April 30, 2003

Tomorrow we start Asian PacificHeritage Month

MISSION STATEMENT:

Promote full utilization of the capabilities of the Enterprise's employees and champion the betterment of the company and community. Promote interest in Asian Pacific issues and culture and act as a bridge to all groups within our community.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

ed. by Douglas Ikemi

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

The internet site is at:

Our own domain name, apa-pro.org, stands for Asian Pacific American Professionals. www.apa-pro.org/ gives you a menu of AP organization websites.

Back issues of the newsletter for all of 2000, 2001, and 2002 are available on the website if you want to look up some past event.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

APPA Board Meeting Schedule for 2003:

Evening meetings will be at the Hilton Garden Inn, 2100 Mariposa Ave.(corner of Nash) 310/726-0100. April 16 6PM

June 11 6PM

Aug 13 6PM

October 13 6PM

Detailed, updated calendar is again available on the internet at www.apa-pro.org in Acrobat and Excel formats . Events go into the calendar that I don't mention here. Please send in information on cultural events and news items. Thanks to those who have.

Long range calendar items:

May 10-11 Family Funfest, Kodomo no Hi- 20th annual Childrens Day Celebration, Chibi K, Kids for Kids Fun Run, San Tai San, basketball tournament, Mothers Day Hawaiian Style, Darlene Ahuna Concert, The Post War Japanese Anime/Manga Exhibit (Continues), Kids Taiko Konference. A weekend of fun for the entire family! Join us as Kodomo no Hi celebrates its 20th anniversary in Los Angeles. A fun and culturally-rich celebration of a traditional Japanese holiday for the entire family. Bring your family to the JACCC where the fun and excitement spill out into the streets with our annual Chibi-k: Kids for Kids Fun Run and the San Tai San: 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament. On the Plaza, the Asian Pacific Arts & Crafts Faire offers traditional handmade Japanese craft items, a variety of ethnic foods, children's games, origami, calligraphy, papermaking workshops and entertainment. Other special activities include the first ever Kids Taiko Konference and a Skate Park cosponsored by LA City Councilwoman Jan Perry. The Post War Japanese Anime/Manga Exhibit in the George J. Doizaki Gallery offers workshops and lectures led by professional illustrators and animators.

May 10 Lodestone Theatre Ensemble presents All-Star Asian American Comedy Jam at Rosen Brewery Restaurant 400S. Western Ave in Koreatown, $20-25 323-993-7245, www.lodestonetheatre.org

May 11 J-Town Beat Series Darlene Ahuna in Concert, 4PM, Special Appearances by Halau Keali'i 'O Nalani and Na Kupuna Wahine O Hema Dancers. The award-winning Halau Keali'i O Nalani, under the direction of Kumu Keali'i Ceballos, opens this special Mother's Day Hawaiian Style concert. This celebrated ensemble has captured numerous prestigious awards for it's precision and authentic Hawaiian dance. Darlene Ahuna headlines the concert with her celebrated trio. This multiple award-winning artist follows in the tradition of great Hawaiian singers Genoa Keawe, Lena Machado and Linda Dela Cruz. Winning the coveted Na Hoku Hanohano Award for Best Female Vocalist and Single of the Year, Ahuna began her career as the singer of hula master Uncle George Na'ope's group in 1979. Ahuna's voice is powerful yet graceful and unaffected, evoking the Hawai'i of yesterday. Her music is distinctly Hawaiian, many songs from her hometown of Hilo, some written by her great-aunt Helen Parker ("Akaka Falls"). Ahuna is a beautiful voice bringing the sound of old Hawai'i alive. Clarice Nuhi directs Na Kupuna Wahine o Kaleponi Hema Dancers, a special ensemble of dancers from the southern California area, for this special return appearance for this Mother's Day Hawaiian Style concert. JACCC Members $25 orchestra, $22 balcony. Non members: $30 orchestra, $27 balcony. Bring your whole Family! Special Family Package Minimum of 4 persons: $25 orchestra, $22 balcony (per person) For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700

May 14 Nisei Widows Club starts at the David Henry Hwang Theater, 120 N. Judge John Aiso in Little Tokyo. $20-60, 213-625-7000, www.eastwestplayers.org

May 17 First Annual Cherry Blossom Festival in West Covina. Koto player June Kuramoto, formerly of the jazz band Hiroshima, headlines "A Concert in the Park." Festival is co-hosted by the East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center. 11AM-6PM at the Civic Center Courtyard, 1444 W. Garvey Ave., West Covina, 91793. Cal 626-960-2566.

