HAWAII

Source: Naughton, E. Momilani. Hawaiians in the fur trade: cultural influence on the Northwest Coast. Thesis (M.A.) -- Western Washington University, 1983

It is a little known fact that many Hawaiians left the islands during the fur trade era of 1811-1875. The early fur traders who came to Hawaii had been impressed with the Hawaiians' abilities in the ocean and instantly realized the value of such skills on the Columbia River. Their diving and swimming abilities were most revered, as is shown in this 1811 quote from Gabriel Franchere's journal:

On the morning of the 14th of February, while the ships carpenter was replacing one of the davits, two large pulleys fell into the sea. As we had no others, the Captain asked the Islanders (who are excellent swimmers) to dive for them. Two of them volunteered immediately, on the understanding that they should be given four yards of cotton cloth if they succeeded in bringing them up from the bottom. They dived several times and each time brought up shells. We were sufficiently curious to time their dives and were surprised to find that they could stay under for four minutes. At last one of them brought up the two pulleys and received the promised reward. This exercise seemed to exhaust them, to such extent that blood was flowing from the nose and ears of one of them (Franchere 1969: 60).

It was on the Tonquin, the ship Franchere was on, that the first twenty-four laborers were brought to the Northwest Coast.

1. In 1842, Bolduc made an estimate of five hundred Hawaiians dwelling on the Northwest Coast in that year.

2. There are over 20 place names which are Hawaiian in origin located in areas once occupied by or significant to Hawaiians during the fur trade era. Many of these names are still in use.

3. The genetic consequences of so many Hawaiians intermarrying with different Indian groups on the Northwest Coast has not been previously explored. Most blood studies done on the Indians in this region were done in the 1950's. By this time many descendants of the early Hawaiians had lost the awareness that they were part Hawaiian.

4. Hawaiian males were one of the top three contributors to the gene pool of Northwest Coast Indians.

5. According to several informants there are quite a number of Hawaiians on the Indian tribal rolls. Many of them are not aware that one of their forefathers was Hawaiian and many do not wish to claim Hawaiian ancestry. When inquiring as to why this might be, several informants stated that in light of the recent Indian pride movement many did not want to claim non-Indian blood. As many Indians do not understand the role of Hawaiians during the fur trade period it was also assumed by some that they were "slaves" and therefore these Indians did not wish to be descended from slaves.

The town of Kalama, Washington was named after John Kalama. And his son Peter graduated at the top of his class at Chemawa Indian School.

Charlie Kahana (1/2 Hawaiian and 1/2 Lummi Indian) was a champion fiddler and is still remembered with warmth on the Lummi Indian Reservation.

Joe Poelie (Friday) was a full-blooded Hawaiian for whom Friday Harbor, Washington is named.

"King Freezy," the 1/2 Hawaiian and 1/2 Songish Indian chief, was a strong, respected leader of his tribe.