Asian Heritage Month Continues With Intimate Musical Performances
Asia on the Creek – Frederick, MD // June 14.
The Aloha Boys, Asia On The Creek Illustrate The Presence Of Asian Culture And Heritage. Asian And Pacific Islanders Positively Impact The DMV Community Economically And Culturally
By Kennedy Edgerton
The soft, blissful sound of rustling leaves filled the otherwise silent air at the Eastern Market Metro Plaza Park in the heart of Washington, D.C. Onlookers sat in a semi-circle around the plaza, all looking forward with a mix of anticipation and serenity. Suddenly, the melodic sound of a guitar filled the air, followed by the sound of singing.
On May 23, the Aloha Boys — Isaac Jesse, Waipulani Ho’opi’i and Irv Queja — began their performance of Kanikapila, a down-to-earth style of Hawaiian music that combines traditional and contemporary elements. The event, organized by local non-profit Eastern Market Main Street (EMMS), is one of several shows in an event series dubbed simply “Asian Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration Performances.”
That title truly reflects the mission of this month’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) celebrations as they strengthen cultural awareness in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia are amidst a tense cultural and political climate. That intensity still wandered into the Aloha Boys’ performance as a heckler interrupted with a barrage of expletives and hostile chants aimed at the group and bystanders. The culprit — an older white man — screamed “USA, USA, USA” at maximum volume until the cops hoisted him across the street in kindergarten, time-out fashion.
But that wasn’t enough to stop the show.
The presence and impact of Asian Americans within the DMV is solidly anchored and growing. AAPI presence in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia area remains substantial. Around 7% of Maryland’s population identifies as Asian American, totalling 463,258 people, according to recent Department of Labor data. Washington, D.C,. boasts an Asian American share of 6%, while Virginia hovers around 7%.
The area’s economy also hosts a sizeable portion of Asian entrepreneurs, with Maryland having over 14,000 AAPI-owned companies that support over 118,000 jobs. As AAPI Heritage Month continues, future events will continue to play a vital role in fostering community and multiculturalism in the area.
And so, the Aloha Boys continued. Audience members even seemed to engage more after the outburst, with a few walking up to shake the singers’ hands and others requesting specific songs. The show ended with loud applause and a promise to continue positively spreading AAPI heritage across the state. The Aloha Boys will perform their next show on May 30.
While The Aloha Boys’ performance made its impact on that day, it also showcased the evolution of AAPI Heritage Month since its genesis in the 1970s. Jeanie Jew, co-founder of the Congressional Asian-Pacific staff Caucus, launched the observance to honor Asian history and the community’s contributions to the United States, which were largely ignored and condemned at the time.
Jew’s great-grandfather immigrated to the United States from China and later helped build the transcontinental railroad. He later lost his life to anti-Asian violence, and Jew cited this as a key reason for launching observance. In 1977, the national AAPI observance occupied ten days in May, a month chosen to commemorate the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants. In 1992, AAPI recognition extended to the month-long observance that Asian Americans enjoy.
