Two Asian American athletes along with a distinguished politician and actress have been announced as the 2014 honorees to the Asian Hall of Fame.
The inductees to be honored May 14 at the Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, WA are US Olympic swimmer and three time gold medalist Nathan Adrian, former Seattle Seahawk , San Francisco 49er and Superbowl champion Manu Tuiasosopo, former US Secretary of Transportation and Commerce Norman Y. Mineta, and actress Grace Park of Hawaii Five-O and Battlestar Galactica(pictured).
The Hall was founded in 2004 by the Robert Chinn Foundation “to honor achievement, inspire the next generation, and build the national community of Asian Pacific Americans.”
“It is an amazing feeling to be honored in the 2014 Asian Hall of Fame,” said Adrian. “I have always taken pride in my heritage and to be recognized by the community is very important to me.” Adrian represented the United States at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics. He won an individual goal medal in 2012 in the 100 meter freestyle and a team medal in the 4×100-meter medley relay. He also won a team medal in 2008 in the 4×100-meter freestyle relay.
Norm Mineta served as mayor of San Jose before being elected to the US House of Representatives. He also served as a cabinet secretary for both Republican President George W Bush and President Bill Clinton.
“I know that I have been able to accomplish many things only by standing on the shoulders of giants who have preceded us,” said Mineta. “I will be eternally grateful to the men and women who served with valor and integrity in the armed services in World War II, especially in the 442nd Regimental Combat Team/100th Battalion and the Military Intelligence Service.”
The American born Canadian Grace Park has dual citizenship and gained recognition playing in both the mini-series Battlestar Galactica and subsequent television series. She currently plays Officer Kono Kalakaua in Hawaii Five-O.
“Until recently I was not aware of the Asian Hall of Fame,” said the very honest Park. “So not only will I explore what it means, but I will surely be telling my family that I finally made it, and never have to get a real job after all.”
Tuiasosopo is the first Samoan Pacific Islander to be named to the Asian Hall of Fame. He won the Superbowl as a 49er in Superbowl XIX.
“I am delighted for the positive exposure this experience will bring to our Samoan families and culture. I am excited for the Asian communities at both the local & national level to know more about our Samoan families and culture.”