Asian Hall of Fame
American honorary organization
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Asian Hall of Fame is a United States-based organization that honors Asian and Pacific Islander and Native individuals and communities for their contributions to arts, sciences, sports, public service, and global impact.[1] It was established in 2004 by the Robert Chinn Foundation (RFC) in Seattle, Washington.[2] It remained affiliated with the RFC until 2020 when it separated and became its own independent non-profit.[3] Maki Hsieh is the President and CEO of the organization.[4]
Inductees
| Year | Name | Description | Award | References |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | Gary Faye Locke | American politician and diplomat; 21st Governor of Washington (1997–2005), U.S. Secretary of Commerce (2009–2011), U.S. Ambassador to China (2011–2014) and first Chinese American to serve in that role | Inductee | [2] |
| 2004 | Rick Noji | American high jumper; world champion and former U.S. national champion | Inductee | [2] |
| 2004 | Yuji Okumoto | American actor, producer and martial artist known for roles in martial arts films | Inductee | [2] |
| 2004 | George Tsutakawa | American sculptor and painter noted for public art installations in the Pacific Northwest | Inductee, in memoriam | [2] |
| 2004 | Z.Z. Wei | Chinese American painter and fine artist active in mid‑20th century American art communities | Inductee | [2] |
| 2007 | Apolo Anton Ohno | American retired short‑track speed skater; eight‑time Winter Olympic medalist (two gold, two silver, four bronze); most decorated U.S. Winter Olympian; inducted into U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 2019 | Inductee | [5] |
| 2013 | Loida Nicolas Lewis | Filipino‑born American lawyer and business leader; first Filipina licensed to practice law in New York without U.S. law school, former chair and CEO of TLC Beatrice | Inductee | [6] |
| 2013 | Richard Cho | Vice President of Basketball Strategy for the Memphis Grizzlies in the NBA | Inductee | [6] |
| 2013 | Teddy Zee | American media, technology and entertainment executive and producer | Inductee | [6] |
| 2014 | Grace Park | Canadian-American actress and advocate known for television roles and Asian American representation in media | Inductee | [7] |
| 2014 | Manu'ula Tuiasosopo | Former NFL player; contributed to Seattle Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers Super Bowl teams | Inductee | [7] |
| 2014 | Nathan Adrian | American competitive swimmer; five‑time Olympic gold medalist representing the U.S. between 2008 and 2016 | Inductee | [8] |
| 2014 | Norman Yoshio Mineta | American politician; U.S. Transportation Secretary under President George W. Bush, former Cabinet member under President Clinton, co‑founder of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, and recipient of Presidential Medal of Freedom | Inductee | [7] |
| 2015 | Benson Henderson | American former professional mixed martial artist; UFC Lightweight Champion and WEC Lightweight Champion; multiple title defenses and considered among the top lightweight fighters in MMA | Inductee | [9] |
| 2015 | Betty Nguyen | Vietnamese American television journalist; one of the first Vietnamese American anchors at CNN and NBC News | Inductee | [9] |
| 2015 | Carrie Ann Inaba | American television personality, dancer, choreographer and talk show host; long‑time judge on ABC's Dancing with the Stars and former co‑host of CBS's The Talk | Inductee | [9] |
| 2015 | Jeanette Lee | American professional pool player nicknamed "the Black Widow"; world‑ranked champion, WPBA and BCA Hall of Fame inductee, advocate for scoliosis awareness | Inductee | [9] |
| 2016 | Bruce Lee | Chinese American martial artist, actor and filmmaker; global influence on martial arts cinema and pop culture | Inductee, in memoriam | [10] |
| 2016 | Kristi Yamaguchi | American former competitive figure skater; Olympic gold medalist and U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame inductee; New York Times best‑selling author | Inductee | [10] |
| 2016 | Major General Antonio Taguba | Filipino American U.S. Army officer; led the Taguba Report on Abu Ghraib detainee abuse and advocate for social justice reforms | Inductee | [10] |
| 2016 | Connie Chung | American broadcast journalist; first Asian American co‑anchor on U.S. weekday national network news broadcasts | Inductee & Lifetime Achievement | [10] |
| 2017 | Daniel Dae Kim | Korean American actor and producer; prominent AAPI advocate | Inductee | [11] |
