HMAE

May 17, 2026

On May 17, 2026, the Hinsdale Multicultural Arts & Education Association (HMAE), in partnership with Hinsdale Adventist Academy (HAA), hosted Hinsdale’s first Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration.

The event welcomed nearly 200 students, families, educators, performers, volunteers, community leaders, and guests. Cultural performances and activities highlighted Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Indian, Hawaiian, and other Asian and Pacific Islander traditions. Guests enjoyed music and dance, a Chinese tea presentation, calligraphy, traditional games, arts and crafts, cultural displays, food, and student-led activities.

Among the afternoon’s highlights were HAA students performing the traditional Filipino bamboo dance, tinikling; an intergenerational Korean family presentation combining music and dance; Chinese martial arts and dance performances; and cultural stations that invited families to learn through direct participation. The celebration reflected HMAE’s guiding vision: One Community • Many Cultures.

This event was made possible by the shared work of HMAE, HAA, Hinsdale Fil-Am, performers, cultural presenters, volunteers, families, educators, and community partners. It also created meaningful opportunities for young people to share their heritage, serve their community, and develop confidence and leadership.

The celebration was featured in two regional publications. The Illinois Conference of Seventh-day Adventists published “HAA Hosts Hinsdale’s First AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration,” highlighting the event and its community impact. The Lake Union Herald later published “It Began With a Prayer. It Ended With Open Doors,“ telling the broader story of the HMAE–HAA partnership and how the celebration helped build stronger connections between the school and the surrounding community. HMAE and HAA are now preparing for the second annual celebration, scheduled for May 2, 2027.

Related Coverage

Illinois Conference: “HAA Hosts Hinsdale’s First AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration”
https://www.ilcsda.org/post/a-festival-visit-sparks-hinsdale-s-first-aanhpi-heritage-celebration

Lake Union Herald: “It Began With a Prayer. It Ended With Open Doors”
https://www.lakeunionherald.org/archive/articles/it-began-with-a-prayer-it-ended-with-open-doors/