Celebrating Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month: George Ariyoshi, first Asian-American to serve as governor

George Ariyoshi, born March 12, 1926 in Honolulu, Hawaii, is the first Asian American to serve as governor of a U.S. state.  He was elected as the third governor of Hawaii and is the longest serving governor for the state.

He began politics in 1954 when he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial House of Representatives.  In 1958 he was elected to the Hawaii Territorial Senate and then the next year, Hawaii State Senate.  

He was elected lieutenant governor in 1970 with Governor John Burns.  When Burns fell ill in October 1973, Ariyoshi stepped in as acting governor.  He was elected as governor in 1974 and served until 1986.  Term limits prevented him from running for another term. 

Celebrating Asian America Pacific Islander Heritage Month: Anna May Wong, first Chinese American film star

Anna May Wong, born January 3, 1905 as Wong Liu Tsong in Los Angeles California, is the first Chinese American film star in Hollywood and the first Chinese American actress to gain international recognition.  She began acting early and her first role (uncredited) was Dinty in 1920.  She starred in The Toll of the Sea, a silent movie and one of the first to be filmed in color.  

In the late 1920s, she traveled to Europe, becoming frustrated by the stereotypical roles she reluctantly played. In 1935, she was refused for the leading role in the movie adaption of Pearl S. Buck's The Good Earth.  She was also refused the role of the Asian blackmailer in W. Somerset Maugham's The Letter, in both the Bette Davis version and the television role in 1956.

She is the first Asian American to appear on US Currency.

She received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in February 1960. Wong passed away in February 1961 from a heart attack.

Happy birthday, Lady Deathstrike Kelly Hu!

Beautiful and badass actress Kelly Hu, born February 13, 1968 in Honolulu, Hawai'i, starred in X2: X-Men United as super-villain Lady Deathstrike.  She's also appeared in the DC Universe as White Tiger in Arrow, the series about the Green Arrow.  

She's performed on a number of my other favorite shows:  Warehouse 13, The Orville, and NCIS: New Orleans. She has provided voices for two of the Scooby-Doo movies! 

In 1985, Hu was the first Asian-American to be crowned Miss Teen USA.  She was crowned Miss Hawai'i in 1993 and finished in the Top 6 at the Miss USA pageant. 

Celebrating Asian-American Heritage Month: Norman Mineta, first Asian-American mayor of a US city

Norman Mineta, born November 12, 1931 in San Jose, California, is the first Asian-American to be elected major of a major US city.  In 1971, he ran against 14 candidates but became the first Japanese-American mayor of a major US city.  

He was elected to the US House of Representatives for California's 13th congressional district.  

In 2000, he was appointed by President Clinton as US Secretary of Commerce, making him the first Asian-American to appointed to a presidential post.

In 2001, Bush appointed him as Secretary of Transportation, becoming the only Democrat to serve in W's cabinet and the first Asian-American to hold the position.  

Celebrating Asian-American Heritage Month: James Wong Howe, first Asian-American to win an Academy Award

James Wong Howe, born August 28, 1899 in China, is the first Asian-American to win an Academy Award.  He won for Best Cinematography for his work on The Rose Tattoo at the 28th ceremony in 1956.

He was nominated ten times for Best Cinematography winning a second time for Hud at the 36th ceremony in 1963.  

Celebrating Asian-American Heritage Month: Kurt Chew-een Lee, first Asian American Marine officer

Kurt Chew-een Lee, born January 21, 1926 in San Francisco, California to Chinese immigrants, is the first Asian-American to become an officer in the US Marine Corps.  He was in high school when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and he joined the Marine Corps in 1944.  He graduated from The Basic School, USMC officer training in 1946 as second lieutenant, becoming the first non-white officer and the first Asian-American officer in the Marine Corps.

He served in the Korean War and the Vietnam War.  He attained the rank of major on January 1, 1963 and retired in 1968.  He was awarded the Navy Cross, the Silver Star and two Purple Hearts.  He passed away in March 2014.