Now in its 6th year, the Kalama Heritage Festival has moved from its original home in the town of Kalama, WA to the brand new Nisqually Youth and Emergency Center, located at 1937 Lashi St. NE in Olympia, WA.
This very unique, one of a kind, festival is a two day event from Aug. 28th to the 29th and will showcase the cultures and talents of the Native American and Native Hawaiian peoples such as Kaulele, Teen Challenge, Naki'i, Ku'ulei's Hula Academy, Native Bridge, Cowlitz Tribe, Nisqually Tribe, Halau Hula O Napualani and more.
Admission is free during the day when unique food and craft vendors will be on display. In addition there will be a special ticketed event from 5-midnight on Saturday, Aug 28th featuring a traditional Native American Salmon Bake and Hawaiian luau styled dinner followed by a concert with award winning Hawaiian band Holunape, Joe Hipp and Chauncey Welliver have a total of 8 Championship belts will sign autographs and hand out t-shirts, local reggae group Ideal Green and much more.
Formerly known as the Kalama Days of Discovery, the event previously broke attendance records in the town of Kalama, WA. The festival was originally held in 2005 to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the arrival of the town’s namesake: John Kalama of Kula, Maui. Arriving in 1830, John Kalama found work with the Hudson’s Bay Company, befriended the local Nisqually tribe, and eventually married Mary Martin with whom he settled permanently at the mouth of the river which now bears his name.
Previous Kalama Festivals have featured such talented musicians and performers as Bill Tapia, Brother Noland, Weldon Kekauoha, Kalae Miles, Roddy Lopez, Da Uddah guys, Halau Hula O Napualani and more.