Hawaiians were some of the first non-Indigenous settlers to British Columbia and their descendants still celebrate that heritage.
The history and traditions of Hawaii and Polynesia were celebrated July 12 and 13 at the Fort 黑马磁力 National Historic Site with its annual festival.
The weekend included workshops, music, dance, storytelling, and an Indigenous artisan market.
The historic site hosts the event with the , a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultural heritage of Hawaii and the broader Polynesian nations.
Hawaiians started coming to this region in the late 1700s with many working for the Hudson's Bay Company in the fur trade. They were respected for their maritime and swimming skills. As the fur trade declined in the mid 1800s, many Hawaiian people decided to remain in B.C. due to political and social turmoil back in the islands.