| 2017 | Duy‑Loan Le | Vietnamese American engineer; first female Senior Fellow at Texas Instruments and inductee to the Women in Technology Hall of Fame | Inductee | [11] |
| 2017 | Sonita Lontoh | Indonesian American technology executive and advocate; inductee to the Women in Manufacturing Hall of Fame | Inductee | [11] |
| 2018 | Kevin Kwan | Singapore born novelist; author of Crazy Rich Asians and bestselling fiction exploring Asian identity and representation | Inductee | [12] |
| 2018 | Kourtney Kang | Korean‑Irish American television producer and writer; contributed to ABC's Fresh Off the Boat and led diverse storytelling initiatives in entertainment | Inductee | [12] |
| 2018 | Melissa Lee | Chinese American television journalist; first Chinese American host on CNBC and longtime anchor and correspondent | Inductee | [12] |
| 2018 | Roy Yamaguchi | Japanese American chef and restaurateur; founder of Roy's Restaurants and promoter of Hawaiian‑fusion cuisine | Inductee | [12] |
| 2019 | J. R. Celski | American retired short‑track speed skater; three‑time Winter Olympian and three‑time Olympic medalist; held multiple world and junior world records and credited with helping popularize U.S. short‑track speed skating | Inductee | [13] |
| 2019 | Jon M. Chu | American film director, producer and screenwriter; directed Crazy Rich Asians (2018) and In the Heights (2021), among other major works helping elevate Asian American representation in Hollywood | Inductee | [13] |
| 2019 | Luly Yang | Taiwanese‑born American fashion and costume designer; founder of Luly Yang Couture in Seattle and recognized internationally for bridal and evening wear | Inductee | [14] |
| 2019 | Marc Anthony Nicolas | Filipino American television producer and two‑time Emmy Award winner; supervising producer on The Talk and host/executive producer of Make Your Marc on GMA Pinoy TV | Inductee | [15] |
| 2020 | James Hong | American actor, producer and director; career spanning over seven decades and more than 400 film and television credits; co‑founder of East West Players to advance Asian American theatrical representation | Lifetime Achievement Award | [16] |
| 2020 | Congressmember Judy Chu | American politician and psychologist; first Chinese American woman elected to the U.S. Congress, representing California since 2009 | Inductee | [17] |
| 2020 | Masaharu Morimoto | Japanese chef; gained international fame as an Iron Chef on Iron Chef (Japan) and Iron Chef America; founder of restaurants across the U.S. and Asia | Inductee | [18] |
| 2020 | Noel Lee | American engineer, inventor and entrepreneur; founder and CEO of Monster Inc., recognized for innovations in high-performance audio accessories | Inductee | [16] |
| 2020 | Cheryl Burke | American professional dancer and television personality; first female professional to win Dancing with the Stars and first to win back‑to‑back seasons; two‑time Emmy nominee | Inductee | [19] |
| 2020 | Masi Oka | Japanese American actor, producer and digital effects artist; known for his role as Hiro Nakamura on Heroes; worked in visual effects in major films | Inductee | [16] |
| 2020 | Wally Yonamine | Japanese American multi‑sport athlete; first Japanese American to play in the NFL and one of the first Americans to play professional baseball in Japan | Inductee | [20] |
| 2021 | Nancy Kwan | Chinese American actress whose Hollywood breakthrough in The World of Suzie Wong (1960) helped expand representation of Asian actors in 1960s cinema; winner of a Golden Globe New Star award in 1961 | Lifetime Achievement Award | [21] |
| 2021 | Brandon Lee | American actor and martial artist; son of actor Bruce Lee; known for The Crow (1994) | Inductee, In Memoriam | [3][22] |
| 2021 | Dr. Linda M. Liau | Taiwanese‑born American neurosurgeon and researcher; Chair of Neurosurgery at UCLA and pioneer in brain cancer immunotherapy | Inductee | [23] |
| 2021 | Hon. Tani Gorre Cantil‑Sakauye | Filipina American jurist; served as Chief Justice of California (2011–2022), first person of color and second woman in that role; head of the Judicial Council of California | Inductee | [22] |
| 2021 | Indra Nooyi | Indian American business executive; CEO (2006–2018) and Chair (2007–2019) of PepsiCo; one of the first women of color to head a Fortune 50 company | Inductee | [3] |
| 2021 | Ken Jeong | American actor, comedian, writer and former licensed physician; best known for roles in The Hangover series and Community; also creator of TV sitcom Dr. Ken | Inductee | [24] |
