Asian Pacific Islander (API) elderly represent the fastest growing group of ethnic elderly in the United States, yet their social and health needs remain little understood in the field of ethnogerontology. Existing literature generally portrays API elderly as in equal or better health compared to whites. However, aggregate API data cloud the bimodal distribution in socioeconomic and health status. We review existing literature on API elderly, and examine selected national data to illustrate the effects of a bimodal distribution on our understanding of API elderly socioeconomic and health status. Implications for research and policy are discussed.