{"id":15644,"date":"2026-05-02T21:29:13","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T21:29:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/?p=15644"},"modified":"2026-05-02T21:29:15","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T21:29:15","slug":"asian-hall-of-fame-celebrates-aanhpi-heritage-month-in-los-angeles-honors-2026-laureates-and-advances-womens-empowermen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/?p=15644","title":{"rendered":"Asian Hall of Fame Celebrates AANHPI Heritage Month in Los Angeles, Honors 2026 Laureates and Advances Women\u2019s Empowermen"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LAPost \/ Los Angeles (May 1, 2026)<\/strong> \u2014 In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month, the Asian Hall of Fame hosted its annual gala at the iconic Biltmore Hotel in Los Angeles. The event brought together more than 150 leaders from business, culture, and philanthropy to honor community contributions, announce the 2026 laureates, and raise funds for women\u2019s advancement through the WinTESS scholarship program.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Maki Mae\uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Asian Hall of Fame CEO Maki Mae emphasized in her remarks that May represents not only a time of cultural recognition but also a critical moment to advance equity and opportunity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAANHPI Heritage Month reminds us that our communities have shaped America\u2019s past and continue to define its future,\u201d she said. \u201cTonight, we are especially focused on women. The WinTESS scholarship program now supports more than 100 young women across 32 states, providing not only financial assistance but also mentorship and access to professional networks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that the initiative aims to cultivate future leaders across technology, entertainment, science, and sports. \u201cOur goal is not just to open doors, but to empower these women to lead and give back to their communities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Honoring Leadership: Melinda Rogers Receives 2026 Award<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Melinda Rogers\uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Board Chair Melinda Rogers received the 2026 Women\u2019s Award, presented by her brother Sir William Rogers (Sir William Rogers). A key figure in the Union Rock Company, her family has played a major role in infrastructure projects across California.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In her acceptance speech, Rogers reflected on the organization\u2019s mission: \u201cWe are truly helping people move forward. This is more than an institution\u2014it\u2019s a platform that brings communities together. Seeing people from different backgrounds collaborate on meaningful work is incredibly inspiring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She also highlighted the organization\u2019s recent expansion into Honolulu, as well as new chapters in Seattle and Portland. \u201cThe growth of Asian Hall of Fame is exciting and reflects the increasing recognition of our mission. We are also planning a cultural center in Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley to further deepen community engagement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Story of Resilience: Loida Nicolas Lewis Shares Her Journey<\/h3>\n\n\n
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Loida Nicolas Lewis\uff08Left 2)\uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

2007 Laureate Loida Nicolas Lewis, entrepreneur and author, delivered one of the evening\u2019s most powerful speeches, recounting her journey after the passing of her husband, Reginald Lewis (Reginald Lewis).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThat was the most difficult period of my life. It took me six months to even begin to recover,\u201d she said. \u201cBut my faith sustained me\u2014I believed we are never abandoned.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She described how the company faced severe economic challenges at the time, including a European recession and adverse weather conditions impacting its core business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI made a decision to take over the company myself,\u201d she said. \u201cI told myself\u2014if it fails, it is my responsibility; if it succeeds, it means I made the right choices.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Under her leadership, the company grew from $1.5 billion to $2.2 billion in revenue, successfully paid off its leveraged buyout debt, and ultimately recovered $1 billion in equity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWomen are fully capable of leading through the most difficult circumstances,\u201d she added. \u201cWhat we need is courage and conviction.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Voices from Hawaii: Elevating AAPI Stories<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Honolulu-based news anchor Annalisa Burgos spoke about the significance of the organization\u2019s expansion into Hawaii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe are working to bring visibility to the many untold stories of excellence within the AAPI community,\u201d she said. \u201cToo often, these achievements go unrecognized, and we are here to change that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She emphasized the role of media and cultural institutions in amplifying these narratives. \u201cIt\u2019s not just about storytelling\u2014it\u2019s about shifting perception. At its core, this work is about giving back to the community and supporting the next generation.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industry Perspective: Growth Through Diversity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maggie Tseng, CEO of TAO Group, noted the exceptional caliber of this year\u2019s honorees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a remarkable year. Every laureate represents excellence,\u201d she said. \u201cBeing in this environment allows all of us to learn and grow. It is both an honor and a responsibility to be recognized on this \u092e\u0902\u091a.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

She added that such recognition encourages continued leadership and the creation of opportunities for others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Culture and Community: A Celebration of Heritage<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The evening also featured the debut of a \u201cHeritage Fashion Show,\u201d sponsored by Meridien Vacation Homes, showcasing designs that blend traditional and contemporary aesthetics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Entertainment included a live performance by Maki Mae and a raffle hosted by taiko artist Walter Nishinaka. Prizes included a guitar signed by Taylor Swift and an 18-karat gold ring donated by jeweler Vartan Kazanjian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Expanding Impact Nationwide<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\uff08Photo by: Richard Ren\/LAPost)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With new chapters in Honolulu, Seattle, and Portland, the Asian Hall of Fame continues to expand its national footprint. Through recognition, scholarships, and community initiatives, the organization is strengthening the visibility and influence of AANHPI communities across the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The gala served not only as a celebration, but as a platform for collective action\u2014bringing together diverse voices to shape a more inclusive and impactful future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(By Richard Ren \/ LAPost)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

LAPost \/ Los...<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15644","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15644","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=15644"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15644\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15645,"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15644\/revisions\/15645"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=15644"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=15644"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/aacyf.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=15644"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}