| 2021 | Phil Chen | Jamaican supportive bassist of Chinese descent; played with Eric Clapton, Ray Manzarek and members of the Doors; awarded Jamaican Order of Distinction in 2014 | Inductee | [23] |
| 2021 | Ren Hanámi | Japanese American actor, author, director and producer; Chair of SAG‑AFTRA Asian Pacific American Media Committee and advocate for AAPI representation | Inductee | [25] |
| 2021 | Steve Aoki | American DJ, record producer and entrepreneur; founder of Dim Mak Records; global EDM artist and son of Benihana founder Rocky Aoki; advocate for inclusivity in music industry | Inductee | [3][26] |
| 2021 | Sumi Jo | South Korean operatic coloratura soprano; Grammy Award winner and one of the first Asian sopranos to perform leading roles in major Western opera houses | Inductee | [27] |
| 2022 | Andrew Cherng & Peggy Cherng | Taiwanese‑born Chinese American restaurateurs; co‑founders and co‑CEOs of Panda Restaurant Group (Panda Express), one of the largest Asian‑themed restaurant chains in the U.S. | Inductees | [28] |
| 2022 | Chloe Kim | American professional snowboarder; two‑time Olympic gold medalist in women's halfpipe (2018, 2022), youngest woman to win back‑to‑back halfpipe golds; multi‑medalist at X‑Games and Youth Olympics | Inductee | [29] |
| 2022 | Daniel Ho | American musician, composer and producer specializing in Hawaiian music; six‑time Grammy Award winner and recognized for contributions to ukulele and slack‑key guitar genres | Inductee | [30] |
| 2022 | Daniel Pak | American music educator, performer, and frontman of Seattle reggae band Kore Ionz; advocate for music education in under‑served communities | Inductee | [31] |
| 2022 | Deepika Padukone | Indian actor and philanthropist; leading figure in Bollywood and international cinema, recipient of multiple Filmfare Awards and a TIME 100 list honoree in 2018; founder of Live Love Laugh Foundation focused on mental health awareness | Inductee | [30] |
| 2022 | Elizabeth An, Helene An & Catherine An & Diana An | Vietnamese‑American sisters and restaurateurs; founders of Crustacean restaurant group credited with popularizing Vietnamese cuisine in the U.S. | Inductees | [28] |
| 2022 | Hiro Yamamoto | American bassist, co‑founding member of Soundgarden and credited as first Asian American bassist in a Grammy Award-winning rock band[32] | Inductee | [33] |
| 2022 | Hiroshima | American fusion jazz band honored by the Smithsonian; recognized for integrating Asian influences into mainstream music | Inductees | [30] |
| 2022 | Jiaoying Summers | Chinese American comedian and social media influencer; international touring performer and founder of comedy venues | Inductee | [31] |
| 2022 | Joseph Bae & Janice Lee | Korean American husband‑and‑wife duo; Bae is co‑CEO of KKR, and Lee is a New York Times bestselling author; prominent leaders in business and philanthropy | Inductees | [30] |
| 2022 | Karen Wong | Founder Emeritus of the Asian Hall of Fame and Robert Chinn Foundation | Inductee | [28] |
| 2022 | Margaret Cho | Korean American comedian, actress and writer; Grammy and Emmy nominee for her work exploring social issues and Asian American identity | Inductee | [34] |
| 2022 | Momo Wang | Chinese American animation and creative director at Illumination Entertainment; creator of globally recognized character Tuzki | Inductee | [35] |
| 2022 | Omar Lee & Christine Lee | American real estate investors and property development entrepreneurs based in the Pacific Northwest | Inductees | [29] |
| 2022 | Pat Chun | American collegiate athletic director; credited as first Asian American athletic director at a Power Five university | Inductee | [36] |
| 2022 | Robert Chinn & Ruth Chinn | Chinese American bankers; founders of first Asian‑owned bank in the U.S.; inducted posthumously | Inductees, In Memoriam | [31] |
| 2022 | Senator Tammy Duckworth | American politician and combat veteran; first Thai American U.S. Senator, recipient of Purple Heart and advocate for AAPI representation in public service | Inductee | [30] |
| 2022 | Tia Carrere | American actor and singer; Grammy Award-winning artist and cultural icon with breakout roles in Wayne's World and True Lies | Inductee | [37] |
| 2022 | Toni Ko | American entrepreneur; founder of NYX Cosmetics and Bespoke Beauty Brands; commercial real estate investor and philanthropist | Inductee | [28] |
| 2022 | Virginia Cross | Muckleshoot Indian Tribal Council Chair and elder; one of longest‑serving female tribal council chairs in the United States | Inductee | [38] |
| 2023 | Adele Lim | Malaysian screenwriter and film director; co‑written Crazy Rich Asians and directed Joy Ride; known for mentoring writers and promoting representation in Hollywood | Inductee | [39] |