May 18 Museums of the Arroyo, 11AM-5PM. Visit the Gamble House, Heritage Square, Lummis House, Pasadena Museum of History, and the Southwest Museum for free. 213-740-8687.

May 18 Okinawan Traditional Music and Dance presented by Geinu-Bu at the Armstrong Theater, 3330 Civic Center Dr., Torrance, 2PM. $15. Call 310-532-1929

May 24 Memorial Day Service, Memorial Court. Coordinated by the Japanese American Korean War Veterans in associiation with The American's of Japanese Ancestry World War II Memorial Alliance and the Japanese American Viet Nam Veterans. A memorial service will be held in the Memorial court. Please note: The event is on Saturday not Monday. More details to follow.This event is open to the public

May 30 Taue: Rice Planting, A Fine Day for a Field Trip, 10am ~ 1pm, Location: JACCC Plaza. It's time to start planting our rice seedlings. As part of an ongoing educational programming series, Kome Kome: Celebrating Rice in Japanese Culture, the JACCC invites school children to come and help plant rice on our plaza. Last year, over 400 students participated in the Taue field trip. Students learn not only how rice is grown, but also participate in the transplanting of the rice seedlings and make a cultural craft to take home. Free and Open to the Public. For children ages 7-12 years. Advance reservations required call (213) 628-2725 x 112

June 1 Oodles of Noodles Festival, 12noon-4PM, Torrance Cultural Arts Center, 310-618-6342.

June 8 Tribute Concert of Kabuki Music for late Nagauta master, Kineya Kichisaburo. 2PM at the Japan America Theatre in Little Tokyo. $25 call 213-680-3700

Sept 12-14 Hollywood Bowl: Treasures of China Three Performances at the Hollywood Bowl with The Peking Acrobats. Three performances of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra and the Peking Acrobats mark the final weekend in the 2003 season of the Bowl. The Peking Acrobats will be making their Bowl and orchestral debut. For more information on The Peking Acrobats (a registered trade name), visit www.iaipresentations.com/pacrobat.html. 8:30 PM - 10:00 PM, 2301 N. Highland Ave., Hollywood, 90078, 323 850-2000, www.hollywoodbowl.org

The Pacific Asia Museum (46 N. Los Robles Ave., Pasadena, 91101, 626-449-2742) Family Festival schedule for 2003, Saturdays, 1-4:

May 17 Buddha’s Birthday

June 21 Gods and Goddesses

July 19 Calligraphy

Aug 16 Strings of Asia

Sep 20 Myanmar

Oct 18 Vijaya Dashimi

Nov. 15 Himilayan Festival

Dec 13 Pasko Sa Nayon

--------------------------------------

This Weekend (and earlier)

May 3 J-Town Beat Series, I Was Born With 2 Tongues at the Aratani/ Japan America Theatre 8:30PM. Chicago's hot Pan-Asian spoken word ensemble, I Was Born With 2 Tongues blasts into Los Angeles for a one-night-only performance, along with some of L.A.'s talented performance poets. Over the past few years, spoken word and performance poetry has become a strong conduit of creative expression for an up-and-coming generation of young Asian Pacific Americans. The 2 Tongues are at the forefront of this exciting movement, blending a fiery passion for empowerment with the rhythms of acoustic stand-up bass and mind-twisting wordplay. Opening for the 2 Tongues are the local poetics of the Balagtasan Collective and spoken word trio, zero 3. Tickets: JACCC Members:$16 orchestra, $13 balcony. Non members: $20 orchestra, $17 balcony. For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700

May 3, 2003, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Conference Center* Unique Sounds of the Chinese Erhu: East Meets West. Ms. Karen Hwa-Chee Han, erhu virtuoso and composer, performs original and traditional music that she has recorded for over 100 movies and TV series, including The Last Emperor, The Joy Luck Club, and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The erhu, a stringed instrument, was developed in China 1000 years ago. Han recently recorded an Erhu Concerto CD with the London Royal Philharmonic Symphony and has 14 CD/soundtracks in circulation. CDs will be available for sale before and after the program. Sponsored by the Chinese Cultural Arts Council. The Bowers Museum, 2002 North Main Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706, www.bowers.org

May 3 Centenary Spring Festival, 10AM-4PM at 300 S. Central Ave., Little Tokyo. Japanese entertainment, including the mandatory taiko groups, and a variety of foods. Validated parking at Joe's Auto Park, 2^nd & Alameda.

