The Kanakas were without a doubt, an indispensable piece of the Pacific Northwest's history. Surveyors, explorers, pioneers, and entrepreneurs all relied heavily on the labor that these native Hawaiians were ready and willing to provide. Even the American Board of of Commissioners for Foreign Missions hired Kanakas to help build their churches, missions,and Christian schools. Methodist, Evangelists, Protestants and other Christian denominations can attribute much of their presence in the Northwest to the Sandwich Islanders.
It is not certain what led so many of them to our region, but we are fortunate they did. Unfortunately, as our state developed and became more populated and "civilized," our appreciation for the Kanakas dissipated. They, like the Native Americans, Chinese, and African Americans during that time frame became more and more inferior to the Whites they had previously had positive relationships with.
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