Asian American, Native Hawai’ian, Pacific Islander Heritage Month was created by a joint congressional resolution in 1992. May coincides with two key milestones in AANHPI history in the US, the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the contribution of Chinese immigrants to the transcontinental railroad, completed on May 10, 1869. In 2021, a presidential proclamation expanded this to include Native Hawaiians.
The 2025 theme, “A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience”, is an homage to the strength, endurance, and resilience of our ancestors and invites all Americans to delve into the legacies, triumphs, and challenges that have shaped AA and NHPI communities. It embodies the spirit of our collective journey – one rooted in resilience and hope – and encourages us to forge intergenerational connections to honor our past and pave a durable path forward.
The AANHPI umbrella term includes cultures from the entire Asian continent—including East, Southeast and South Asia—and the Pacific Islands of Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. As of 2021, there were about 24 million people of Asian or Pacific Islander descent in the United States. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are the fastest growing minority group in the United States.
In 2025, FAPAC will celebrate four decades of service to the AANHPI community. This year’s theme honors the hard work of AANHPI leaders who established a foundation for future generations to thrive and adapt to change and adversity. The 2025 AANHPI Heritage Month poster features bamboo as a symbol of strength, endurance, and resilience for its ability to withstand the harshest conditions. Bamboo’s solid foundation ensures it can bend with the wind and stand tall after the storm passes. The bamboo also acknowledges the colloquial “bamboo ceiling” and the cultural, organizational, and individual barriers that hinder advancement for AANHPIs in the workplace.
Throughout history, AANHPIs have transformed adversity into opportunities for public service, efficiency, and innovation; resulting in lasting change that resonates beyond our community and has positively impacted our world. This resilience is woven into the fabric of our success, and it is a testament to the unwavering spirit of our ancestors who faced their own struggles with dignity and strength.
Pay tribute to the AANHPI trailblazers and leaders whose resilience and courage have paved the way for future generations. Lieutenant Susan Ahn Cuddy prevailed against anti-Asian sentiments during World War II to become the first Korean American woman in the U.S. military and the first female Navy gunnery officer.
Former Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, the first person of Asian descent to be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1956, successfully lobbied to end restrictions to citizenship for Indian and Filipino immigrants and gave Asian Americans a voice at the national level.
The late Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta overcame racial injustice as a child of Japanese immigrants in a World War II internment camp to serve in the U.S. Army, Congress, and the Cabinet of Presidents Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
These pioneers, often facing insurmountable barriers, have not only demonstrated exceptional leadership, but have also risked much to usher in change. Their stories of perseverance—of overcoming doubt, discrimination, and the weight of societal expectations—serve as inspiring reminders that resilience is a cornerstone of our community. Each breakthrough they achieved has laid the groundwork for those who follow, encouraging the next generation to dream boldly.
Embrace A Legacy of Leadership and Resilience as both a tribute and a call to action and honor the achievements of those who have paved the way while igniting the passions of those who will follow. AANHPI leaders strive to continue breaking barriers, honor our traditions, and inspire the next generation.
Don’t be shy about asking any person how to pronounce their name properly. Here is a resource to help you prepare ahead of time: Pronounce Names – Dictionary of Name Pronunciation, How to say or pronounce names, Name pronunciation website