Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month (APAHM)

Everyone is invited to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI HM) at El Camino College!

Celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (AANHPI HM) and a time to reflect and celebrate the important role that Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI) have played in our shared history. We invite students, staff, faculty, and community members to participate in the month-long AANHPI HM 2025 celebration.

Purpose

AANHPI HM is a nationally recognized observance in the United States that celebrates the contributions and achievements of Asian Americans and Pasifika Americans.

AANHPI HM is observed during May each year, highlighting the diverse cultures, traditions and histories of Asian Americans and Pasifika Americans, who are descendants from the continent of Asia and the Pacific Islands.

Calendar of Events

Through the events and cultural highlights of AANHPI HM 2026, we'll raise awareness, celebrate diversity, honor history and foster inclusion across campus.

Learn More:

• Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage: A Visual Experience

• Asian American Experience

• MANA Experience

Calendar of Events
Tues, May 5	2026 AANHPI Heritage Month Kick Off! All are welcome to come and celebrate the beginning of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with LIVE MUSICAL and DANCE PERFORMANCES by: • Lion's Pride, Chinese Lion Dance • MANA Students, Polynesian Dance • ECC Barkada, Filipino Dance Special treats by Kansha Creamery.	1:00 - 2:30 pm	Student Service Plaza
Tues, May 6	MANA Talanoa The ECC MANA Center invite all to participate in a Talanoa, a Pasifika term, meaning "talk" or "discussion" referring to a process of inclusive, participatory, and transparent dialogue that emphasizes sharing stories, building empathy, and making wise decisions for the collective good. Learn more about the MANA Program here.	12:30 -2:30 pm	MANA Center (Comm 304)
Mon, May 11	MANA 10 Year Anniversary Celebration: A Voyage in Time MANA has officially reached our 10-year milestone as a program at El Camino College! Students, staff and faculty are invited to celebrate this accomplishment together. RSVP required: http://bit.ly/eccmanaten	12:00 - 2:00 pm	East Dining Room
Tues, May 12	Shigin: Song of the Samurai Shigin is a centuries-old performance art of reciting classical Japanese and Chinese poetry through a powerful, chant-like singing style. Once practiced by samurai to sharpen the mind and cultivate inner growth, shigin blends poetry, music, and meditation into a single form of expression. In the United States, shigin became a way for early Japanese immigrants to stay connected to their culture and find strength, particularly during World War II while incarcerated in camps. Today, it is a dwindling art form kept alive mostly by an aging Japanese community. In this workshop led by shigin master Junko Saito, participants will explore the history of shigin, hear rare performances passed down through generations, and take part in preserving this tradition by learning to recite a poem yourself.	1:15 - 2:15 pm	Social Justice Center (Comm 204)
Thurs, May 14	AANHPI Read In Join us for a very special Read In featuring Pasifika and/or Asian, Asian-American narratives, books and authors. Led by English professors Matt Cheung and Debbie Mochidome. A Social Justice Center & Humanities Department collaboration.	1:15 - 2:15 pm	In person Social Justice Center (Comm 204) OR join us on Zoom: Link: https://elcamino-edu.zoom.us/j/86732270338
Tues, May 19	MANA Talanoa The ECC MANA Center invite all to participate in a Talanoa, a Pasifika term, meaning "talk" or "discussion" referring to a process of inclusive, participatory, and transparent dialogue that emphasizes sharing stories, building empathy, and making wise decisions for the collective good. Learn more about the MANA Program here.	12:30 pm - 2:30 pm	MANA Center (Comm 304)
Tues, May 26 (TBC)	Talk Story: Tattoos Every tattoo is a story and there are millions of ways to tell it. Polynesian tattoos, known as tatau, are deep, symbolic art forms representing genealogy, social status, personal achievements, and spiritual protection. Toby Cho and Valerie Marquez, members of the API Cultural Collective, will facilitate a safe space for participants to listen and share the stories behind their tattoos.	Time (TBC)	Social Justice Center (Comm 204)
Weds, May 27	Chinese Lucky Knot Tying Workshop As we wrap up AANHPI Heritage Month, ECC student Evan Guan will lead this Lucky Knot Tying Workshop for people of cultures to learn and participate in a slice of Chinese and Chinese-American culture. A Chinese lucky knot is a traditional decorative folk art symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, longevity, and unity. Crafted from a single, unbroken red string, it represents an eternal, harmonious, and safe life. Participants can make and take home their own lucky knot key chain. All materials provided.	2:00 - 3:30 pm	Social Justice Center (Comm 204)

Zoom Backgrounds

Celebrate with these Zoom virtual backgrounds (click to open, right-click the image and save to your computer).

Important to Note

It's important to note that while Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders are celebrated during Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, there are many diverse and unique cultural experiences to acknowledge. Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders come from a wide range of countries and cultures, and their experiences in the United States are multifaceted and should not be considered monolithic.

History

The observance of Asian & Pacific American Heritage Month originated in 1978 when President Jimmy Carter signed a joint resolution of Congress designating the first week of May as Asian Pacific American Heritage Week. In 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed a bill that expanded the observance to May. The month-long celebration provides an opportunity to recognize and honor the contributions of Asian Americans and Pasifika Americans in all areas of American society, including arts, literature, science, politics, and business. It also serves as a time to promote greater understanding and awareness of the diverse experiences and cultures of Asian Americans and Pasifika Americans.

Accommodations

If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation, or have questions about the physical access provided, email [email protected] as soon as possible, but no later than seven days prior to the event.