The 24th Annual Fish Fry at Marina del Rey, California, on September 29, 2007. More Photos >>

View Slide Show One >> View Slide Show Two >> View Slide Show Three >>

As a fairly new member of AAEA, this was my first ever Fish Fry event! The day was warm and perfect for all of our beachgoers. My husband (Arnold) and two children (Brian Lee, age 12 and Brandon, age 7) accompanied me to the event and we all enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. The day started off with our very own resident chef, Phil Ow, cooking a spectacular breakfast for the early bird volunteers, as he has loyally done for countless years. For those of you who missed it, I suggest coming early to help out next year! At around 9:00 a.m., things seemingly picked up speed! The flower arrangements were nearly complete, the table covers were put into place, the fish were seasoned, the burners and pots set up, and the balloons were tied to the posts! Amidst all the commotion, we took a few minutes to celebrate Henry Yee (current President) and Irene Hamada’s (incoming President-elect) birthdays. By 10:00 a.m., the D.J., Evan Brown, arrived and Hawaiian music filled the air.

Approximately 250 AAEA members and their families attended the annual potluck fete – basking in the glorious sun, eating delicious food, chatting with old friends and making new ones, and sharing stories. Who would have thought that Ralph Hamada – one of our founders – and I hail from the same town of Waipahu, Hawaii! In the middle of this celebration, the Asian Pacific Community Fund of Southern California (www.apcf.org) gave a presentation on their mission to address the “diverse needs of Asian Pacific Islanders in Southern California” by creating a direct link between donors and those in need. Let’s all do what we can to support this worthy organization.

Thank you to Mary Lam, Dulce Maycumber and Connie Yee for organizing the Bingo games and raffles. It was a big hit with the young and young-at-heart! Also, thank you to Susan Kudo-Lee who successfully ran the arts and craft / t-shirt making station. Overall, a very special thank you goes to Phil Ow, Henry Yee and their apprentices, Edward Ho and Teddy Kwong, for the wonderful fried fish and savory soup, along with Ralph Hamada’s shaved ice. It would not have been a “fish fry” without their special talents and contributions. I cannot wait until next year!