📌APIA Every Day (225) - The Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony, founded in 1869 in Gold Hill, California, is the oldest Japanese settlement in North America and the only known samurai colony outside Japan. Established by John Henry Schnell, a Prussian arms dealer married into a samurai family, Schnell and a group of 22 Japanese immigrants brought silk cocoons, tea plants, and various agricultural tools to start a silk and tea farm. They purchased land from settler Charles Graner and saw initial success, showcasing their products, like silk and tea, at California fairs. However, the colony faced financial difficulties and ultimately dissolved within two years, by 1871.

A notable legacy of the colony is the grave of Okei Ito, a young woman from the settlement and thought to be the first Japanese woman buried on U.S. soil. After the colony disbanded, the Veerkamp family acquired the land, preserving Okei’s gravesite and maintaining the site’s historical integrity, even through periods of anti-Japanese sentiment in California. In 1969, to honor this legacy, Governor Ronald Reagan designated the property as a California Historical Landmark, recognizing its significance to Japanese American history.

In 2010, the American River Conservancy (ARC) purchased the 272-acre farm to protect its cultural and historical value. Today, the site serves as a historical landmark where visitors can explore Japanese agricultural practices brought by the settlers, view preserved historical structures and participate in events. Parts of the land are also leased to local farmers who practice sustainable agriculture, continuing the farm’s agricultural heritage and providing educational insights into the experiences of 19th-century Japanese immigrants. In 2009, the Wakamatsu Tea and Silk Farm Colony was also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

📌APIA Every Day (224) - Deep in Waipahu's former sugar plantation lands stand Hawai’i's Plantation Village, a site commemorating an era that shaped the Hawaiian Islands in lasting ways. Established in 1992, this 50-acre outdoor museum documents the lives of nearly 400,000 contract laborers who worked on Hawai’i’s sugar plantations from the 1850s to the 1950s. Situated near the former Oahu Sugar Mill, which operated from 1897 to 1995, the village preserves and interprets the social, economic, and cultural impacts of the plantation system on Hawai’i’s communities.

The village’s 25 structures offer a window into plantation life, with reconstructed and preserved buildings that reflect the diverse ethnic groups that comprised the plantation workforce—Chinese, Portuguese, Japanese, Puerto Rican, Korean, Okinawan, Filipino, and Native Hawaiian. The structures represent varying aspects of plantation life, from the simpler worker housing with shared facilities to more communal buildings. Notable examples include the Chinese Society Building, rebuilt based on its 1906 architectural plans, and the Wakamiya Inari Shrine, which was relocated several times—from Kaka'ako in 1914 to Mo'ili'ili in 1918—before reaching its current location in the village.

The museum’s collections include thousands of artifacts donated by former plantation workers and their families. These items—ranging from household goods and agricultural tools to personal belongings and historical photographs—help document daily life and working conditions in Hawai’i’s plantation era. The visitor center includes exhibitions on immigration and labor, as well as documentation on sites like the Honouliuli internment camp, where Japanese Americans were detained during World War II.

While the village faces ongoing challenges in preserving this complex history, it serves as an informative site for understanding the experiences of Hawai’i’s plantation workers and the historical conditions that influenced Hawai’i’s present-day society.

📌APIA Every Day (223) - The Old Korean Legation Museum, located at 15 Logan Circle NW in Washington, D.C., represents a significant piece of Korean American diplomatic history. Originally constructed in 1877 as a private residence for naval officer Seth Ledyard Phelps, the 6,300-square-foot Victorian-style building was purchased by the Korean government in 1891 for $25,000. This acquisition marked a crucial diplomatic milestone as Korea's only legation in the Western world, established despite Chinese opposition to Korea's independent foreign relations. The building served as Korea's diplomatic mission until 1905, hosting various ministers and facilitating early Korean American relations during a period of significant international change in East Asia.

The building's ownership changed dramatically following Japan's increasing control over Korea. After the 1905 Japan-Korea Treaty established a Japanese protectorate over Korea, the legation was forced to cease operations, and Minister Yun Chun Kim made his final visit to the State Department in January 1906. Following Japan's annexation of Korea in 1910, the building was sold to the Japanese government for $5 and quickly resold for $10. Over the subsequent decades, the property served multiple purposes, including an African American recreation center in the 1940s and a Teamsters union hall. In 2012, after years of negotiations, the South Korean government's Cultural Heritage Administration purchased the property for $3.5 million from its longtime owners, Timothy and Lauretta Jenkins, who had owned it since 1977.

