Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander Heritage Month

In 1992, members of the U.S. Congress set aside an entire month to remember and celebrate the contributions that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders have made to American society and culture throughout history. 

"The month of May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese to the United States on May 7, 1843, and to mark the anniversary of the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869. The majority of the workers who laid the tracks were Chinese immigrants." (AsianPacificHeritage.gov, opens a new window).

Sno-Isle Libraries welcomes you to explore resources and events by, for, and featuring Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders.

Library Events

Online

• May 6 - Introduction to Hawaiian Dance - SilverKite Online Workshop from 1:30PM – 2:30PM.
• May 8 - Historical Fiction Online Book Group - "Bronze Drum" by Phong Nguyen from 2:00PM – 3:00PM.
• May 16 - Food for Thought Online Book Group - "Refugees" and "The Red Boat Fish Sauce Cookbook" from 7:00PM – 9:00PM.
• May 21 - R. F. Kuang - Online Author Talk from 4:00PM – 5:00PM.
• May 24 - Introduction to Forest Bathing from 11:00AM – 12:30PM.

In-person

• May 4 - Koi Kites from 11:00AM – 12:00PM at Darrington Library.
• May 11 - She Marches in Chinatown: a Documentary from 11:00AM – 12:00PM at Mountlake Terrace Library.
• May 11 - Spring Rolls from 12:00PM – 1:00PM at Sultan Library.
• May 11 - Let's Live A.L.O.H.A. with Gerry Ebalaroza-Tunnell from 2:00 – 3:00PM at Stanwood Library.
• May 30 - Oak Harbor Library Book Group - "Sharks in the Time of Saviors" by Kawai Strong from 11:30AM – 12:30PM at Oak Harbor Library.
• June 1 - Te Fare O Tamatoa - Tahitian Dancing at Lynndale Park from 2:00 – 2:30PM at Lynndale Park Amphitheater.

Community Events

• May 4 - Seattle's annual Asian Pacific Islander Heritage Month Celebration will take place from 11:00AM - 6:00PM at the Armory Food & Event Hall at Seattle Center. The festival is part of the Seattle Center Festál series. It is free and open to the public.
• May 9 - Art Across Asian Cultures - Virtual Tour from 11:00AM - 1:00PM PDT. The National Museum of Asian Art is home to more than 45,000 objects from the Islamic world, the ancient Near East, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, and the United States. Join a free, docent-led, virtual tour to explore highlights of the museum’s collections that showcase the richness and diversity of Asian art.