Honoring AAPI Heritage Month
Last updated: May 1, 2026, at 1:05 p.m. PT
Originally published: May 1, 2026, at 10:48 a.m. PT
150 Years for All: Honoring Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month, and we're honoring it by listening, learning, and celebrating together.
At the YMCA of Greater Seattle, we believe that belonging is not a tagline. It is a practice. This month, we're proud to share stories of AAPI community members who have shaped this organization and this region, and to point you toward meaningful ways to engage, both within the Y and across the Puget Sound region
Why May?
May was chosen for this celebration deliberately. This month, we recognize two pivotal moments in American history: the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States on May 7, 1843, and the completion of the transcontinental railroad on May 10, 1869, a monumental achievement made possible in large part by Chinese immigrant laborers. Since 1992, May has served as a nationwide invitation to recognize and celebrate the contributions of all people of Asian, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander ancestry. Here in the Pacific Northwest, that history runs especially deep.
A History Worth Knowing and Celebrating
The story of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in the Pacific Northwest is long, layered, and too often undertold. People from China, Japan, the Philippines, Korea, and across the Pacific have been woven into the fabric of this region for generations, contributing to its economy, culture, and civic life in ways that deserve greater recognition and acknowledgment.
A few highlights that speak to the contributions of the AAPI community.
Without the civil rights work of Wing Luke, Seattle's Pike Place Market might not exist today. The first Asian American elected to the Seattle City Council, Luke championed urban renewal and historic preservation at a time when both required real political courage. His legacy lives on at the Wing Luke Museum in the International District and beyond, which continues to honor the history and culture of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander communities.
Bob Santos, known widely as "Uncle Bob," spent decades fighting to preserve Seattle's International District against the pressures of gentrification and redevelopment. Through sustained negotiation with developers and city leaders, he helped protect a neighborhood that had been home to generations of Asian American families. As part of the Seattle "Gang of Four," he became a mentor and organizing force for generations of activists who followed.
Ruby Chow built community in Seattle through her restaurant, her advocacy, and her own political career on the King County Council. She helped Wing Luke win his city council seat, mentored future governor Gary Locke, and worked throughout her life to address the wounds left by decades of discrimination against the Chinese community in Seattle.
Part of honoring that history means acknowledging its painful chapters, too.
During World War II, more than 120,000 Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes and sent to incarceration camps across the country, including sites right here in Washington and in neighboring Idaho. The experience left lasting scars, but also produced remarkable people.
Fred Hoshiyama, a longtime YMCA staff member, was among those incarcerated. Rather than accept the dehumanizing circumstances of camp life, he created YMCA-based programs within the camp walls, organizing social activities and educational opportunities, building community where the government tried to dismantle it. He exhibited a quiet and determined act of care, which will forever be a core part of our institutional history.
Phil Hayasaka was also incarcerated during the war. When he returned, he channeled that experience into a lifelong commitment to civil rights, eventually becoming the first director of the Seattle Human Rights Commission. His work helped establish Seattle as a national leader in civil rights for all people. The incarceration camps produced injustice, and they also produced people who refused to let that injustice define what came next.
As we celebrate 150 years of the YMCA of Greater Seattle this year, under our anniversary theme of "150 Years for All," stories like these remind us that "for all" has never been easy or automatic. Being for all has always required people willing to stand up for others and be a role model for the community we want for our children.
Ways to Learn and Celebrate with the Y
We have a full month of opportunities to learn, connect, and show up. Whether you are a Y staff member, a community member, or someone just getting curious, all are welcome.
Judy Kusakabe: A Family's Story of the Japanese Incarceration Camps
The APIRN invites you to hear Judy Kusakabe share her family's firsthand account of life in the Japanese incarceration camps in Washington and Idaho. This is a rare opportunity to sit with history, ask questions, and honor the people who lived it. Open to staff and community.
- Wednesday, May 6
- Noon–1:00 pm
- Downtown Seattle YMCA, Room 123
Pride Asia Fest 2026
The APIRN and Y-Pride employee resource groups are attending Pride Asia Fest 2026 together. If you'd like to meet up with fellow Y colleagues at the event, reach out to APIRN@seattleymca.org for meet-up details. Open to staff and community. Learn more Facebook >
- Saturday, May 24
- Hing Hay Park
In the Broader Community
The celebration extends well beyond our walls. Here are a few community events worth knowing about this May.
AANHPI Heritage Month Celebration at Seattle Center
A free, public celebration featuring cultural performances, food, and community, produced as part of the Seattle Center Festál series. Free and open to the public. No registration required. Learn more at seattlecenter.com >
- Saturday, May 2
- 11:00 am–5:00 pm
- Armory Food and Event Hall, Seattle Center
Events at the Wing Luke Museum
ReOrient Closing Event
Join Wing Luke Museum in Seattle's International District on Sunday, May 7 for the closing of ReOrient, an exhibition celebrating the heritage, history, and stories of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. Free with no registration required.
Spring Market
Browse and support local AANHPI artists, makers, and vendors on Saturday, May 27 at Wing Luke Museum's Spring Market in Seattle's Internation District. Free and open to the public.
Redlining Heritage Trail Tours
You can walk the history of Seattle's International District with a guided Redlining Heritage Trail Tour every Saturday in May, exploring how redlining shaped the neighborhood and the community that persisted through it. Requires ticket purchase. Questions? Email visit@wingluke.org or call (206) 623-5124.
See Wing Luke Museum's full calendar of May events >