The building underwent extensive renovation from 2015 to 2018, during which it was restored to its late 19th-century appearance while incorporating Korean decorative elements. The current museum features several distinct spaces, including a library, photograph exhibits, the minister's bedroom, private offices, and a banquet area. The former parking lot has been converted into a traditional Korean garden with a granite Eternal Youth Gate. Added to both the National Register of Historic Places and the District of Columbia Inventory of Historic Sites in 2024, the building is also a contributing property to the Logan Circle Historic District and Greater Fourteenth Street Historic District.

📌APIA Every Day (222) - The story of Agbayani Village begins in 1974 in California's farm country, just outside the town of Delano. This housing complex was built specifically to house retired Filipino farm workers and was named after Paolo Agbayani, a farm worker who died while protesting for better working conditions in 1967. When it first opened, the village became home to 58 residents - mostly men who had spent their lives working in California's fields and vineyards. The village was built during an important time in farm worker history. In 1965, Filipino grape pickers in Delano had launched a major strike for better pay and working conditions. Led by Larry Itliong, these workers were soon joined by Latino farm workers under Cesar Chavez's leadership. This partnership led to the creation of the United Farm Workers union, marking the first time different ethnic groups had successfully united to fight for farm workers' rights in America.

The village filled a crucial need in the Filipino farm worker community. Many of these workers had come to America in the 1920s and 1930s but were prevented from marrying or starting families due to discriminatory laws at the time. As they aged, they had no family members to help care for them. Agbayani Village provided these elderly workers with affordable housing and a supportive community of people who shared their background and experiences. Today, Agbayani Village stands as an important historical site, recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 2011. It continues to serve as both a home for residents and a place where people can learn about Filipino Americans' contributions to U.S. farming history. The village celebrated its 50th anniversary in October 2024, with special events planned during Delano's annual Philippine Weekend celebration - a community gathering that honors Filipino American culture and history in the region.

📌APIA Every Day (221) - The Bai ra Irrai in Airai Village, Palau, is one of the few surviving original meeting houses in the region. The structure sits on eight wooden beams supported by stone platforms and has been maintained through approximately ten renovations over its 300-year history. While the nipa leaf roofing requires replacement every decade, some original materials persist in the flooring and corners. Historical records show that the building was disassembled during wartime and reconstructed by craftsmen from Ngerkedam and the villages from Ngerusar to Ngetkib, maintaining traditional measurements and construction techniques.

The building functions as a council house for Airai Village's ten chiefs, each representing different clans and lineages. The seating arrangement follows a strict hierarchical order, with positions numbered one through ten. The first position belongs to Medechiibelau, the village deity, represented by a title bearer called Ngerekiklang. The interior features narrative beams depicting local histories and myths, decorated using traditional pigments: lime powder for white, clay for red and yellow, and wood ash for black. Chiefs must purchase their positions in the bai, with higher-ranked positions requiring larger contributions.

The construction relies on traditional measurement units, with the teréu (outstretched arm’s length) and meliútech (thumb and finger measurements) serving as primary reference points. The structure employs a weight-distribution system that eliminates the need for nails, instead using tied joints throughout. Ironwood posts (dort) provide primary support, while the overall design allows for complete disassembly when necessary. Historical photographs from 1919 document that Airai Village originally housed three bai structures: Osebuulngau, Ngerdubech el bai, and Outangelbai, with one featuring a two-story design and another using a unique single central post system.

