When is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month?
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2027
Sat, May 1, 2027 – Mon, May 31, 2027
The whole of May. That's in 209 days.
until Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month begins, in your time zone
This May observance honors the histories, cultures and achievements of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States. It began as a heritage week in 1978, and Congress made May a permanent heritage month in 1992.
About Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
The month covers a wide range of peoples, from communities with roots across East, Southeast and South Asia to Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders from places such as Samoa, Guam and the Marshall Islands. Museums, libraries, schools and community groups use May for history programs, food and arts festivals, and conversations about immigration, labor and civil rights.
It began as a week. In June 1977 Representatives Frank Horton of New York and Norman Mineta of California introduced a resolution asking the president to proclaim the first ten days of May as Asian/Pacific Heritage Week, and Senators Daniel Inouye and Spark Matsunaga introduced a similar measure the following month. President Jimmy Carter signed the joint resolution on October 5, 1978. Presidents proclaimed an annual week until 1990, when Congress expanded the observance to a month, and in 1992 Public Law 102-450 permanently designated May as Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month.
May was chosen for two anniversaries: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the first transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, a project that depended heavily on Chinese immigrant workers.
The name has changed over time. The 1992 law calls it Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Proclamations in the early 2020s used Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month to name Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders separately, and the 2025 proclamation used Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
Sources: Asian Pacific American Heritage Month (Library of Congress and partner institutions): About, GovInfo: Public Law 102-450 (1992), Biden White House archive: Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2022, The White House: Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, 2025. How we check dates.
How to mark Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
- Visit a museum, historic district or site tied to Asian American or Pacific Islander history, such as the Angel Island Immigration Station in California.
- Read about the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 or the World War II incarceration of Japanese Americans in National Archives and Library of Congress collections.
- Learn about Native Hawaiian history and culture, including the work to revitalize the Hawaiian language.
- Support a local Asian American or Pacific Islander-owned restaurant, bookstore or arts group.
- Watch a film or read a novel by an Asian American or Pacific Islander creator and talk about it with family or friends.
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month dates
| Year | Dates |
|---|---|
| 2025 | Thu, May 1 – Sat, May 31 |
| 2026 | Fri, May 1 – Sun, May 31 |
| 2027 | Sat, May 1 – Mon, May 31 |
| 2028 | Mon, May 1 – Wed, May 31 |
| 2029 | Tue, May 1 – Thu, May 31 |
| 2030 | Wed, May 1 – Fri, May 31 |
| 2031 | Thu, May 1 – Sat, May 31 |
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Frequently asked questions
When is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2027?
Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month 2027 is Sat, May 1, 2027 – Mon, May 31, 2027. It falls on the whole of May. In 2028, it is on Monday, May 1, 2028.
Why is AAPI Heritage Month in May?
Congress chose May to mark the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, which relied heavily on Chinese workers.
What is the difference between AAPI and AANHPI Heritage Month?
They are the same May observance. AANHPI names Native Hawaiians separately from other Pacific Islanders; the 1992 law calls it Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month, and recent proclamations have used both the shorter and the longer names.
Is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month a public holiday?
No. Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month is an observance, not a public holiday, so schools, banks, government offices and most businesses keep their normal hours.