POP CULTURE
This famous Pacific Islander demigod is the co-star of a hit 2016 Disney animated film.
Maui
She was the first Asian American woman elected to the United States Congress.
Patsy Mink
This iconic, globally beloved Japanese franchise—which started as a Nintendo Game Boy RPG in the 1990s—is centered on "pocket monsters.
Pokémon
In what year did congress passed a bill to expand AAPI observance to a full month?
1990
Known for her roles in films like Crazy Rich Asians and Everything Everywhere All at Once, she made history as the first Asian to win the Oscar for Best Actress.
Michelle Yeoh
The very first Asian American to travel to space, flying aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1985.
Ellison Onizuka
An Olympic gold medalist and a prominent figure in the figure skating world, this celebrated athlete set multiple world records before retiring.
Nathan Chen
She was the last reigning monarch of the Kingdom of Hawaii before it was overthrown by American businessmen and military in 1893.
Queen Liliʻuokalani
This famous martial artist and movie star founded Jeet Kune Do and starred in Enter the Dragon.
Bruce Lee
In 1993 this person became the first Asian American to anchor a major network TV newscast
Connie Chung
This brilliant Taiwanese American computer scientist is the co-founder and current CEO of the artificial intelligence hardware giant Nvidia.
Jensen Huang
She made history in 2021 by becoming the first Asian American Vice President of the United States.
Kamala Harris
This Disney Princess is a legendary Chinese warrior who disguised herself as a man to join the army.
Mulan
Clinton's Secretary of Commerce and W's Secretary of Transportation, he was the first Asian American Cabinet member
Norman Mineta.
This Hawaiian surfer and Olympic gold medalist was instrumental in popularizing surfing globally and is often regarded as the "Father of Modern Surfing.
Duke Kahanamoku
May was chosen for AAPI Heritage Month to commemorate the completion of this monumental U.S. infrastructure project on May 10, 1869, which relied heavily on Chinese immigrant labor.
What is the Transcontinental Railroad
Netflix's hit 2020 coming-of-age comedy series follows the life of a first-generation Indian American teen named Devi Vishwakumar.
Never Have I Ever
Born in Hawaii, this trailblazer became the first Asian American elected as governor of any U.S. state.
George Ariyoshi
She made headlines by leading the engineering team that landed NASA's Perseverance rover on the surface of Mars.
Swati Mohan
Known as Golden Spike Day, it marks the completion of the transcontinental railroad, which was built with the heavy labor and contributions of thousands of Chinese immigrants
May 10, 1869