| 2023 | Annie Young‑Scrivner | American business executive; CEO of Wella Company and advocate for diversity in corporate leadership | Inductee | [40] |
| 2023 | Ben Fong‑Torres | Chinese American music journalist and author; longtime writer for Rolling Stone magazine | Inductee | [39] |
| 2023 | Charlie Zhang & Ling Zhang | Chinese American philanthropists recognized for leadership in community service and cultural initiatives | Inductees | [41] |
| 2023 | Doug Baldwin Jr. | American former NFL wide receiver; Super Bowl champion with the Seattle Seahawks; CEO and founder of community-focused ventures in sports and youth development | Inductee | [42] |
| 2023 | Dr. Lisa T. Su | Taiwanese American technology executive; Chair and CEO of AMD and recognized global leader in semiconductor innovation | Inductee | [40] |
| 2023 | Dr. Peter P. Lee | American leader in immuno‑oncology; chair of research at City of Hope and expert in cancer research | Inductee | [41] |
| 2023 | Dr. Shang‑Li & Betty Huang | American philanthropists; leadership in health and cultural organizations supporting the AAPI community | Inductees | [42] |
| 2023 | Far East Movement | American music group; Billboard‑topping hitmakers (Like a G6) and acknowledged for mainstreaming Asian‑American hip‑hop culture | Inductees | [40] |
| 2023 | Jennifer Lee | (TOKiMONSTA) Korean American electronic music producer; Grammy-nominated artist known for festival performances and media collaborations | Inductee | [39] |
| 2023 | Lalisa Manoban | Thai singer and member of Blackpink; global K‑pop cultural icon and influential figure in music and fashion | Inductee | [43] |
| 2023 | Pin Ni | Chinese American urban planner and entrepreneur; founder and president of Wanxiang America, contributing to sustainable development | Inductee | [40] |
| 2023 | Rep. Marilyn Strickland | American politician; U.S. Representative for Washington's 10th Congressional District; advocate for AAPI representation in government | Inductee | [40] |
| 2023 | Sam Cho | Korean American civic leader; Port of Seattle Commissioner and former executive focused on inclusive governance | Inductee | [41] |
| 2023 | Freddie Mercury | British singer-songwriter with South Asian (Parsi) heritage; lead vocalist of Queen and global music icon; inducted posthumously | Inductee, In Memoriam | [43] |
| 2023 | Rocky Aoki | Japanese American restaurateur and entrepreneur; founder of Benihana; inducted posthumously | Inductee, In Memoriam | [44] |
| 2023 | Ryuichi Sakamoto | Japanese composer and electronic music pioneer; Oscar‑winning artist; inducted posthumously | Inductee, In Memoriam | [43] |
| 2023 | Kiet Nguyen | Vietnamese American U.S. Navy veteran; awarded the U.S. Navy Cross for extraordinary heroism during the Vietnam War, notably in the rescue of downed U.S. airmen in 1972; later resided in Seattle and worked at Boeing before retiring around 2005 | Inductee | [42] |
| 2023 | Kim Thayil | American guitarist and founding member of the grunge band Soundgarden; named by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 greatest guitarists of all time; two‑time Grammy Award winner, and influential for defining the “Seattle Sound” in alternative rock | Inductee | [45] |
| 2023 | Santos Manuel | Native American tribal elder of the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians; recognized posthumously for leadership and service | Inductee, In Memoriam | [39] |
| 2023 | Nintendo | Japanese multinational video game company; corporate inductee recognized for global influence in entertainment and technology | Inductee | [40] |
| 2024 | Seo Eunji | Consul General of the Republic of Korea in Seattle since 2023; recognized for leadership in public diplomacy and strengthening U.S.–Korea cultural ties in the Pacific Northwest | Inductee | [46] |
| 2024 | Anne Akiko Meyers | American concert violinist known for her solo and orchestral performances; recipient of an Avery Fisher Career Grant and frequent collaborator with major orchestras[47] | Inductee | [48] |
| 2024 | Bing Xie | Chinese American business executive and philanthropist; co‑CEO of Silergy Corporation specializing in semiconductor technologies | Inductee | [49] |
| 2024 | Crystal Kung Minkoff | American television personality and entrepreneur; co‑founder of Real Coco beverage company and first Chinese‑American cast member of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills | Inductee | [50] |
