Celebrating AANHPI Heritage Month

What I learned: The regions and varied cultures of Oceania

May 07, 2025

May

AANHPI Heritage Month celebrates the diverse cultures and significant contributions of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders
In 1977, legislation was introduced by U.S. Representatives Frank Hort and Norman Mineta along with Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga for a 10-day celebration spanning the first days of May.
President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution making the celebration an annual, week-long event.
The celebration was extended to a month-long celebration in 1990 by President George H. W. Bush to honor the contributions of Asians and Pacific Islanders.
May was officially designated as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month by Congress in 1992.
In 2021, President Joe Biden expanded the celebration to include Native Hawaiians.
The celebration in May commemorates both the first Japanese immigrant to the United States on May 7, 1843,1 and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which was built largely by Chinese immigrants.2

Celebrating AANHPI Heritage includes the cultures of 50+ ethnic groups and more than 100 languages from the regions of East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and the Pacific Islands including Hawaii. As my colleagues and I were planning our district celebration, we met with some community leaders and colleagues to ask them what they wanted to see included in the celebration resources. A common theme was to highlight the diversity of the various cultures. Something that was especially emphasized was how there can be a misconception that the Pacific Islands are somewhat of a monolith, instead of recognizing the diversity within the regions of Oceania and the unique island cultures themselves.

Watch this video for an introduction to Oceania:

For even more learning (and fun!), this song teaches the countries and capitals of Oceania:

As I researched more about this region, I learned about Dr. Nicole Yamase, who in 2021, became the first Pacific Islander to explore Challenger Deep - the deepest known part of the ocean, found in the Mariana Trench. The Mariana Trench is within the territorial waters of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM). Yamase is from the islands of Pohnpei and Chuuk in the FSM, so Challenger Deep is part of her ancestral waters.3 In addition to this historical moment, part of the reason I was drawn to this story is because I’ve taught several students from Chuuk over the years. While students can experience mirrors of leaders reflected back under the broader “Pacific Islander” umbrella, it’s significant when students see themselves reflected more specifically. Dr. Yamase now works as the Director of Impact for OneReef.4

If you would like to celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month, the following are some ideas:

Learn more about leaders and role models of the AANHPI community, particularly those whose contributions have been dismissed, minimized, or hidden.
Support Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander-owned businesses. You can often search online for this criteria in your area and get a list of businesses.
Learn about various holidays celebrated by the various communities and cultures represented in this month. For starters, several cultures celebrate the lunar new year, yet the customs and traditions vary widely. Learn about Holi, Diwali, and so many more.

These are great ways to honor AANHPI heritage yearlong!

Help us learn more: What are additional ways to celebrate and honor Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month? What stereotypes and/or tropes do we need to make sure we challenge or avoid?