The bai's governance system operates through specific protocols. Chiefs communicate through intermediaries during meetings, and all decisions require unanimous consensus. When consensus cannot be reached, the four highest-ranking chiefs must convene on the okeuídbad ("70 stones"), an external stone platform, until agreement is achieved. Chief selection involves a formal process where senior female clan members nominate male candidates for council approval. Approved chiefs must then host a feast and present money to purchase their position in the bai. The building holds important historic and cultural significance in Palau, leading to its designation on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

📌APIA Every Day (220) - The Bok Kai Temple, established in Marysville, California in 1854, was rebuilt at its current location in 1880 following the destruction of the original structure by fire. The temple's most distinctive architectural features are its exterior murals, painted by Chinese artists specifically commissioned for this work, which remain the only known examples of their kind in the United States. During its construction, Marysville's Chinese population of 12,000 made it the third-largest Chinese settlement in California. The temple, dedicated to Bok Eye, the Chinese deity associated with water, flooding, irrigation, and rainfall, served as a central religious institution during the Gold Rush era when Marysville developed into a major commercial center in the Northern Sacramento Valley. Although the current Chinese American population in the Marysville-Yuba City area has declined to several hundred residents, with an active temple congregation of approximately 20 members, the building continues to serve its original religious purpose.

In 2001, deteriorating structural conditions led the National Trust for Historic Preservation to designate the temple as one of America's 11 most endangered sites. The Trust provided $7,000 for conservation planning and secured an additional $11,000 in state historic preservation funding. Weather damage from rain, wind, and other environmental factors has particularly affected the temple's murals, making their preservation a primary concern. Conservation efforts have been hindered by the temple's location north of Sacramento, where access to preservation resources is limited.

The temple's ongoing cultural significance is demonstrated through its annual Lucky Bomb Day festival, held according to the Chinese lunar calendar. This celebration attracts 2,500 to 3,000 visitors from across North America and features traditional elements including parades and the ceremonial release of 100 lucky rings from explosive devices. Organizations such as the Friends of Bok Kai coordinate local preservation efforts, working to maintain both the temple's historical integrity and its function as an active religious site. The temple's historical significance was formally recognized with its listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1975.

📌APIA Every Day (219) - Emmet Bromley established his farm in 1883 by purchasing 200 acres in Brighton, Colorado, systematically expanding the property to 1,100 acres. After arriving in Colorado in 1877, Bromley developed one of the state's largest livestock operations, raising cattle, sheep, and horses while maintaining extensive crop cultivation. Beyond farming, he built a distinguished record of public service as Arapahoe County deputy sheriff and deputy assessor, later serving three terms in the Colorado House of Representatives and two in the Colorado Senate. During his legislative tenure, he sponsored the 1901 senate bill establishing Adams County. Following his death in 1922, his family retained ownership for four years before selling the property in 1926 amid changing economic conditions.

During the Great Depression, the farm changed hands several times until I.B. James, a founder of the Trailways Bus System, purchased 160 acres in 1935. Under William O. Roberts' management, the farm maintained significant agricultural production, focusing on sugar beets, alfalfa, corn, grains, and tomatoes, while also raising hogs and other livestock. In 1947, the Hishinuma and Koizuma families purchased the farm for $40,000, continuing its agricultural legacy. Their purchase marked a significant moment in Japanese American history, as Colorado was among the few states permitting Japanese American land ownership during the post-World War II period. Japanese immigrants had initially arrived in the area during the early twentieth century, working on irrigation ditch construction and in sugar beet fields. The Hishinuma and Koizuma families maintained the farm's agricultural tradition until 2006, primarily growing sugar beets, cabbage, alfalfa, and corn.

In 2006, the City of Brighton acquired the property, leading to its inclusion on both the State Historic Register and National Register of Historic Places in 2007. The preserved 9.6-acre property features eight historic structures, including a rare surviving example of transient labor housing: the main house, migrant worker house, wash house, barn, silo, metal granary, cistern, and milk trough. Preservation efforts continue with a $200,000 State Historic Fund grant for main house restoration and $417,300 from Adams County Open Space for landscape rehabilitation. The city's master plan aims to transform these historic structures into a multi-functional event and agricultural education center, converting the main house into a café or teahouse, the barn into a community event space, and the migrant worker house into administrative offices.

📌APIA Every Day (218) - The Majuro Peace Park, established by the Japanese government in the Marshall Islands' capital, commemorates military personnel who died in Pacific operations during World War II. The site's historical significance stems from Majuro's role as a key United States military command center following the defeat of Japanese forces in the region. Japanese Vice Minister of Health Hiroshi Yukawa and Marshall Islands President Amata Kabua presided over the park's formal dedication ceremony on March 16, 1984, marking the completion of the Peace Park Monument. This dedication represented Japan's commitment to acknowledging the war's impact while strengthening diplomatic relations between the two nations. The ceremony included the placement of memorial wreaths, symbolizing remembrance and reconciliation.

