Background
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI)
Heritage Month celebrates the contributions that generations of
AANHPIs have made to American history, society, and culture.
In 1992, Congress established May as Asian American and
Pacific Islander Heritage Month to coincide with two key milestones: the arrival of the nation’s first Japanese immigrants (May 7, 1843) and Chinese workers’ pivotal role in building the transcontinental railroad (completed May 10, 1869). In 2021, a presidential proclamation expanded this to include Native Hawaiians in celebration of their unique history, culture, and contributions.
Terminology
Asian: Refers to people with origins of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent.
Native Hawaiian: Refers to the indigenous or native people of the Hawaiian Islands.
Pacific Islander: Refers to people having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific Islands.
Samoan: Refers to native or inhabitants of Samoa.
Books
- Asian Adventures A-Z Foods by Yobe Qiu
- When You Trap a Tiger by Tae Keller
- Asian Americans Who Inspire Us by Analiza Quiroz Wolf
