Kalama, Washington, is a little strip of a town along a river that bears the same name. John Kalama, a native Hawaiian, shipped out from the islands to work the fur trade in the Pacific Northwest. His travels took him to the land of the Nisqually tribe on the banks of the river where he found a new home and a wife, Mary Martin, the Nisqually chief’s daughter. For the past few years, the town of Kalama has hosted a powwow/luau that celebrates the bond of these two people — the native Hawaiians and the Nisqually tribe.
A few years back, I went to photograph the festival. I met ukulele master Bill Tapia, I believe he’d just turned 96. He was teaching workshops and giving a concert. I ran into Mr. Tapia in the lobby after his workshop, he was unwinding and bossing his handlers around. He looked me straight in the eye. “You were in my workshop,” he said, “but WHERE IS YOUR UKULELE!?”
The Kalama Heritage Festival takes place this weekend, August 28-30th. There are more details on the festival site, here.