Japanese involvement in the Marshall Islands began in September 1914, when the Imperial Japanese Navy invaded the region during World War I. Following the 1919 Treaty of Versailles, Japan administered the islands through the League of Nations mandate system. Despite minimal Japanese civilian settlement during their administration, the islands became strategically crucial during World War II, serving as military bases for Japanese operations until U.S. forces assumed control in 1944.

Today, the park serves dual purposes: preserving historical evidence of the war period and providing a space for community gatherings. However, questions remain about how best to preserve and honor this complex history, particularly through place-based historic preservation practices that respect Pacific Islander histories.

📌APIA Every Day (217) - The Nippon Kan Theatre, established in Seattle in 1908 by Japanese businessmen Tatsuya Arai and Heiji Okuda, was initially intended to serve Japanese tourists visiting the Alaska-Yukon Exposition. When construction began in 1909, Thompson & Thompson architects designed the four-story, $80,000 Kobe Park Building to include street-level retail spaces on Washington Street, a theater and retail space on the second floor facing Maynard Avenue, and hotel rooms in the upper levels.

From its January 1910 opening until 1942, the theater served as a community center for Seattle's Japanese population, hosting theatrical performances, concerts, movie screenings, and martial arts competitions. The building also housed The Asahi News, Seattle's Japanese daily newspaper, while its hotel section, renamed the Astor Hotel in 1912, operated until the late 1960s.

The theater closed in 1942 when Japanese and Japanese Americans were incarcerated across the country and remained unused until 1981, when architect Edward M. Burke and his wife Betty restored the facility. The building earned a place on the National Register of Historic Places but was later converted to office space when ABC Legal Services purchased it in 2005. One significant artifact from the theater's early years, the original 1909-1915 stage curtain featuring period advertisements, underwent specialized preservation due to its asbestos content and is now displayed at the Wing Luke Museum's Tateuchi Story Theater.

In September, the National APIAHIP Forum held its closing reception at the theater, with Eric Hayashi joining local officials including Representative My-Linh Thai, Senator Joe Nguyễn, CAPAA Executive Director Nam Nguyen, CAPAA Commissioner Carrie Huie, and Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Director Jenifer Chao for open remarks.

📌APIA Every Day (216) - Jackson Heights, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City, is known to have its own Little India on 74th street. The area, initially built around 1916 for middle-class white families seeking alternatives to Manhattan's density, developed into a diverse community. During the 1980s, the neighborhood became home to many LGBTQ+ residents from Manhattan's theater district and saw increased ethnic diversity, though it also faced periods of elevated crime rates. This transformation of the area into a South Asian community was primarily driven by the Immigration Act of 1965. This federal legislation, signed by President Lyndon B. Johnson, created an immigration system based on professional qualifications and family reunification. Subsequently, professionally qualified Indian immigrants began establishing themselves in New York City, with Jackson Heights emerging as a preferred location. This led to the development of Indian commercial enterprises, including restaurants, retail stores, and cultural centers.

While initially characterized by its Indian population, the neighborhood has seen substantial growth in its Bangladeshi community. This demographic change has led to an increased presence of Bengali language signage, Bangladeshi food establishments, and Muslim cultural institutions. Because of these demographic changes, Little India now functions as a commercial and cultural center for South Asian immigrants. The district contains specialty grocery stores, restaurants, clothing retailers, and vendors of cultural goods serving the South Asian population, providing a sense of familiarity for those settling in the U.S.

📌APIA Every Day (215) - Descanso Gardens, located in Southern California, originated from a 165-acre property purchased by newspaper owner Elias Manchester Boddy in the late 1930s. Boddy established a ranch and residence designed by architect James E. Dolena, focusing on developing a camellia collection. To expand this collection, he collaborated with Japanese immigrant growers, primarily F.M. Uyematsu of Star Nursery and Fred and Mitoko Yoshimura of Mission Nursery. Uyematsu, who arrived in California in 1904, had established successful nurseries across Los Angeles County, specializing in Japanese imported plants, including camellias.

