The Salmon Level Sponsorship

Description

Sponsor Package Kalama Heritage Festival

We continue to celebrate the Legacy of the Hawaiian and Native people of the Northwest.  In the inaugural event of 2005, the first of the iconic musical talents to play the first Kalama Festival was the well known Dennis Kamakahi.  This year marks the 10^th anniversary of his passing.  Dennis in his role as a reverend as well as musician joined The Kalama sisters and family to bless the festival as well as helped with the first canoe ceremony on the rivers’ edge.  We honor him and all those he taught and continues to carry the legacy of songwriting as well as slack key.  We are seeking your sponsorship to support this very worthwhile annual festival. We once again appreciate the Port’s support with their generous use of the park and

amphitheatre, the McMenamin’s Harbor Lodge for their hospitality and hosting our elders and entertainment, the City of Kalama for their support, the local businesses for support of this event.  We seek goods for protocol ceremony gifts, supplies, services, volunteers, and financial support. Your support help allows us to keep this a free event for all to enjoy the experiences of our Native singers, drummers, dancers, foods, arts and crafts, sound system.  Although we are volunteer based, there are expenses for talent guests traveling in from the islands.

ABOUT THE KALAMA HERITAGE FESTIVAL

 The Kalama Heritage Festival is a weekend-end long celebration honoring the impact of the region’s early Hawaiian and Pacific Northwest Native American ancestors, who settled in Kalama back in the mid-1800’s by way of the Hudson’s Bay Fur Trading Company.

The festival treats area residents and visitors with colorful Hawaiian hula performers and talented singers and musicians including the Northwest Tribal traditional hertitage ceremonial dress, drummers and dancers, fire knife dancers, a ceremonial canoe regatta, and beach landing, tahitian drummers, dancers, art workshops and traditional pig cooked in an underground oven and roasted salmon cooked on an open flame.

Founded in 2005, by event organizers, Gloria & Bill Nahalea, after spending years researching the coming together of early Hawaiians and Northwest native settlers in this area.  In their research they learned many stories, particularly those involving early Hawaiian settler John Kalama and his ties to the naming of the city of Kalama. Much has been written over the decades, and the city boasts a placque honoring John Kalama.

Thousands of festival attendees have enjoyed the festival, and attend annually, bringing their friends and families. They love the food, the unique blends of artists, entertainment, and vendors who return annually. They discover what a beautiful slice of paradise right here in southwest Washington state.  We hope you enjoy yourself not only as a vendor as well as the experience of the entire festival.

Your support helps to celebrate and host the Native artists, canoe families, experience the underground oven cooked pig – a favorite activity, as well as the canoe ceremonies. Dr. Sherrie Davis, a Native American Flute artist, joins us along with Stephen Inglis, Kenneth Makuakani, Northwest Blend, Nisqually Kalama Family, musicians and artists from Kauai, Halau Hula O Napualani, among other fabulous talent.  Crafters featuring not only Native and Hawaiian artisans, Kalama’s own resident vendors treat us with a unique Aloha Native Marketplace of choice shopping and foods.