May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month. It is a time of reflection, education, and commemoration of the diverse traditions and achievements of over 25 million people living in the United States with Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander ancestry.
Its purpose is to highlight their significant role in this country, their collective past, accomplishments, and perseverance, and to promote understanding and raise awareness of the hardships these communities have endured and the struggles they continue to face.
The theme for May 2025 is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.” This month, we come together to recognize, appreciate, and celebrate their myriad contributions to and impact on American history, culture, and society.
When Did It Begin, and Why Is It in May?
AANHPI Heritage Month has been observed for decades, but more widely in recent years. It originated in 1977 as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Week, a ten-day occurrence at the beginning of May. In 1978, President Jimmy Carter proclaimed it as an annual event. In 1990, Congress extended it to a month-long observance under President George H.W. Bush, and it was signed into law in 1992. In 2021, the name was amended to include Native Hawaiians.
The month of May was chosen in remembrance of two major historical events:
- The first Japanese immigrants arrival in the United States on May 7, 1843
- The completion of the transcontinental railroad, largely built by Chinese immigrants, on May 10, 1869
What Is the Current Preferred Term?
Asian/Pacific American (APA), Asian/Pacific Islander (API), Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI), Asian Pacific Islander Desi American (APIDA), and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI).
You may have seen or heard some of the terms above, which were created to broadly refer to groups of Americans of Asian, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander descent. However, these include a vast number of geographically, culturally, and linguistically diverse ethnicities.
Despite a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, they are generally assembled to build coalitions and prevent groups from feeling invisible or excluded.
Today, the term Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) is officially recognized and considered more inclusive than Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI). Still, the terminology is often interchangeable and ever-evolving. AANHPI aims to encompass the Asian continent (East, Southeast, and South Asia), Native Hawaiians, and the countries and territories of the Pacific Islands (Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia).
AANHPI Heritage Month Events in Westchester
According to U.S. Census Bureau data, Westchester County is home to over 63,000 people who identify as Asian American, Native Hawaiian, or Pacific Islander. This May, you will find a variety of cultural celebrations for the whole family to enjoy, featuring food, art, performances, stories, and more!
Asian American Pacific Islander Festival
- Louis Pascone Memorial Park, Ardsley
- Saturday, May 17, 2025, 11:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
- Free
Holi Festival by Mayura Dance Academy & Shake It Off
- Broadway Field Park, Hawthorne
- Saturday, May 17, 2025, 12:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
- $20 for adults; $15 for children before May 9
AAPI Kids Storytime & Art with Amy
- Hudson Valley Books for Humanity, Ossining
- Saturday, May 24, 2025, 11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
- Free
AANHPI Heritage Month Story Time and Music & Movement
- Westchester Children’s Museum, Rye
- Monday, May 26, 2025, 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. (Story Time), 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. (Music & Movement)
- Free with museum admission
Annual Asian American Heritage Festival
- Kensico Dam Plaza, Valhalla
- Saturday, May 31, 2025, 12:00 – 6:00 p.m.
- Free
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