AANHPI Heritage Month kicks off at Yokota

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Alexzandra Gracey
  • 374th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan --  

Members of the Yokota community converged at the Yokota Community Center to kick off Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month May 1, 2024. 

From the left, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Dunn, 374th Airlift Wing command chief; Staff Sgt. Jose Lawrence PinPin, 374th Medical Group diet technician, and Corey Bennet, Yokota Community Center manager, cut the celebratory cake.

From the left, U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Jerry Dunn, 374th Airlift Wing command chief; Staff Sgt. Jose Lawrence PinPin, 374th Medical Group diet technician, and Corey Bennet, Yokota Community Center manager, cut the celebratory cake during the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month kickoff event at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 1, 2024. AANHPIHM takes place during the entire month of May and serves as a time to recognize the contributions in culture, innovation and history made by Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander peoples in the U.S. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexzandra Gracey)
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AANHPIHM takes place during the entire month of May and serves as a time to recognize the contributions in culture, innovation, and history made by Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander peoples in the U.S. 

Musicians and community members perform a Hawaiian folk song.

Musicians and community members perform a Hawaiian folk song during the Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month kickoff event at the Yokota Community Center at Yokota Air Base, Japan, May 1, 2024. The kickoff was the first of three events happening on base, meant to recognize and celebrate AANHPI heritage during the month of May. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Alexzandra Gracey)
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The kickoff event was the first of three major events scheduled to take place at Yokota, with a mid-month Taste of Asia and cultural performance event on May 14 and a closing 5K Bataan Memorial Run on May 31.