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The halls were alive with the “Sound of Music” at the JW Marriott.  The 13^th Annual Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies took place on Tuesday, May 15, 2007.      It was an enchanting evening of beautifully coiffed women and gentlemen in their best finery stepping into the Grand Foyer reception area, where they were musically welcomed by the Fine Art String Quartet.  They are graduates and students from the University of Maryland, who played classical and Chinese music for the patrons that evening.   The violinists were Shih-Peng Chang and Shih-Yun Hsieh; Shin-woo Kim was on the viola and Annie Chuan played the cello.  Their familiar tunes put every one in the mood for the evening.  Mrs. Jean Ariyoshi, wife of the former Hawaii governor, who was being honored in the evening, wanted to know if dancing were allowed.

Gala Co-Chairs Sou Wong-Lee and Art Ruiz welcomed more than 600 guests.   His powerful rendition of The National Anthem was sung  by 15-year old  Kyle Ahn, also known as Volcaz. He sang it a-cappella.  Later in the evening, a brother and sister, both concert pianists entranced the audience with their single compositions and then a duet.  The audience was swept up on their in-sync gyrations of their shoulders in tune to the rise and fall of the lyrics.  Jeffrey Ly, 12 and Olivia, 10, have received two gold medals each from the International Associations for Musically Gifted Children, Inc.  They are trained by Dr. Bella Eugenia Oster, Professor of Piano Performance.  The audience was mesmerized.

APAICS recognized the contributions of Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and former Governor of Hawaii George R.Ariyoshi to the Asian Pacific American (APA) communities by presenting them the Lifetime Achievement Awards.  The presenters were Senator Daniel Akaka and Senator Daniel Inouye respectively.  Dr. Don T. Nakanishi received APAICS Community Achievement Award, which was presented to him by Gala Committee Co-Chair Sou Wong-Lee.

Dr. Nakanishi is the Director of the UCLA Asian American Studies.

Former Secretary of Transportation Norman Y. Mineta delivered the message and Congressman Michael Honda (D-CA) gave greetings to the audience.

Emcee Sachi Koto, former CNN Anchor of Headline News, recognized the distinguished guests in the audience.  To name a few members of Congress:  Senator and Mrs. Danny Akaka (D-HI), Senator Daniel Inouye (D-HI) and from the House side:  Congressman Bobby Scott (D-VA), Congresswoman Madeleine Z. Bordallo (D-Guam), Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Congresswoman Mazie Hirono (D-HI).  The 12 participants of the Leadership Academy for Elected Officials were also in the audience: including Mr. Aitofele Sunia, who is called “Ipulasi” meaning chief when he is in American Samoa.  The other chief from American Samoa is Mailo Atonio.   Political appointees included Director of the Mint Ed Moy, EEOC Commissioner Stuart Ishimaru, and Director Julie Koo of the DC Mayor’s Office of Asian Pacific Islander Affairs.  Creating quite a celebrity stir were Michelle Krusiec, star of the movie Saving Face, and Teddy Zee, Producer and Director of actor Will Smith’s movies, “The Pursuit of Happyness” and “Hitch.”  He is also executive producer of the AX Awards.  Table 45 was graced by Ms. District of Columbia Kate Michael and her court:  Carla Brown, Michelle Crosby, Jordan Kay and Jessica Scott-Johnson…all lovely finalists.

Towards the end of the program, APAICS Chair David L. Kim surprised former past APAICS Chair Clayton S. Fong with APAICS’ Community Achievement Award.  Fong served in this capacity for five years.  “You’ve left some big foot prints to follow, Clayton,” said Kim.  Fong, who is never without something to say, was speechless.

Much to everyone’s delight, the tall floral arrangements of “birds of paradise” with thick bamboo made the Grand Ballroom very elegant.  Then the “music played on” and Helen Ruggiero, along with a group of Asian volunteers, were seen doing the “electric slide” out the door.