Aquarium Accolades Winter 2026
Read about Aquarium honorees from our community.
Credit: Aquarium of the Pacific/Robin Riggs
January 23, 2026
From left to right: Aquarium Youth Volunteer Coordinator Cristina Hernandez, Aquarium Vice President of Development Ryan Ashton, Gladys Romero
Baja Splash Cultural Festival
Grupo Folklorico Eterna Primavera was honored at the Aquarium’s Baja Splash Cultural Festival in September 2025.
Grupo Folklorico Eterna Primavera is a dance group dedicated to sharing Guatemalan culture and its diverse Mayan and indigenous populations, including the Xinca, Ch’orti, and Mam people. Led by Gladys Romero, this group educates the public through music and dance, connecting the cultures as one.
From left to right: Aquarium Board Secretary Sam Limon, Chair of Cambodia Town Inc Sithea San, Aquarium Senior Director of Learning and Public Engagement Emily Yam
Southeast Asia Day
The Long Beach Cambodia Town Business and Cultural District was honored at the Aquarium’s Southeast Asia Day in October 2025.
Located along Anaheim Street – between Temple Avenue and Long Beach Boulevard – the Cambodia Town Business and Cultural District was founded in 2007. Since its designation, Cambodia Town has successfully implemented a wide range of programs that preserve cultural heritage, strengthen community pride, and promote civic engagement. The district has also contributed to the Public Library Foundation Endowment Fund and local small businesses. This year, Cambodia Town launched the Multilingual Recycling and Waste Reduction Program to further its commitment to environmental sustainability.
From left to right: Aquarium Senior Director of Marketing and Membership Alyssa Pacaut, Executive and Artistic Director of the Non-Profit Kim Eung Hwa and Korean Dance Academy Kim Eung Hwa
Autumn Festival
Eung Hwa Kim was honored at the Aquarium’s Autumn Festival in November 2025.
Eung Hwa Kim is the founder and executive and artistic director of the non-profit Kim Eung Hwa and Korean Dance Academy. At the age of five, Kim began her formal training and mastered Korean traditional dance, musical instruments, and byung-chang (operatic storytelling tradition). Since 1980, the Korean Dance Academy has been preserving and sharing traditional Korean dance and music with the public. They have also been performing at the Aquarium since 2010.
