Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month celebrates the diverse cultures and vast achievements of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander peoples, cultures and communities.
Origins and history of Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
May is Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, a time to celebrate the people and cultures of these diverse communities, which represent dozens of ethnicities and exponentially more unique languages and dialects.
The first presidential proclamation for “Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week” was signed in May 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. In 1990, Congress passed a law expanding the observance to a month-long recognition for that year. It became an official month-long observance in 1992.
The month-long recognition was extended to include Pacific Islanders in 2009 and Native Hawaiians in 2021, which makes the observance not only an immigration story but an Indigenous story, too. Disaggregating “Native Hawaiian” and “Pacific Islander” from the umbrella terminology “Asian/Pacific” recognizes the diverse narratives of Pasifika peoples (Pasifika people are those originating or living in Micronesia, Melanesia and Polynesia).
Theme for 2024
As designated by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council (FAPAC), the national theme for 2024 is “Advancing Leaders Through Innovation.” This theme honors the visionaries who have shaped Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander history and those who mark the present and influence the future. The Council encourages local and national governments to prioritize creating leadership and advancement opportunities for Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander peoples.
Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month at UW Medicine
UW Medicine’s Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Flag Raising will take place on May 1 at noon on all hospital campuses.
Each year during Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, employees share their cultural pride and experiences. Read 2023 and 2022 Huddle employee features and find a 2024 feature later this month.
UW Medicine continues to address policies and practices to focus on equity and social and health justice as we strive to become an anti-racist organization. UW Medicine’s Office of Healthcare Equity offers regular events, talks and training on the principles of equity, diversity, inclusion and justice. The office also sponsors affinity groups, including the UW Medicine Asian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander Affinity Group.
Digital assets and posters
Email signature
Celebrate Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and support your colleagues by adding an icon to your UW Medicine email signature. Plus, learn about the flowers celebrating the diverse cultures and communities of Asia and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia.
Visit the UW Medicine brand site to download the signature. If you need instructions on adding an email signature, visit one of the following Microsoft Office support pages:
Zoom background
Visit the UW Medicine brand site to download the background.
Poster
Download a PDF of the poster.
Resources
Honoring Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander peoples and cultures should happen year-round — and we’ve compiled a list of resources to help you do just that.
Visit
- Seattle’s International District and support local shops and restaurants
- Seattle Asian Art Museum
- Wing Luke Museum
- Seattle Japanese Garden
- Asia Pacific Cultural Center
- Visit the Office of Healthcare Equity’s Events page to explore the many events celebrating this observance, such as: ANHPI Heritage Month Celebration at the Seattle Center Festál, and related festivals including the Chinese Culture Arts Festival, Pagdiriwang Philippine Festival, Tibet Fest, Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival, Diwali Lights of India, and Hmong New Year.
- Explore South Asian arts at Pratidhwani.org
- Visit local Asian-owned Small Businesses – Intentionalist
Read and learn
- Learn more about the Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Community
- Eugene Yang, MD, led a study on how Social factors influence Asian Americans’ heart health, and will discuss cardiovascular risks in BIPOC communities with Anita Chopra, MD.
- Find books, helpful links and museums and cultural centers through the Burke Museum Asian-American Diaspora Heritage Resource Packet.
- Visit Seattle’s Support for AA & NH/PI Communities in Seattle
- Try these recipes to celebrate Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage from UW Medicine chefs.
- Did you know that Polynesian Day is on May 8? That the Cambodian New Year is celebrated in April? Or that Philippines Independence Day is celebrated in June? See more ANHPI cultural celebrations.
- In March, Governor Jay Inslee signed legislation establishing Lunar New Year as a legislatively recognized holiday in Washington.
