La Pietra Celebrates Korean American Day
January 13th, 2022
Every year, Korean American Day is celebrated on January 13. It commemorates the date in 1903 when the first Korean immigrants arrived to the United States. We are proud to have members of the Korean American community represented in our own La Pietra family on campus.
Director of Advancement & Alumnae Relations Leah Lee celebrated Korean American Day by wearing her hanbok, a traditional Korean clothing item. "Hanbok" literally means "Korean clothing" and was typically worn daily since it was designed to be easy to move in.
Director of Advancement & Alumnae Relations Leah Lee in her traditional hanbok from Korea
While many Korean Americans have made a tremendous impact on society, Korean culture in general has also had a big effect around the U.S. Bibimbap or a side of kimchi are options that are becoming more common, and popular Korean foods have made way for trends on YouTube like mukbang, or eating shows. And of course, K-Pop girl groups and boy bands continue to steal the hearts of many.
Notable Korean Americans in Hawaii:
Harry Kim - Born in 1939 in what is now known as Keaʻau, Hawaii, Kim is an American politician who served as the mayor of Hawaii County from 2000 - 2008 and again from 2016 - 2020.
Michelle Wie - Born in 1989 in Honolulu, Hawaii, Wie is a Korean-American professional golfer. In 2006, Time magazine named her, "one of 100 people who shape our world."
Jay Dee "B.J." Penn - Born in 1978 in Kailua, Hawaii, Penn is a Korean-American mixed martial arts (MMA) fighter. He is the former Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight champion and is considered one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world.