| 2024 | Eva Chow | American Chinese cultural executive and influencer; recognized for contributions in hospitality, beverage and urban cultural programming in Los Angeles area | Inductee | [46] |
| 2024 | Joe Wong | Chinese American comedian and author; first Asian performer on The Late Show with David Letterman and White House stand‑up performer | Inductee | [51] |
| 2024 | Julia S. Gouw | American philanthropist and former banking executive; recognized for leadership in community investment and philanthropy networks | Inductee | [50] |
| 2024 | Ke Huy Quan | Vietnamese‑born American actor; Oscar‑winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), previously known for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and The Goonies; first Vietnam‑born actor to win an Academy Award | Inductee | [49] |
| 2024 | Kwek Leng Beng | Singaporean Chinese entrepreneur; Chairman of Hong Leong Group, significant figure in global business and philanthropy | Inductee | [46] |
| 2024 | Larry Li | Chinese American venture investor; founder and managing partner of Silicon Valley's Amino Capital, supporting Asian American entrepreneurs | Inductee | [49] |
| 2024 | Leena Nair | British Indian business executive; Global CEO of Chanel and advocate for diversity in corporate leadership | Inductee | [52] |
| 2024 | Maia Shibutani & Alex Shibutani | American ice dancers; Olympic bronze medalists and multiple-time U.S. national champions known as the "Shib‑Sibs" | Inductees | [49] |
| 2024 | Millennium & Copthorne | Singapore‑based hospitality corporation recognized as a corporate inductee for global influence in hospitality and Asian heritage preservation | Inductee | [53] |
| 2024 | Marta & Raj Bhathal; Lisa Bhathal Merage; Alex Bhathal | Indian American philanthropy family; recognized for leadership in sports management, community engagement and cultural investment | Inductees | [46] |
| 2024 | Richard Lui & Kristen Lui | American journalists and media leaders; known for broadcast journalism and founding initiatives to elevate Asian American visibility in media | Inductees | [53] |
| 2024 | Aisha Ibrahim | Saudi‑born celebrity chef and restaurateur based in Seattle; notable presence in Pacific Northwest culinary scene | Inductees | [46] |
| 2024 | Bruce Harrell | American politician; served as Mayor of Seattle and a civic leader in Pacific Northwest; inducted as regional honoree | Inductee | [54] |
| 2024 | Daniel Nguyen & Katherine Lam | Chinese American civic leaders and co-founders of Bambuza Hospitality Group in Seattle; recognized for contributions to community and hospitality | Inductees | [55] |
| 2024 | Lydia Lee | Korean American marketing and art professional; recognized as "Arts Educator of the Year" for her leadership in media, art, and education programming. | Inductee | [56] |
| 2024 | David Yang Wasielewski | American restaurateur; managing partner at Din Tai Fung Seattle and Pacific Northwest community supporter | Inductee | [57] |
| 2024 | Jacqueline Yang | American entrepreneur; owner of Seattle SuperHawks basketball team and philanthropist in Pacific Northwest sports and civic engagement | Inductee | [50] |
| 2024 | Jonathan Sposato | American technology executive and philanthropist; investor and supporter of Asian American leadership in business and community | Inductee | [58] |
| 2024 | Preston Singletary | Tlingit Native American glass artist and cultural educator; recognized for bridging Indigenous and Asian Pacific artistic traditions | Inductee | [59] |
| 2024 | N. Scott Momaday | Kiowa novelist and Native American writer; Pulitzer Prize‑winning author inducted posthumously as part of Indigenous inclusion class | Inductee, In Memoriam | [52] |
| 2024 | Anna May Wong | American film actress and silent‑era Hollywood star; first Chinese American film actor recognized internationally; inducted posthumously | Inductee, In Memoriam | [49] |
| 2024 | Seiji Ozawa | Japanese conductor and music director; led Boston Symphony Orchestra; inducted posthumously in honor of musical legacy | Inductee, In Memoriam | [60] |
| 2024 | William Saito | Japanese American cybersecurity expert and entrepreneur; inducted posthumously for business and technology contributions | Inductee, In Memoriam | [46] |
| 2025 | Yoshiki | Japan's biggest rock star; recognized for his international achievements in music, film, and fashion, as well as for his continued influence on global art and culture. | Inductee | [61] |
| 2025 | Soyeon Yi | First Korean astronaut | Inductee | [62] |
| 2025 | Michelle Kwan | Olympian and former U.S. Ambassador to Belize | Inductee | [63] |
| 2025 | Il Yeon Kwon | Founder of H Mart | Inductee | [64] |
