Asian Pacific American Heritage Celebration Set for 5/9-10 at Museum of Discovery and Science

May is Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month --- a national celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. In 1992, the official designation of May as Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month was signed into law. A rather broad term, Asian-Pacific encompasses all of the Asian continent and the Pacific islands of Melanesia (New Guinea, New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands), Micronesia (Marianas, Guam, Wake Island, Palau, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru and the Federated States of Micronesia) and Polynesia (New Zealand, Hawaiian Islands, Rotuma, Midway Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, Cook Islands, French Polynesia and Easter Island).

On May 9 and 10, 2015, the Museum of Discovery and Science is hosting its third annual Asian-Pacific American Heritage Celebration and is inviting visitors to come explore the culture, traditions and history of these countries and their people. Special presentations and demonstrations will take you on a journey to the Pacific islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa and Asian countries including Japan, Philippines, and China. There will also be special showings of the underwater IMAX film: Humpback Whales 3D.

The event is free with museum exhibits admission. For more information, visitors should call our reservations department at 954-713-0930.

POLYNESIA

Enjoy Polynesian dance shows and crafts and activities presented by Polynesian Proud Productions. Activities include:

• Polynesian dance performances
• Samoan fire knife dance
• Tahitian drum performance
• Polynesian fashion show
• Hula lessons
• Tahitian drum and ukulele lessons
• Drum carving demonstrations
• Poi tasting
• Hawaiian name translation
• Hawaiian lei making
• Surf lessons with Hawaiian surfing legend Kali "da Big Kahuna" Montero
• Polynesian costume dress-up
• Photo-op with dancers
• New Zealand Moko (warrior face paint)
• South Pacific ocean conservation efforts presented by Surfrider Foundation

ASIA

Learn about Asian cultural traditions from our South Florida Asian community partners! Activities include:

• Japanese Taiko drum performances by Ronin Taiko
• Kimono" Hiro Asai: Fashion Show (Sunday May 10 only)
• "Flower" Mieko Kubota "Ikebana" (Sunday May 10 only)
• Bonsai Club with Vlad (Sunday May 10 only)

Special Community Partners Include:

• Polynesian Proud Productions
• "Association of Performing Arts of India
• Maria Keefer Origami
• Philippine American Cultural Foundation of Florida
• Lanikila Iki Outrigger Club
• Big Kahuna Surf School
• Philippine American Federation
• Florida Aikikai (tentative leave per Mike)