When World War II began and Executive Order 9066 was enacted, it significantly impacted Uyematsu's involvement in the garden. Due to Uyematsu's impending incarceration, Boddy purchased 300,000 camellias from Uyematsu's Star Nursery before the Uyematsu family was sent to incarceration camps. He also acquired plants from the Yoshimuras' Mission Nursery. Despite his incarceration, Uyematsu contributed to his community by donating 1,000 cherry and wisteria trees to Manzanar concentration camp. Post-war, 16 of the 600 known camellia varieties at Descanso Gardens were traced back to Uyematsu's collection.

The Japanese influence on Descanso Gardens continued after the war. In 1966, the Japanese Garden opened, designed by Eijiro Nunokawa and created by Frank Kuwahara. This addition was constructed with volunteer labor and funding from the Japanese American community. In 1969, a Japanese country-style farmhouse (Minka) was added to the garden, donated by Bob and Mary Matsumoto. These elements expanded the cultural and horticultural diversity of the gardens.

Descanso Gardens became a public space in 1953 when Los Angeles County purchased the property. The Descanso Gardens Guild, formed in 1957 and later renamed the Descanso Gardens Foundation, took over management in 1993. Subsequent developments included the opening of a 5-acre International Rosarium in 1994, achieving museum accreditation in 2004, and the addition of an Oak Woodland in 2014. These additions have expanded the botanical offerings and educational value of the gardens, which now serve as both a public recreational space and a site of historical and horticultural significance.

📌APIA Every Day (214) - The East-West Center complex, located on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus, was established in 1960 as a federal initiative during the Cold War era. Its founding coincided with U.S. efforts to improve relations with Asian nations, reflecting a shift in foreign policy towards greater engagement with the Asia-Pacific region. The Center occupies 15 acres on the eastern portion of the university grounds, comprising three main buildings constructed between 1962 and 1963: Jefferson Hall (administration), Kennedy Theatre (performance venue), and Hale Manoa (dormitory).

Architecturally, the complex is significant as a representative work of master architect I.M. Pei. The buildings feature deeply cantilevered roof planes, massive beams, and columns, designed to convey a sense of formality and monumentality. The complex also includes a Japanese Garden designed by Kenzo Ogata of Tokyo, featuring a teahouse gifted by the Urasenke School of the Tea Ceremony in 1972.

The East-West Center has played a role in establishing the University of Hawaii as an international institution of higher education. Over its history, the Center has hosted numerous programs, resulting in a network of over 70,000 alumni from various countries across the Asia-Pacific region. These programs have focused on a range of topics relevant to the region, including climate change, illegal fishing, governance issues, healthcare, education, and economic diversity. The Center serves as an educational and research institution, providing a venue for discussing regional issues and conducting research.

In its over 60 years of operation, the East-West Center has contributed to Hawaii's multicultural environment and to international education. Its primary mission remains promoting understanding among the peoples of the United States, Asia, and the Pacific. The Center continues to address contemporary challenges facing the Asia-Pacific region, positioning itself as a space for discussing complex regional issues. Its long-standing presence on the University of Hawaii campus and its ongoing programs demonstrate its sustained role in fostering international academic exchange and research collaboration.

📌APIA Every Day (213) - The Porter-Vallejo Mansion, originally built in the 1850s by Antone Vallejo, was purchased and relocated by John T. Porter in 1871. Porter, a prominent businessman in the Pajaro Valley, had a diverse portfolio of interests. Following his marriage to Watsonville school teacher Fannie Cummings in 1859, Porter served as U.S. Customs Collector for the Port of Monterey under appointment by President Abraham Lincoln. By 1874, he had established the Pajaro Valley's first bank, the Bank of Watsonville, with six other founders and directors. Porter owned extensive agricultural lands, the region's largest sawmill (the Loma Prieta Lumber Company), and was co-owner of Santa Cruz County's beet sugar refinery. He also held several city blocks in Watsonville that housed the 1869-1888 Chinatown, providing lodging for Chinese laborers who worked on his properties.

In 1888, Porter emerged as a central figure in addressing issues related to the anti-Chinese movement in California. Faced with increasing pressure from anti-Chinese legislation in Santa Cruz County, Porter proposed and implemented a plan to relocate Chinatown. He negotiated with various parties to establish a new Chinese settlement within 50 yards of his own home, across the Pajaro River county boundary and outside Santa Cruz County's jurisdiction. This move was significant as it allowed for the development of a more complete community structure for the local Chinese population.

