Bon Om Tuk Asian Water Festival
Dragon boats raced down the Thea Foss Waterway in Tacoma at the Third Annual Bon Om Tuk Asian Water Festival Dragon Boat Races, coordinated by The Cambodian American Support Network and hosted by The Tacoma Dragon Boat Association, on Saturday, Aug. 19. Now in its third year, the Bon Om Tuk Asian Water festival is a celebration of the Asian harvest season. The one-day multicultural event is celebrated with traditional Asian dancing, music, festive foods, and activities. The dragon boat race competition highlights the family event. Fourteen teams competed to win the 250-meter course.
NAAAP Convention 2006
Yuji Okumoto (second from right) commented on his experience as a Hollywood actor in a panel discussion called “Telling the Asian American Story through Film, Television, & Theatre.” The session, which also included Mimi Gan of Evening Magazine, Roger Tang of Pork Filled Players and Wes Kim of Northwest Asian American Film Festival, was one of the first sessions offered during the National Association of Asian American Professionals (NAAAP) National Convention held at the Renaissance Hotel from Aug. 18-19. Brian McLaughlin (right), president of Emerald Elephant Entertainment in Arizona, moderated the panel.
Back to School Fair
International Community Health Services (ICHS) Executive Director Teresita Batayola greets participants in ICHS’ “Back to School Fair” held at the International District/Chinatown Community Center on Saturday, Aug. 12. The fair, which is part of a series of events co-sponsored by Community Health Plan to celebrate National Health Center Week, attracted over 250 people and more than 120 children. ICHS medical and dental staff were available at the fair to give free dental screenings and to make appointments for Well-Child check-ups and sports physicals for the upcoming school year. The first 100 children to arrive received free backpacks filled with school supplies. Twenty lucky recipients walked away with bike helmets or booster car-seats which were raffled off by ICHS staff every half hour.
Sen. Daniel Inouye
U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye from Hawaii speaks at an Asian Pacific Islander community reception for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell on Wednesday, Aug. 30 at Four Seas Restaurant in Seattle. Inouye, a recipient of the Medal of Honor and the first American of Japanese descent to serve in Congress, came to support Cantwell in her re-election campaign.
Sec. of Labor Elaine Chao
Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao addressed Asian Pacific Americans at Seattle’s China Harbor on Thursday, Aug. 24. Chao was the special guest of Mike McGavick, who is fundraising for his campaign against Sen. Maria Cantwell. .
