05/11/2026
Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month
AAPI Joy: AAPI Voices, Then & Now
Saturday, May 16, 2026
11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Central Library
Celebrate the diversity of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities in Los Angeles at AAPI Joy, a free festival for all ages. Explore the City’s rich AAPI heritage and join us in forging a shared future of acceptance, cooperation, and inspiration with the greater Los Angeles community.
Event Schedule
Maguire Gardens
UCLA Jade Lotus Lion Dance
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.
Location: Maguire Gardens
Audience: All ages
Join us for a lion dance performance from the UCLA Jade Lotus Lion Dance.
UCLA Jade Lotus Lion Dance
Taper Auditorium
Carlos Bulosan Book Club Awards
Time: 11:20 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: All ages
Presented by the Friends of Echo Park Library, the Carlos Bulosan Book Club Awards honors distinguished Filipino American literary advocates for their contributions to storytelling, cultural preservation, and community engagement. Included will be award presentations, brief honoree remarks, and a moderated conversation on literature, memory, and community.
Carlos Bulosan and the exterior of the Echo Park Library
Kayamanan Ng Lahi
Time: 12:10 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: All ages
Kayamanan Ng Lahi, translated as treasures of our people, is a family-oriented Philippine folk art and dance organization based in Los Angeles. Founded in 1990, Kayamanan Ng Lahi's mission statement is to inspire transformation through cultural understanding and artistic expression.
Kayamanan Ng Lahi
Koto and Nihon Buyo Performance
Time: 12:50 p.m. - 1:10 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: All ages
A special collaboration of Japanese traditional dance and koto music. Discover the elegance and spirit of Japan through movement and beautiful sound.
Koto Performance
East West Players present Tam Tran Goes to Washington
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Taper Auditorium
Audience: Teens and adults
Tam Tran, a UCLA graduate and filmmaker, loves Radiohead and spending time with her best friend Cinthya. Both Tam and Cinthya are undocumented Americans fighting for their right to dream. Written by Elizabeth Wong and directed by Rona Par.
Two performers on stage
Meeting Room A
Dr. Sara Pol-Lim, Author of Coming to Terms with Historical Trauma
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Audience: Adults
Join us in an engaging discussion with Dr. Pol-Lim as she shares her memoir, Coming to Terms with Historical Trauma. Dr. Pol-Lim was a youth survivor of the Cambodian genocide and is currently working on an oral history project with the LA County Department of Mental Health.
Dr. Sara Pol-Lim
Oliver Wang, Author of Cruising J-Town: Japanese American Car Culture in Los Angeles
Time: 1:15 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Audience: Adults
Oliver Wang is a professor of sociology at CSU-Long Beach and the author of Cruising J-Town. He is a regular writer on music, arts and culture for outlets including NPR's All Things Considered and the Los Angeles Times.
Oliver Wang
Nguyên Trần, Author of Adventures in Starry Kitchen
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room A
Audience: Adults
Come listen and discuss all things Asian food and the absolute crazy tomfoolery that was Starry Kitchen. Nguyen Tran is a former restaurateur, accidental chef, and infamous wearer of a banana suit.
Cover of Starry Kitchen
Meeting Room B
Coffee Culture in Korea
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Audience: Adults
Explore the vibrant coffee culture of Korea. Join us for a program where you'll learn about its history and trends!
Korean Coffee Culture
Hong Kong Street Food with Chef Phoebe Chow
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. & 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Meeting Room B
Audience: All ages
A journey through Hong Kong's culinary evolution from the 1940s to the present day. A cooking demonstration for bubble egg waffles and steamed rice cakes will follow.
Limited to the first 30 participants.
Hong Kong Street Food
Teen’Scape
Aimee Phan, Author of The Lost Queen
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: Teen’Scape
Audience: Teens
Aimee Phan is the author of The Lost Queen, a young adult fantasy duology. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times and USA Today. She teaches as a professor at the California College of the Arts.
Aimee Phan
Stacey H. Lee, Author of Kill Her Twice
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Teen’Scape
Audience: Teens
Stacey Lee is the New York Times and Indie bestselling author of historical fiction. A native of southern California, Stacey is a founder of the We Need Diverse Books movement.
Stacey Lee
Lei Making for Teens with Leilani Huggins
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Teen’Scape
Audience: Teens
Learn to make a small lei with Leilani, a Hawaiian floral artist and lei maker based in Los Angeles. Spreading the aloha spirit and uniting all who love lei.