The new Chinatown evolved from a collection of single male workers to a more diverse community with families, merchants, civic organizations, temples, and schools. It became a regional center for Chinese people in the area, providing a stable environment for families and preserving traditional social order. Porter's arrangement ensured a constant, reliable supply of Chinese field labor, which contributed to the area's economic stability, particularly in the face of the 1890s economic depression. That same year, Porter left the Bank of Watsonville to found the city's second bank, the Pajaro Valley Bank, where he remained active as President until his death in 1900.

John Porter's wife, Fannie Cummings Porter, also played a significant role in managing Chinatown. She collected rents and managed income for the settlement, maintaining detailed ledgers of its architectural and social organization. Fannie Porter provided rent-free spaces for an English language Christian school and homes for elderly Chinese bachelors. The Porters' involvement with the Chinese community continued until the 1920s, though it gradually lessened after 1900 due to changing immigration laws and the acculturation of younger generations of Chinese Americans. The Porter-Vallejo Mansion, particularly after its 1890s remodeling by architect William H. Weeks, stood as a symbol of Porter's status as a community and business leader. Its dining room served as a site for important business meetings that shaped the economic progress of the Pajaro Valley. The solidarity between the Porters and

📌APIA Every Day (212) - Jun Fujita, a Japanese American photojournalist and poet, constructed a cabin on Rainy Lake, Minnesota, circa 1928. The property, now within Voyageurs National Park, was purchased by Florence Carr due to laws restricting non-citizen land ownership. The original 13 by 16 foot structure, built with cedar poles and drop siding, was later expanded with a screened porch and a 7 by 8 foot log addition.

The cabin's design incorporates local and Japanese architectural elements, including natural materials, simple lines, and a moderate roof pitch. It uses dry-laid stones instead of a traditional foundation. Located 30 miles east of Ranier, the cabin was part of early recreational development in the Boundary Waters area.

Fujita used the cabin for leisure and commercial photography until the early 1940s. World War II and anti-Japanese sentiment led to his discontinued use. In 1956, Fujita sold the property to Fred and Edythe Sackett, who added a bedroom and propane appliances. The Wendts purchased it in 1973, and Voyageurs National Park acquired it in 1985.

The Jun Fujita Cabin was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. It remains largely unaltered since Fujita's time, providing historical context for Asian immigrant experiences and wilderness recreation development in early 20th century Minnesota. The cabin's preservation offers insights into the period's building techniques, recreational trends, and the impact of racial discrimination on property ownership and use by Japanese Americans.

📌APIA Every Day (211) - Sella Bay, situated on Guam's southwestern coast, was originally the site of a CHamoru village called Sidya. During the Spanish-CHamoru Wars of the 17th century, Sidya aligned with the Spanish against neighboring villages. Notably, it was one of the few places where Spanish authorities recognized the authority of a Maga'haga, a female political leader in CHamoru society. Following the wars, as part of the Spanish colonial strategy, the CHamoru inhabitants were forcibly relocated to new settlements where they could be more easily monitored.

The Spanish colonial era brought significant changes to the area. In the 18th century, a coastal highway was constructed to connect the galleon port of Humåtak with the capital of Hagåtña. A key feature of this road was the Spanish Bridge at Sella Bay, measuring 96 feet on its inland side and 36 feet on its seaward side, with a roadway width of 11 feet 6 inches. A Spanish settlement was also established near the bridge, of which only a stone oven remains today.

Sella Bay's archaeological significance extends beyond its colonial structures. The area contains ancient CHamoru artifacts and latte stones, the distinctive pillars that supported traditional CHamoru buildings. In the 1970s, Sella Bay became the focus of a community-led campaign against U.S. military plans to construct an ammunition wharf in the area. A coalition of educators, political leaders, and activists successfully opposed the development, leading to the wharf being built in Apra Harbor instead.

Currently, Sella Bay serves as both a historical site and a natural preserve. The Spanish Bridge, the remnants of the colonial settlement, and the ancient CHamoru artifacts remain accessible to researchers and visitors. The bay is part of a hiking trail that includes the nearby Cetti Bay, offering access to both historical sites and natural landscapes.

