between the poles in a dance. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown/Released)
MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- Taiko Drummers play for patrons at the Base Exchange May 21 during the Asian-Pacific American Heritage cultural show. May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage month and is celebrated with different events throughout the month, culminating with a luncheon on May 31. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Marie Brown/Released)
5/23/2011 - MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month committee held a cultural show at the Base Exchange May 21 as part of the APA Heritage celebration.
More than 50 patrons gathered in the entry way to the Base Exchange as they enjoyed approximately 20 different dances and music traditionally preformed in Hawaii, Guam, Philippines and other Asian countries.
Asian-Pacific American Heritage month celebrates and pays tribute to the contributions generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders have made to America by enhancing quality of life and helping to determine the course of the nation's future, according to an official U.S. Marine Corps Web site.
"This is a celebration to commemorate and spread awareness of each of our nation's rich and diverse cultural heritage," said Tech Sgt. Ivy Horlador, 35th Fighter Wing Knowledge Operations Office. "We enjoy showing others what our cultures are all about."
