Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month | Smithsonian Institution

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A young girl is looking up at the sky and wears fresh flowers on her wrist and head.

In the month of May we take time to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPIs) have played in our shared history. Explore Smithsonian events happening online and in-person and find resources, podcasts, and collection items to learn more about AANHPI contributions to our nation.

Upcoming Events

Resources

Colorful collage with flowers and shapes.

Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

Asian Pacific American History and Culture

Learn about the vibrant, diverse, and resilient set of communities of Asian Pacific Americans.

Judi Oyama for Santa Cruz Skateboards, 1970s. Smithsonian's National Museum of American History.

Smithsonian American Women's History Museum

Women to Know this Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

The museum shares stories and objects of notable Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander women.

Come Through: Asian Pacific American Voices at the Smithsonian

National Museum of American History

Asian Pacific American Voices at the Smithsonian

Five videos highlight the rich tapestry of Asian American and Pacific Islander heritage through the lens of museum objects.

Smithsonian Collection Spotlight

Asian American Artists

American artists of Asian heritage bring a combined legacy to their work.

gold medal

Smithsonian Collaboration

Nisei Soldier: Congressional Gold Medal

This digital exhibition presents the extraordinary life stories of 12 Nisei soldiers who served in the US Armed Forces in World War II.

Image of a stamp that has an illustration of a Somoan sailing vessel.

National Postal Museum

Stamps Across the Pacific

Explore the history of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander migrations through postage stamps.

Podcast Episodes

illustration of guzheng and banjo playing.

Sidedoor Podcast

Appalachia Goes Beijing

Abigail Washburn and Wu Fei make a new brand of folk music that combines the tones of Appalachia with the melodies of China.

Votes for Hawaii

Sidedoor Podcast

Votes for Hawaiians

Learn how women’s suffrage came to Hawai‘i—and what was taken from Hawaiians to get there.

illustration of camp with mountains in the back

Sidedoor Podcast

Chiura Obata's Glorious Struggle

Learn from Chiura Obata about the power of art in tumultuous times.

Aloha, Y'all

Sidedoor Podcast

Aloha, Y'all

Learn how the steel guitar helped Hawaiians preserve their culture and change American popular music.

From the Collections

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