📌APIA Every Day (210) - Following the 1864 gold strike in Last Chance Gulch, Chinese immigrants began arriving in Helena, Montana. Their numbers grew rapidly, and by the 1870s, they comprised approximately 10% of Montana's territorial population. A distinct Chinatown district emerged, stretching five blocks below Reeder's Alley between South Main and lower State Streets.

Chinese residents in Helena contributed significantly to the local economy through various activities. Many worked on constructing the Northern Pacific railroad across Montana in the 1880s, while others engaged in laundry work, restaurant operation, domestic service, and merchant trading. The Yee Wau brothers exemplified this entrepreneurial spirit, dealing in Chinese merchandise and groceries from 1876 to 1886 in the Yee Wah house, one of the few structures from this period that still stands today.

The Chinese community in Helena persisted into the 20th century, maintaining long-standing businesses such as the Yat Son restaurant. However, discriminatory legislation like the Chinese Exclusion Act of 1882 took its toll. By the late 1890s, the population began to decline and became predominantly male. Urban renewal efforts in the 1970s erased much of the original Chinatown, though some Chinese-owned businesses continued operating into the 21st century. The Yat Son restaurant, for instance, relocated to East Helena in 2003. Today, archaeological investigations of the former Chinatown site provide valuable insights into the daily lives of these early Chinese residents, preserving their legacy in Helena's rich history.

📌APIA Every Day (209) - The Crystal City Family Internment Camp, established in Texas in 1942, was the only camp for Japanese individuals and families during World War II. While also housing German and Italian incarcerees, it primarily held Japanese Latin Americans forcibly removed from their countries and brought to the U.S. as part of a hostage exchange program with Japan, as well as Japanese Americans from the United States. At its peak in 1944, the camp held 3,374 incarcerees, with approximately 2,371 of Japanese descent.

The incarceration process typically began with the arrest of male heads of households, followed by the relocation of their families to Crystal City. Prior to arrival, incarcerees underwent mandatory disinfestation procedures at INS detention centers. The camp's layout included family bungalows, schools, and various facilities. Despite marginally better living conditions than other sites, it remained a place of confinement, surrounded by barbed wire and guard towers.

A unique aspect of Crystal City was its linguistic diversity. While many incarcerees were Japanese Americans, a significant number were Peruvian Japanese who primarily spoke Spanish. Following Japan's surrender in 1945, incarcerees faced complex decisions regarding repatriation. On December 11, 1945, ships departed from Seattle carrying Japanese, Japanese American, and Japanese Peruvian incarcerees back to Japan, while some families with American-born members faced difficult choices about whether to stay in the U.S. or relocate.

The camp operated until February 27, 1948. In the aftermath, many Japanese incarcerees, especially those from Latin America, found themselves in legal limbo, sometimes remaining in the U.S. as undocumented immigrants. The Crystal City detention facility represents a significant, yet often overlooked, aspect of the Japanese incarceration experience during World War II, highlighting the international scope of U.S. policies and their lasting impact on individuals and families of Japanese descent from various parts of the Americas.

📌APIA Every Day (208) - Ewa Villages originated as a residential area for workers of the Ewa Sugar Plantation, which was established in the late 19th century. The plantation, known for its high productivity and mechanized harvesting techniques, provided housing, schools, and recreational facilities for its largely immigrant workforce, primarily Filipino families. Key subdivisions included Fernandez Village, Tenney Village, and Varona Village.

Located on Oahu's southwestern coast, the Ewa Sugar Plantation Villages played a significant role in Hawaii’s economy, culture, and politics throughout much of the 20th century. The district, which includes Varona, Tenney, and Renton Villages, reflects various ethnic and cultural influences in its layout and architecture. Worker houses were designed for cross-ventilation and painted in restricted colors like white and rust. Prominent buildings, such as the administration building and plantation store, were designed by notable architects such as Hart Wood and William Furer.

In 1971, the plantation ceased operations, and Oahu Sugar Co. took over, leading to demographic shifts as many long-term residents left. In the 1980s, the City and County of Honolulu acquired Ewa Villages to address the need for affordable housing. The Ewa Villages Project, launched in 1991, focused on restoring historic homes for both former plantation families and new residents, which led to some tensions over balancing preservation with modern development.