May 4 Special Anime Screening Rare Screening of vintage clips, Aratani/Japan America Theatre, 2PM. A special screening of clips from the superhero Astro Boy collection, created by the "father of Japanese animation," Osamu Tezuka will be screened. Never released to the public and previously thought lost, number 3 of the Astro Boy series was recently re-discovered in a collector's vault. Vintage clips of anime classic, GIGANTOR will also be screened. Panel Discussion will be following the screening. Producer Fred Ladd, responsible for the introduction of Japanese anime/manga to the United States is the featured speaker along with anime experts Fred Patten, Jared Cook and Sadao Miyamoto. 2pm - Anime Feature, Panel - immediately following. 5pm - Vintage Clips, Admission Free. Tickets: $6 JACCC Members, 8 General Admission Non member. For information and tickets call the box office at 213.680.3700. Also, vendor fair from 11AM-4PM.

---------------------------------------

Last Weekend

Next year I'll have to make plans so I can get to the Fiesta Broadway.

-------------------------------------------

May 2 Assembly member Judy Chu and the Select Committee on Hate Crimes invite you to a Hate Crimes hearing to raise awareness about the hate crime backlash on California residents as a result of the recent war in Iraq. 9:30am- 1pm, Ronald Reagan State Building Auditorium, 300 South Spring Street, Los Angeles. For more information, please contact Gloria Lin of Assemblymember Judy Chu's Office at gloria.lin@asm.ca.gov or (323)981-3426

-------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------

LA Times: (The Times are requiring registration again, but you might as well sign up for the free on-line access to their articles. This week they may even be accessible without registration.)

April 30 Regarding Vietnam, Little Saigon's Traders Are Gaining on the Haters

The enclave's growing engagement with the homeland belies its outward anger. The end of the war was 28 years ago today.

By Mai Tran and Mike Anton, Times Staff Writers

April 28 THE REGION

Hepatitis B a Deadly Threat to U.S. Asians

Teens and college-age students are at greatest risk, but few outreach programs warn them.

By Jeff Gottlieb and Daniel Yi, Times Staff Writers

April 26 CALIFORNIA

Pope Names Vietnamese Bishop to O.C.

New Orleans cleric is first in his ethnic group to rise to post in U.S.

By William Lobdell, Times Staff Writer

April 26 Protest opposes firing of chief

Cal Poly rally objects to discharge of Randal Quan; Matt Fong says police leader was sacked for refusing 'unqualified' black deputy.

Gene Maddaus, Inland Valley Voice

May 1 THE STATE

High Court to Review Law Allowing Slave Labor Suits

From Associated Press

April 27 L.A. THEN AND NOW

Downtown's Fiesta Began as a Multicultural Celebration

By Cecilia Rasmussen, Times Staff Writer

April 27 Probe of Possible Chinese Influence on Elections Sought

Lieberman asks for an inquiry in connection with spying allegations against Katrina Leung.

By Greg Krikorian, Times Staff Writer

April 25 Chinese painter finds artistic freedom

Shackled by demands for propaganda, Mian Situ left his home 'to be an honest artist.'

Joanna Corman, Inland Valley Voice

April 30 High Court Upholds Jailing of Immigrants

Justices rule that criminals legally in U.S. can be held without a hearing and deported.

By David G. Savage, Times Staff Writer

April 29 Heat Turned Up on Arctic Exhibit?

A photographer who spent 14 months in the wildlife refuge says his Smithsonian show was scaled back because of political pressure.

By Elizabeth Shogren, Times Staff Writer

April 29 STUDENT OUTLOOK

Look beyond standards to judge college admissions

By Celinda Sandoval