Labor of the Land: hole hole bushi, the folk songs of Japanese immigrant workers on Hawaiian sugarcane plantations in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Courtesy of Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center

HILO, Hawaii –  A new Smithsonian exhibition on Asian and Pacific Americans is making its way to Hawaii Island. “I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story,” will show at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center from March 22 – June 1, 2014 as part of a 13-city national tour.

‘Imiloa issued a media release about the exhibit on Wednesday.

As the only state with an Asian plurality, Hawai‘i lives and breathes its diverse Asian Pacific heritage every day, but a new Smithsonian exhibition opening at the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center will offer perspectives on our local heritage within the broader context of the entire nation. The ancestral roots of Asian and Pacific Americans represent more than 50% of the world’s population, extending from East Asia to Southeast Asia, and from South Asia to the Pacific Islands and Polynesia.

In this first exhibition of its kind, the Smithsonian celebrates Asian Pacific American history across a multitude of diverse cultures and explores how Asian Pacific Americans have shaped–and been shaped by–the course of the nation’s history. Rich with compelling stories and images, the exhibition takes a sweeping look at this history, from the very first Asian immigrants centuries ago to the complex challenges facing Asian Pacific American communities today.

“I Want the Wide American Earth: An Asian Pacific American Story” was created by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES). The exhibition is supported by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation. Its presentation at ‘Imiloa has been generously supported by the Dorrance Scholarship Charitable Fund.

Admission to the exhibit will be included ‘Imiloa’s general admission fee, which also includes entry to the exhibit hall and a planetarium show. ‘Imiloa members may see it free. ‘Imiloa is open to the public from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays).‘Imiloa Astronomy Center media release – March 12, 2014

The video above was produced by the Japanese American National Museum‘s 2013 Getty Multicultural Undergraduate Interns, and the Watase Media Arts Center, to promote the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibition. Look closely: you may catch a glimpse of Hilo’s own YouTube sensation Ryan Higa.

According to ‘Imiloa, The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center “produces programs and exhibitions about the Asian Pacific American experience and works in partnership with organizations across the Smithsonian and beyond to enrich collections and activities about the Asian Pacific American experience. It shares the challenges and stories of America’s fastest-growing communities. It connects treasures and scholars with the public, celebrates long-lived traditions and explores contemporary expressions. The stories it tells are vital to a deeper understanding of the nation and a richer appreciation of Asian Pacific cultures.”

The Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service, or SITES, has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for 60 years.

LINK: ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center

LINK: Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center