Encompassing the diverse histories of people from the Asian continent and Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, AANHPI Heritage Month is a time to celebrate and honor AANHPI contributions to the United States. Starting as a 10-day heritage week in 1977 and moving to a monthlong celebration in 1990, the month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese citizens to the United States on May 7, 1843. It was also chosen to honor the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The 2025 AANHPI Heritage Month theme is “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience.” Hosted by the Federal Asian Pacific American Council, this year’s theme honors honors the hard work of AANHPI leaders who established a foundation for future generations to thrive and adapt to change and adversity.
This guide includes ways to honor AANHPI Heritage Month by leveraging resources, linking initiatives to business impact, and building one’s knowledge base regarding AANHPI history and the AANHPI community.
