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• Humboldt Asian and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) Plan Memorial for Old Town as Part of ‘Eureka Chinatown Project’

Humboldt Area Foundation release: 

Humboldt Asians and Pacific Islanders in Solidarity (HAPI) received a $25,000 strategy grant from HAF+WRCF toward the building of a monument near Eureka’s waterfront in Old Town as part of its ongoing Chinatown project.

“The goal of the monument is to remember and recognize what happened to the Chinese population in our area,” said HAPI steering committee member Sheri Woo. “The HAF+WRCF grant is the first significant funding for our project, bringing us to about two-thirds of the way to meeting our $254,000 goal.”

The “Eureka Chinatown Monument,” designed to tell the history of Chinese people in the area and the violent Chinese Expulsion of 1885, is planned for the city-owned corner of E and First streets. The monument design includes a Chinese moon gate (an archway done in traditional architecture), landscaping, and a river “timeline” with stones marking significant points in the history of the area’s Chinese people from 1865 to present day. The nonprofit hopes to break ground on the monument this summer.

Woo said HAPI has raised more than $125,000 itself, along with a commitment from the city of Eureka to cover liability insurance costs and maintenance of the corner property. Donations can be made to HAPI at its website www.inkpeople.org or through a GoFundMe campaign.

“It is a real joy and privilege to support HAPI with funding as part of the eight commitments HAF+WRCF has made regarding race, safety and belonging in the region,” said Rachel Montgomery, HAF+WRCF’s Program Officer for Programs & Community Solutions.

HAF+WRCF’s strategy grant program, funded by its generous donors, is designed to assist groups and projects in Humboldt, Del Norte, Curry, and Trinity counties. HAPI is one of five organizations or projects that received strategy grants at the end of 2023.

“HAPI has done phenomenal work in a short amount of time to build strong connections among the Asian-American, Pacific Islander, and Desi immigrant communities in Humboldt County, as well as highlighting their historic and ongoing contributions and challenges with the wider community in Humboldt County and beyond,” Montgomery said.

Learn more about HAF+WRCF’s Strategy Grants via by emailing grants@hafoundation.org or call 707-442-2993.