According to 2021 census data, there are 24 million people of Asian descent living in the United States, as well as 1.7 million people who are Native Hawaiian or come from other Pacific Islands.
The annual celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans began as a weeklong observance in 1978, and extended to the full month of May in 1990. President George H.W. Bush officially designated the month of May as Asian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 1992, and it was later renamed Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month in 2009.
Why We Celebrate in May
May commemorates two significant points in time for Asian and Pacific Islander migration to the United States.
The first was in 1841, when 14-year-old fisherman Manjiro was rescued by a whaling ship after drifting away from his home in Japan and brought to the island of Oahu, where he took an interest in whaling. William Whitfield, the ship's captain, adopted Manjiro, renamed him John Mung, and brought him to his hometown of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, on May 7, 1843. Manjiro is considered to be the first Japanese immigrant to the United States and was referred to as the country’s first ambassador to Japan.
The second major event occurred on May 10, 1869, with the completion of the transcontinental railroad, the majority of which was built by Chinese immigrants.
How to Celebrate in Portland
- ‘Because of Bill: William Sumio Naito's Legacy in Portland’: Check out this new exhibition at the Japanese American Museum of Oregon, which explores the life of civic leader Bill Naito, the challenges he faced, and the ways he transformed the city in the 1960s and beyond.
- Lan Su Chinese Garden Celebrations: Lan Su Chinese Garden is partnering with more than 20 local organizations and artists for a monthlong celebration of AANHPI cultures and stories. Don’t miss Cultural Immersion Saturdays, Family Fun Sundays, and the “Threading Together” exhibit, which displays traditional clothing from eight different countries.
- ‘I Am An American’ Live: Come to Beaverton on May 11 for an evening of music and storytelling. Four women from Yemen, Vietnam, Laos, and Myanmar will share how they’ve experienced belonging and exclusion.
