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Mural created to show support after the Maui wildfires © Vancouver’s Downtown Association
May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Join us in celebrating the culture and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in our communities.
Native Hawaiians have lived and worked in the Pacific Northwest since the early 19th century. At Fort Vancouver in Vancouver, Washington, Native Hawaiians played a critical role in the success of the Hudson Bay Company’s operations on the Columbia River, and the establishment of the region’s lumber, agriculture, and fishing economy.
Today, Vancouver’s Hawaiian history and heritage plays a crucial role in efforts to reenergize the city’s historic downtown. Vancouver’s Downtown Association partners with Native Hawaiian business owners and artists for the Great River Arts Festival and other initiatives as part of the organization’s commitment to spearheading an inclusive revitalization effort that celebrates the city’s diverse heritage.
Early Hawaiian Residents and Fort Vancouver
The Hudson Bay Company employed Native Hawaiian workers on forts, plantations, and other locations across the Pacific Northwest from 1829 to 1859. They were part of a circular trade economy that moved lumber and salmon to the Hawaiian Islands and imported products, like sugar, to the continent. They worked as gardeners, tended livestock, and went out on hunting trips to feed the world’s insatiable demand for beaver pelts. By 1849, Native Hawaiians outnumbered French Canadian laborers, the traditional workforce of the company.
Located on the north bank of the Columbia River, Fort Vancouver was an important base of operations for the Hudson Bay Company and home to many Native Hawaiian workers who played critical roles across the company and within the fort. While the majority of men were employed as cooks, fur trappers, mill workers, sailors, and soldiers, some women also worked as farm laborers or manufacturers for the company store, and forage for food in order to supplement the weekly food rations that the Hudson Bay Company provided.
Volunteers portray Hawaiian workers at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site’s Brigade Encampment event © National Park Service, photo by Troy Wayrynen.
The success of the Pacific Northwest economy from the 19th century to today would not have been possible without the contributions of Native Hawaiians. As the power of the Hudson Bay Company declined, Native Hawaiian immigrants continued to play an important role in shaping the culture of the Pacific Northwest. Today, approximately 114,000 people with Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander heritage live in Washington.
Celebrating Hawaiian Culture Today
Vancouver’s Downtown Association (VDA), the Main Street organization for Vancouver, Washington, is proud of their Hawaiian history, and is committed to celebrating Hawaiian heritage and supporting Hawaiian business owners. One way that VDA demonstrates this commitment is by partnering with Hawaiian-owned local business Local Boy Tatau, a tattoo shop in the downtown district, to host the Great River Arts Festival. During the annual event, local artists create murals across the district showcasing the cultural and artistic diversity of the region. “What was once a blank canvas has now been transformed into a living tapestry of colors, shapes, and stories,” said VDA Executive Director Michael Walker.
Local Boy Tatau identifies mural artists while VDA works with property owners to secure spaces for the artwork. “Local Boy Tatau brought not only a keen artistic vision but also invaluable connections within the burgeoning creative community,” said Michael Walker. “Their deep understanding of the local art scene made them the perfect ally for VDA’s mission to amplify artistic voices and revitalize downtown Vancouver.”
As part of the festival in 2023, VDA also partnered with the Ke Kukui Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to preserving Hawaiian and Polynesian culture in Vancouver, to collect donations supporting wildfire recovery in Maui. Also in 2023, the festival was awarded the Excellence on Main Street Award by the Washington Main Street Program. To date, the festival has added more than 35 murals to the downtown district.
Vancouver’s downtown is also home to the Ke Kukui Foundation’s 4 Days of Aloha festival, a vibrant celebration of Hawaiian arts and culture. The event includes cultural workshops, live performances, Hawaiian businesses, and a hula competition. The Ke Kukui Foundation’s cultural preservation efforts extend beyond Vancouver to nearby communities, like Camas, Washington.
These celebrations are part of a long history of Native Hawaiian culture in the Pacific Northwest. From the mill workers, sailors, and cooks of the 19th century to the small business owners, artists, and cultural leaders of today, Native Hawaiians play an important and celebrated role in shaping the region. “Through this collaborative endeavor, VDA and Local Boy Tatau have not only beautified the physical landscape but have also woven a richer, more inclusive cultural fabric for the entire community to enjoy and cherish,” said Michael Walker.
Redevelopment Resources, a Main Street America Allied Member, is this quarter’s Main Spotlight advertiser. For more information about the services they provide to Main Street organizations, click here >
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