Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander History & Culture in Parks

Many national parks have connections to Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (AANHPI). Some parks are dedicated to the lives and legacies of particular communities, such as those who suffered from Hansen’s disease, commonly known as leprosy, at what’s now Kalaupapa National Historical Park, or those incarcerated during World War II in places such as Manzanar and Minidoka National Historic Sites. Many others have ties to remarkable AANHPI individuals, such as Dr. Chien-Shiung Wu, a physicist who worked on the Manhattan Project, Jun Fujita, a photojournalist and poet who lived in a cabin in what’s now part of Voyageurs National Park, or the paniolo, Hawaiian cowboys who worked in the Kaʻū district of what’s now Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

For everyone traveling to national parks, there are quite a few places where you can learn about AANHPI history and culture. AANHPI narratives have – and continue to – shape the history of the United States and national parks play a pivotal role in sharing these stories.

Note: NPF uses the language Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. While the intent is to honor inclusivity and be representative of various ways that people identify, we recognize that this language does not account for all identities. We recognize the importance and need of specificity in reference to distinct communities. We also recognize that the stories highlighted here do not account for all identities and we will continue to elevate more stories and help expand the history preserved and shared in national parks.