Limited to 15 participants
Leilani Huggins
Children’s Picture Book Room
Kim-Hoa Ung, Author of A Gift for Nai Nai
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Children’s Picture Book Room
Audience: Children and their families
Kim-Hoa Ung is a Chinese American author-illustrator and amigurumi artist who explores family relationships and immigrant life in her stories.
Kim-Hoa Ung
Angie Kang, 2026 Caldecott Honor Winner of Our Lake
Time: 2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: Children’s Picture Book Room
Audience: Children and their families
Angie Kang is the author-illustrator of Our Lake, which received a Caldecott Honor. This program consists of an art demonstration and book signing.
Angie Kang
Livia Blackburne, Author of Bing’s Cherries
Time: 3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Children’s Picture Book Room
Audience: Children and their families
New York Times bestselling author Livia Blackburne researches the neuroscience of reading while writing books that get into people's heads.
Livia Blackburne
International Language’s Learning Area
Where I Belong: Book Introduction & Guided Exercises
Time: 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Location: International Language’s Learning Area
Audience: Adults
Soo Jin Lee and Linda Yoon introduce their book on healing trauma and embracing Asian American identity through reflective exercises and storytelling.
Where I Belong
Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes, Author of Hula
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: International Language’s Learning Area
Audience: Adults
Jasmin ‘Iolani Hakes was born and raised in Hilo, Hawai‘i. She is the author of Hula, named a Best Book of the Summer by Harper’s Bazaar and ELLE.
Jasmin 'Iolani Hakes
Naomi Hirahara, Author of Terminal Island
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: International Language’s Learning Area
Audience: Adults
Naomi Hirahara discusses the birth and destruction of Terminal Island's Fish Harbor, a vibrant Japanese American community in Los Angeles Harbor.
Naomi Hirahara
Art’s Sports Room
Hula Dance Workshop
Time: 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m.
Location: Art’s Sports Room
Audience: All ages
Come and learn how to dance the Hukilau.
Hula Dance Workshop
Sumo Yoga
Time: 1:45 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.
Location: Art’s Sports Room
Audience: All ages
Sumo Yoga redefines fitness by embracing all body types, promoting strength and self-acceptance inspired by the Japanese saying "Ten people, ten colors".
Sumo Yoga
Japanese Folk Dance Workshop
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Location: Art’s Sports Room
Audience: All ages
Team Kawachiondo is a Los Angeles-based group dedicated to sharing the traditional Japanese folk dance Kawachi Ondo. Come watch and dance together!
Japanese Folk Dance troupe
Thornton Courtyard
Lei Making for Adults
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Location: Thornton Courtyard
Audience: Adults
Learn to make a small lei with Leilani, a Hawaiian floral artist and lei maker based in Los Angeles.
Limited to 15 participants
Leilani Huggins
Children’s Courtyard
Mahjong Workshop
Time: 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Location: Children’s Courtyard
Audience: All ages
Learn how to play Mahjong with the Mahjong Fan Club! Join us for a beginner-friendly introduction to the basic rules and gameplay.
Mahjong Workshop
Octavia Lab
Cosplay for Science Presents: Storytelling, Research, and Making Science Wearable
Time: 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Location: Octavia Lab
Audience: Teens and adults
Join Gabriel-Philip Santos for an interactive presentation exploring how cosplay can make science more engaging. To register, please email [email protected]
Cosplay for Science logo
ERTC
Hanbok Display and Korean Traditional Fabric Art: Learn to Make a Money-Holder
Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Location: ERTC
Audience: All ages
Learn to craft a simple money pouch using traditional Korean fabric. Join us for this hands-on class!
Hanbok Art demonstration
Rotunda
Origami, Korean Writing, and Henna Art
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Varies by activity)
Location: Rotunda
Audience: Various
Ongoing activities including Origami with JANM, Korean writing with King Sejong Institute, and Henna Art/Hopes for kids and teens.
Limited to the first 35 participants.
Hands with henna tattoos
TECO-LA
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m
Location: Rotunda
Audience: All ages
Taiwanese Arts & Heritage
Explore Taiwan’s Austronesian heritage through a special poster exhibition led by a visiting NTUST professor. Experience hands-on traditions, including Indigenous Bunun bead-making, traditional children’s costume photo-ops, and Chinese calligraphy. This interactive booth also features custom postcards, coloring, and engaging games with children's picture books.
Programs, resources, reading lists, and blog posts celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.
