658 Regional Support Group Celebrates Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islanders Month in South Korea

Photo By Sgt. Mason Runyon | The 658 Regional Support Group (RSG) hosted an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Awareness Month Celebration at the Camp Humphreys Downtown Plaza on Saturday, 13 May 2023, in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Featuring performances by Toa O Samoa and the South Pacific Warrior Dance Troupes, the event showcased the rituals, artistry, and culture of the Pacific Islands as part of a national observation of the contributions of AANHPI cultures and the diversity of the US service members.  

SOUTH KOREA

05.15.2023

Courtesy Story

9th Mission Support Command

The 658 Regional Support Group (RSG) hosted an Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Awareness Month Celebration at the Camp Humphreys Downtown Plaza on Saturday, 13 May 2023, in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. Featuring performances by Toa O Samoa and the South Pacific Warrior Dance Troupes, the event showcased the rituals, artistry, and culture of the Pacific Islands as part of a national observation of the contributions of AANHPI cultures and the diversity of the US service members.
Approximately 300 members of the Camp Humphreys community came out to watch the performances presented by service members, dependents, and civilians stationed across the Korean peninsula. The two-hour show, themed to a “Canoe Trip Across the Pacific,” included dance demonstrations from several Pacific islands, including Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, and Tonga. Additional demonstrations included the ‘Ava ceremony from Samoa, a traditional ritual that opens important community events to promote unity among different groups of people.
“Our main focus was sharing our culture and bringing together all of our toa [warriors] of Samoa and the other Pacific islands in Korea together,” said Master Sergeant Asoiva Fuiava-Thomsen, the 658 RSG Human Resources NCOIC and a native of America Samoa. “It was an honor to present our heritages to so many people. We hope that everyone who came to celebrate with us learned something and walked away with a greater understanding of our cultures.”
“We also want to give a sincere thank you from Toa o Samoa and the South Pacific Warriors to Colonel Hunter and the 658 RSG for our hosting our celebration,” MSG Fuiava-Thomsen added.
The 658 RSG, commanded by Colonel Samuel Hunter III, is a US Army Reserve unit permanently stationed at Camp Humphreys, South Korea. It is part of the 9th Mission Support Command, “America’s Army Reserve in the Pacific.” Both the 658 RSG and the 9th MSC include subordinate units located in Korea, Hawaii, Guam, America Samoa, Alaska, and Tacoma, Washington.
(Story written by Capt. Jeffrey Blackman)

• Date Taken: 05.15.2023
• Date Posted: 05.31.2023 15:23
• Story ID: 445816
• Location: KR