Today, Ewa Villages has transitioned into a suburban area, contributing to the growth of Oahu’s "Second City" around Kapolei. The area remains historically significant, with landmarks such as the Honouliuli Internment Camp. The Ewa Villages Historical Society, represented by members like Agnes Malate, Emy Tagama Keola, and Carolyn Weygan-Hildebrand, continues to work on preserving the community’s cultural heritage, as highlighted during the National APIAHiP Forum in September.

📌APIA Every Day (207) - Little Pakistan, an ethnic enclave in Brooklyn, New York, began forming in the early 1980s along Coney Island Avenue. The neighborhood's growth was catalyzed by the opening of the Makki Masjid mosque in 1982, attracting Pakistani immigrants to the area. Following the Immigration Act of 1990, the Pakistani population in New York City grew from approximately 15,000 to nearly 40,000 by 2000. The area developed into a cultural and commercial center for the Pakistani diaspora, with numerous businesses catering to the community.

The September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks marked a turning point for Little Pakistan. In the aftermath, the neighborhood became a focus of intense law enforcement scrutiny, with hundreds of Pakistani immigrants detained, often for minor immigration violations. The implementation of the Special Registration Program in 2002 led to numerous deportations and voluntary departures. Concurrently, the community experienced a sharp increase in hate crimes and harassment, resulting in a significant population decline and business closures. In response to these challenges, community organizations emerged to support the remaining residents. The Council of Peoples Organization (COPO), founded by Mohammad Razvi in 2002, became a central institution in Little Pakistan, providing legal assistance, educational programs, and acting as an intermediary between the community and law enforcement agencies. Despite these efforts, the impact of the post-9/11 period has had lasting effects on Little Pakistan, though the neighborhood has partially recovered in recent years.

In December 2021, a section of Coney Island Avenue in Little Pakistan was officially renamed "Muhammad Ali Jinnah Way" after Pakistan's founder. This renaming was the result of a resolution adopted by the New York City Council on December 26, 2021, following years of lobbying by the Pakistani American community, particularly the Pakistani American Youth Organization (PAYO). The unveiling ceremony took place in 2022, attended by City Council member Jumaane Williams, who had piloted the resolution, and Pakistani Consul-General in New York, Naeem Iqbal Cheema. The event included the formal unveiling of the road sign and celebrations by local Pakistani Americans. This renaming recognizes the contributions of the Pakistani community's presence in Brooklyn, adding to the visible markers of Little Pakistan's cultural identity within New York City's diverse landscape.

📌APIA Every Day (206) - Originally part of the El Cerrito estate, the property passed through the hands of several renowned Californians before being purchased by Eugene J. de Sabla Jr., co-founder of Pacific Gas and Electric Company, in 1906. Around 1907, de Sabla commissioned Makoto Hagiwara, the renowned designer of San Francisco's Golden Gate Park Japanese Tea Garden, to create an elaborate Japanese-style garden on the property. This timing coincided with a growing trend among wealthy Californians to embrace Japanese aesthetics in landscape design, moving away from Victorian-style gardens.

Hagiwara's design for the de Sabla garden showcases key elements of traditional Japanese landscape architecture. The nearly one-acre space incorporates features of both Higurashi-en ("a garden worthy of a day of contemplation") and Shin-style hill gardens. These include a man-made mountain partially constructed with volcanic Japanese rock, a stream flowing into a waterfall and koi-filled lake, stone lanterns, a Buddha statue, a tsukubai (water basin), and a bamboo fence with a roofed entrance. The Ryoku-style teahouse, completed around 1909, evokes a rustic farmhouse with shoji screen doors, plaster walls with wood beams, and traditional interior elements.

The garden's preservation offers a rare, intact example of Hagiwara's private commissions and provides insight into the adaptation of Japanese garden principles to California landscapes. It reflects the cultural exchange between Japan and the United States in the early 20th century when Japanese aesthetics were increasingly influencing American design. The garden's historical and cultural significance was officially recognized in 1992 when it was added to the National Register of Historic Places. As one of the few surviving examples of Hagiwara's work outside of public spaces, the de Sabla garden serves as an important resource for understanding the integration of Japanese garden design in American private estates of the period.