“As Ranking Member of the House International Relations Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, it was a great honor for me to give the opening remarks and officially welcome more than four hundred guests to Pacific Night 2003,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “I am pleased that my colleague, Jim Leach, Chairman of the Subcommittee, was also able to attend this year’s event.”

       “Pacific Night is the largest single event for the Pacific Islander community in the Washington, DC area and brings together all of the Congressional offices, Pacific Embassies and other Pacific Islander organizations in the area.  Pacific Night also offers a unique opportunity to showcase and celebrate the diverse cultures, peoples and cuisines of the Pacific.  Most importantly, it provides an opportunity for the diplomatic and government representatives from the Pacific to meet with key Administration, Congressional, academic and business representatives in a less formal setting,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.

       “Last year, U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell was the keynote speaker and he was so well-received that he was asked to be the keynote speaker again this year.  However, due to a conflict in his schedule, he was unable to attend this year’s event.  On the other hand, Secretary Gale Norton was gracious enough to agree to speak and we were also pleased to have her with us.” 

       “It goes without saying that the annual Pacific Night celebration has been growing and will continue to draw attention to the insular areas,” Congressman Faleomavaega said.  “Set in the month of May, Pacific Night coincides with the annual month long Federal recognition and celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month.  Pacific Night is also sponsored by the Pacific Island embassies and representative offices in Washington D.C., and the United Nations Missions in New York.”

       The setting for Pacific Night 2003 was the National Geographic Society’s headquarters in Washington, DC.  More than 500 people attended, including representatives from federal agencies, businesses, and members of the Pacific Island communities now living in the D.C. area.


 

Photos:

4.  Faleomavaega with members of the Samoan community (l-r) Ms. Josie Puletasi, Mr. Lelei Lelaulu, President-CEO of Counterparts International, and Mr. Joe Salave’a of the NFL-Washington Redskins.