CALIFORNIA ICONS GALA KICKS OF ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH

Honors Class of 2025, Cinema Icon Nancy Kwan, Woman of the Year Lynn Valbuena

LOS ANGELES/May 5, 2025 – Asian Hall of Fame unveiled Class of 2025 at its black-tie California Icons Gala benefiting their Women In Tech, Entertainment & Arts Program. Official Hotel Partner Millennium Hotels Resorts’ (Inductee 2024) historic Biltmore Los Angeles hosted 150 guests from California, Washington, Oregon, New York and North Carolina who convened to honor Asian and Indigenous excellence, and advance cross-cultural collaboration.

Guests arrived early for Asian Hall of Fame’s Night Market with St. John Trunk Show, over 200 signed memorabilia and gifts from Hermes, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Prada, Ferragamo, Celine, Saint Laurent and Gucci. Guests enjoyed giveaways from Asian women-owned restaurants Crustacean, SUP, Rufio Matcha, Star Leaf and Amryn Winery.

The program opened with a traditional ribbon dance by the Chinese Dance Academy of Southern California. Orange County philanthropists and Asian Hall of Fame Board Chair Charlie and Ling Zhang (Inductees 2023) presented 34th Treasurer of California Fiona Ma (Inductee 2025).

Founder of Green Capital Investment Fund and Asian Hall of Fame Board of Governor Cindy Y. Huang (Inductee 2025) presented the Woman of the Year Prize to Chairwoman of the Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation Lynn Valbuena, great great-granddaughter of Santos Manuel (Inductee 2023). 

Keynote speaker Nancy Kwan (Inductee 2021) highlighted her memoir “The World of Nancy Kwan” released last week. Known as the “Chinese Bardot”, the Eurasian’s role in The World of Suzie Wong (1960) earned Kwan the Golden Globe for “Most Promising Newcomer–Female”. Nancy Kwan was presented by her cousin Kevin Kwan (Inductee 2018) and Julia S. Gouw (Inductee 2024), former President and COO of East West Bank and founder of Asian Hall of Fame’s Julia S. Gouw Asian Women In Entertainment Prize.

Andrew Moy of Wells Fargo Commercial Banking welcomed guests from the podium. San Marino philanthropist and Board of Governor Melinda Rogers welcomed Women Investing In Nurses (WIN), a prominent volunteer guild who joined forces with Asian Hall of Fame.

Inductees attending were Rock & Roll Hall of Famer Hiro Yamamoto (Class of 2023), writer and director Adele Lim (Class of 2023), St. John model Kristen Lui (Class of 2024), Portland Port Commissioner Katherine Lam (Class of 2024) and Mayor of Arcadia Sharon Kwan representing her brother Ke Huy Quan (Inductee 2024). Founders Campaign guests were Keith Hamasaki, Eisner Amper, Patty Soldo, Disney, Andy Henry, Valorie Wiggins and John Nicholas.

Musical Director Ed Roth (Goodwill Ambassador 2021) backed Eurasian artist Camilla Shae’s “Blackbird”. Her mother Maki Mae’s violin and vocal “Time to Say Goodbye” was followed by a “Pie Jesu” duet with 16-year old daughter Aubrey Leonard. Sony artist Susie Suh’s original songs, and heritage dances by Kim Eung Hwa Korean Dance Academy delighted guests. Tahitian dancers from Dancing Fire Entertainment closed the elegant evening.

ABOUT ASIAN HALL OF FAME

Established in 2004, Asian Hall of Fame honors national and international luminaries, Indigenous leaders and cross-cultural ambassadors. Its world-class programming advances scholarships, trauma aid and heritage preservation.

Contact: press@asianhalloffame.org, (626) 600-9418, www.asianhalloffame.org.