LibGuides: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, & Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI): Home

Establishing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month

Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month is celebrated every May in the United States to honor the rich histories, cultures, and contributions of these communities. Originally established as a weeklong observance in 1978, it was expanded to a month in 1990 and officially designated in 1992 . The timing of May was chosen to commemorate two significant milestones: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which was largely built by Chinese laborers.

In 2021, the observance was further expanded to include Native Hawaiians, reflecting a broader recognition of the diverse AANHPI communities . The 2025 theme, “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience,” highlights the enduring impact of AANHPI individuals in shaping American society through leadership and perseverance .

1. apanews.com 2. teenvogue.com 3. time.com 4. britannica.com 5. si.edu 6. apasf.org
7. visitseattle.org 8. asianpacificheritage.gov 9. copyrightalliance.org 10. uwm.edu

Purpose

The U.S. celebrates Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month each May.

Pew Research Center

Current Articles

A Spotlight on Asian American Culture Today - New York Times
A Spotlight on Asian American Culture Today was an evening celebrating the artistic brilliance of Asian Americans, the fastest growing demographic in the country. Held in collaboration with the Asian American Foundation, the event marked the culmination of The New York Times series focusing on the rising effect of the A.A.P.I. community on American culture.
They’re Asian. They’re American. But, They Wonder, Are They Asian American? - New York Times
Bhutanese Americans are the newest citizens of Asian descent. But many do not identify strongly as Asian Americans, reflecting the complexity of the label.
‘Strangers in the Land’ Review: For Chinese-Americans, a Hard Road to a New Home
In the mid-19th century, Chinese immigrants built much of the developing American West. The community was often met with hostility and violence.

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The 14th Amendment, which guarantees citizenship to “all persons born or naturalized in the United States,” helped pave the way for diverse populations to find inclusion here, from the Scandinavians who arrived around the turn of the 20th century, to the Vietnamese who fled their country in the 1970s to the Central Americans of recent years. And yet for some Americans, at least, citizenship is not the same as belonging. Michael Luo’s important study reminds us that without such indemnities, any group—but particularly the most vulnerable among us—could find itself excluded or expelled.