OKLAHOMA CITY — Join us as we celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. The Oklahoma Historical Society will host “AANHPI Collective History Day” in partnership with the Asian Festival by the Asia Society of Oklahoma (ASO). This event will take place at the Oklahoma History Center on Saturday, May 23, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., featuring historical recognitions, traditional and modern art performances, educational cultural booths and the crowning of the next ASO royalty representatives.

The 2026 honorees are:

 

  • Dr. Yoshi Kazu Sasaki (posthumously) of Japanese heritage. Dr. Sasaki played a significant role in developing the National Weather Center at the University of Oklahoma while simultaneously working tirelessly to establish business, educational, cultural and diplomatic relations between Japan and the State of Oklahoma.

 

  • Ronnie K. Irani, originally from Mumbai, India, is the founder and CEO of RKI Energy Resources, LLC, based in Oklahoma City, with almost 50 years of experience in the energy sector.

 

  • Michael Korenblit is a Jewish American who grew up in Ponca City, Oklahoma. He is the co-author of the best-selling book “Until We Meet Again,” which tells the true story of love and survival experienced by his parents during the Holocaust.

 

  • Thuan “Toon” Nguyen from Vietnam is the CEO and owner of THN Insurance Solutions, specializing in the insurance needs of the Asian cultural market. His community involvement includes being a founding member of the Greater Oklahoma City Asian Chamber of Commerce and the Asian District Cultural Association and serving as president of the Vietnamese American Heritage Community of Oklahoma.

The honorees were selected by the ASO, Asian District Cultural Association, India Association of Oklahoma, Japan America Society of Oklahoma, KAPWA OKC, the Philippine-American Civic Organization of Oklahoma, Inc., Share and Grow Association, the Greater Oklahoma City Asian Chamber of Commerce, the Vietnamese American Heritage Community of Oklahoma, HOPE Philippines, Quill Hawk Publishing and other community members. These groups have also helped organize and put on the event.

Admission to “AANHPI Collective History Day” is free, and guests are encouraged to register online. Attendees may visit the Oklahoma History Center Museum galleries on the day of the event at a special group rate. Food trucks in the parking lot will offer authentic cuisine for purchase.

The mission of the Oklahoma Historical Society is to collect, preserve and share the history and culture of the state of Oklahoma and its people. Founded in 1893 by members of the Territorial Press Association, the OHS maintains museums, historic sites and affiliates across the state. Through its research archives, exhibits, educational programs and publications, the OHS chronicles the rich history of Oklahoma. For more information about the OHS, please visit okhistory.org.