Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
Can you tell me more about Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month recognizes and celebrates the culture, contributions, and heritage of Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans. President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution declaring May 4-10, 1979 as the first Asian Pacific Heritage Week. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed an extension changing Asian Pacific Heritage Week to a month-long observance. In 2024, President Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr changed the name to Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843 and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid those tracks were Chinese American immigrants.
Please join LA County Library in paying tribute to the Asian and Pacific Islander community who have enriched our nation and who have been instrumental to its progress.
How can I celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in May?
LA County Library has some great resources for you to help celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
We have links to fun activity ideas below that are appropriate for all ages like cup weaving and glue batik. We also have links to some of our favorite videos that highlight Asian Pacific food and culture. There’s also an opportunity to share your immigration and citizenship stories so others can learn and grow from your experiences. And, of course, we have booklists appropriate for all ages that celebrate Asian Pacific Heritage. There are other great resources on this page to check out.
What events will LA County Library host for Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
We have in-person and virtual events throughout May to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and you’re invited!
Whether it’s creating art, viewing films, or learning about tasty Asian street food, we’ve got events for all ages to help you participate in the richness of Asian Pacific American culture.
Keep scrolling for more details and registration info for these and other great events at your local LA County Library location.
Activity Ideas
FOR KIDS & PARENTS
Cup Weaving (Ages 6 – 10)
Ddakji (Ages 7 – 12)
Egg Carton Congkak (Ages 7 – 12)
Glue Batik (Ages 4 – 12)
Koinobori Paper Craft (Ages 4 – 8)
Kōwhaiwhai Pattern Bookmarks (Ages 8 – 12)
Tropical Flower Leis (Ages 4 – 8)
FOR TWEENS & TEENS
Designing Mehndi (Ages 12 – 18)
Historic Filipinotown Mural (Ages 12 – 18)
Paint with Tyrus Wong (Ages 12 – 18)
Potato Seal Stamps (Ages 12 – 18)
FOR ADULTS
Aboriginal Painting
Fashion Design with Anna Sui
Feng Shui
Make Music with Yo-Yo Ma
Asian Pacific Resource Center
The Asian Pacific Resource Center at Rosemead Library was established to serve the needs of the Asian Pacific Islander community in Los Angeles County and to make information about the history and culture of this group available to the general public. Follow the APRC on Facebook for AAPI news, program info, collection spotlights, and more.
Stop AANHPI Hate
LA County Library remains steadfast in its commitment to advancing equity, inclusivity, and justice for all members of our society. As a gateway to knowledge and access, we have a civic and ethical responsibility to support the advancement, well-being, and resilience of all people.
To help propel our mission, we offer a variety of resources and programs to help individuals cultivate and enhance skills and broaden their understanding of other cultures and social issues. Visit our Stop AAPI Hate blog post to see a list of resources.
Share Your Immigration & Citizenship Stories
Los Angeles County is a region of immigrants, and each has a unique and wonderful story to tell. We want to hear yours! Do you remember the day you left? How did you feel when you first became a naturalized citizen? No matter your country of origin or current status, consider sharing your journey with us. Submit your stories in any form such as written narratives (Doc, PDF), images, audio, or video. Submissions will be reviewed and then posted on our LA County Library Community Collections so others can learn and grow from your experiences.
Additional Information
National Asian Pacific American History Month website. The Library of Congress, National Archives and Records Administration, National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and United States Holocaust Memorial Museum join in paying tribute to the generations of Asian and Pacific Islanders who have enriched America’s history and are instrumental in its future success.
Asian Pacific American Heritage Month – PBS. Celebrate Asian Pacific American Heritage Month this May and every day with a special PBS collection of stories that explores the history, traditions and culture of Asians and Pacific Islanders in the United States.
U.S. Census Facts and Features, Asian Pacific American Heritage Month 2021.
Asian Collections at the Library of Congress. With over 2.8 million books, it is one of the most comprehensive collections of Asian language materials outside of Asia.
Asian American Pacific Islander Collection at the Library of Congress. Comprises a number of individual collections pertaining to notable AAPI authors, scholars, activists, and artists including unique material, such as correspondence, manuscript drafts, diaries, photographs, organizational records, interviews, and speeches.
Visit the Asian Pacific Resource Center Reading Room on Overdrive for a curated collection of eBooks and audiobooks by and about Asian Americans and Pacific Islander Americans for all ages.
Stream Kanopy’s selection of Asian and Pacific Islander feature films and documentaries.
