KOLBET: John Kalama was a carpenter from Hawaii who came to the Northwest with the fur trade in the 1830s. Many, like John Kalama, married into the Native American community. Today the town of Kalama celebrates its namesake with dozens of Hawaiians and Northwest sailors who brought their outrigger canoes.

What is Kalama known for?

Kalama was entirely a Northern Pacific railroad creation. It was unofficially born in May 1870 when the Northern Pacific railroad turned the first shovel of dirt. Kalama was unofficially incorporated on November 29, 1871. It served as the county seat of Cowlitz County from 1872 to 1922.

How did Kalama Washington get its name?

The modern community of Kalama was built by the Northern Pacific Railroad in 1870 during the construction of a rail line from Tacoma, Washington, to Portland, Oregon. They named their community “Kalama” after the river of that name. The town of Kalama was incorporated in 1871, and was the Cowlitz County seat in 1873.

Who founded Kalama Washington?

Ezra Meeker
Kalama was first settled in 1853 by Ezra Meeker and his family. Only one year later, Meeker moved to north Puyallup, Washington, but he sold his Donation Land Claim to a Mr. Davenport, who, with a few others, permanently settled in the Kalama area.

What does Kalama mean in Hawaiian?

The Torch
Kalama means “The Torch” in the Hawaiian language.

Why did Hawaiians immigrate to Washington?

Trade and cultural relationships have existed between the West Coast of the United States and the Hawaiian Island for hundreds of years. This includes a number of native Hawaiians who migrated to the Pacific Northwest in the early 1800’s to participate in the fur trade.

What did Queen Kalama do for Hawaii?

She became an adept business woman, eventually owning 22,000 acres on the windward side of Oahu, where she established a sugar plantation. A beach there in Kailua now bears her name.

What is the population density of Washington?

Washington State Area and Population Density This population places Washington as the 13th most populous state in the country, but only 25th in terms of population density. Within its total area of 71,299 square miles, there is an average of 101.2 people for every square mile of Washington State territory.

What kind of name is Kalama?

The name Kalama is a girl’s name of Hawaiian origin meaning “flaming torch”.

What are two things Washington and Hawaii share?

They both have volcanoes and amazing views of the ocean and are rich with then plant life and natural wildlife. They are also home to many natural reserves and parks which work to conserve the beauty of the natural landscape of these two States.

Why did Hawaiians leave Hawaii?

Most leave for the same reasons that non-Native Hawaiian residents decide to leave Hawaiʻi: more opportunity, more resources, a lower cost of living and higher salaries. Two months ago, in a qualitative study, Kamehameha Schools’ Strategy and Innovation Group set out to uncover why Native Hawaiians are leaving.

What does the name Kalama mean?

Where is kalama located on the map?

Kalama, Washington The town of Kalama, Washington, is located at Columbia River Mile (RM) 75, and lies just upstream of the mouth of the Kalama River. Directly across from Kalama is Sandy Island and the Oregon town of Goble.

Robert Hitchman in Place Names of Washington (published in 1985, Washington State Historical Society) states the name “Kalama” was applied to the town in 1871 by Gen. J.W. Sprague of the Northern Pacific Railway Company. The name is from the Indian word Calama meaning “Pretty maiden”.

What is the Kalama gap?

The constriction of the Columbia River north of Kalama is known as the “Kalama Gap”. On the Washington side of the Columbia is Carrolls Bluff and on the Oregon side of the Columbia is Prescott Point, the bluff just north of Prescott Beach, Oregon.