May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. This is a time for us to celebrate the histories, cultures, and societal contributions of community members with roots in Asia, Polynesia, Micronesia, and Melanesia. In the United States, the AANHPI community includes 26 ethnicities and more than 67 unique dialects and languages. This month also prompts us to acknowledge the Pacific Northwest’s history of exclusion and discrimination against AANHPI communities, including recent increases in anti-Asian bias and hate. 

At UW Tacoma, 21% of students identify as AANHPI. We are an officially designated Asian American / Native American / Pacific Islander-serving institution, and we’re committed to supporting AANHPI students in achieving lifelong prosperity for themselves, their communities, and our region.

We’re fortunate to have many opportunities to gather together this month. Please join me, now and year-round, in honoring our Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage community members.

At UW Tacoma

VASA (Ocean): The Space that is Sacred – An Interdisciplinary & Decolonial Framework for Critical Pacific Islands & Oceania Studies
May 12, 6-8 p.m.

Experience a powerful evening of storytelling, knowledge-sharing, and community as we launch UW Tacoma’s Talanoa Series with a keynote from Dr. David Ga’oupu Matthew Palaita. Dr. Palaita explores the power of Pasefika/Oceania languages and worldviews in higher education. He will share the inspiring journey of City College of San Francisco students and their movement to establish a new academic major, centering Pasefika knowledge as essential in classrooms and institutions of learning. FREE; registration required.

Off-campus

8th Annual South Sound Day of Remembrance
May 15, 5 – 8 p.m.

Join the Washington State Historical Society and AANHPI community partners to mark the 83rd anniversary of the forced removal of Japanese Americans from South Puget Sound in May 1942. This year features a walking tour, performances, and a ceremonial procession that honors the stories of Tacoma’s historic Japantown community. FREE with registration.

AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration
May 24, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Asian Pacific Islander Coalition of South Puget Sound and its partners will celebrate AANHPI heritage and cultures with food vendors, live performances, and family friendly activities. FREE.

Tacoma Public Libraries events and recommendations
Find curated events, reading lists, historical collections, and more at your local library branch.

AANHPI events in Pierce County
Learn about numerous events happening throughout the region and find what speaks to you.

Online

Asia Society Magazine: Why do we celebrate Asian Pacific American History Month?
Understand pivotal moments in U.S. history that led to the creation of AANHPI Month.

KING 5: "Being Pacific Islander means everything"
Hear from local voices in our region’s Native Hawaiian, Samoan, and Tongan communities.

Seattle Civil Rights & Labor History Project
Learn about the histories of AANHPI communities in the Pacific Northwest, including multigenerational union-building by Filipinos who worked in fish canneries, and the multi-racial coalition building behind Seattle’s Asian American movement.