Kalama Heritage Festival

The Kalama Heritage Festival is set for Aug. 19-21 at Louis Rasmussen Park in Kalama, off the I-5 at exit #30. The festival honors the blending of the cultures between Kanaka and Pacific Northwest Native Americans. Guests can enjoy traditional Hawaiian musical performers, local Native and Hawaiian bands, traditional Hawaiian foods, music jamming sessions, food, workshops, local craft vendors, swimming and games. Native American dance ceremonies and complimentary music lessons for kids will also be included. The event is free, though VIP packages are available, including luau food and a VIP meet and greet event.

The festival kicks off on Aug. 19 with hula, ukulele, slack key music, Tahitian dance workshops and guests from Hawaii kupuna sharing the traditional cultures of Hawaii, poi pounding, underground oven cooking called imu. At 8 a.m. Aug. 20, see a canoe regatta featuring both Native canoes from the Warm Springs, Chehalis, Muckleshoot, Nisqually, Cowlitz tribes as well as Hawaiian outrigger canoes.

Register as a vendor here. For more information, call Gloria Nahalea at 206-484-2511 or email nahaleagloria@yahoo.com.