Travel

The Hawai’i of Canada

Episode 15

Salt Spring Island resident and journalist Lavonne Leong explores her West Coast island home in a captivating episode that might surprise you 

  • Nov 19, 2024
Central School class photo from 1929 on Salt Spring Island. At one time, islanders of First Nations, Hawaiian, Black and Japanese ancestry likely made up the majority of the Salt Spring Island community. (Photo: Salt Spring Archives)
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First published on Black Cabin Studio’s NorthAmericanaPodcast.com

In today’s episode, we head west, just off the shores of Vancouver, B.C. With the help of talented journalist Lavonne Leong, we explore thriving Hawaiian roots on Canada’s Salt Spring Island, which dates back to a time long before Canada and the United States were formed. It’s a fascinating story. Listen in.

Special thanks to James Gray for our theme song music. 

 

Maria Mahoi, who inherited Russell Island in the late 1800s. (Photo: Salt Spring Archives Mahoy/Fisher/Douglas/Roberts Collection)
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Mahalo means “thank you” in Hawaiian. This sign is located in the Mahoi homestead orchard on Russell Island. (Photo: Lavonne Leong)
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The view of Russell Island from Salt Spring Island. (Photo: Lavonne Leong)
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The Maria Mahoi homestead on Russell Island. (Photo: Lavonne Leong)
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Hawaiian kingdom motto (“The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness”) on a Gulf Islands National Park sign located on Russell Island. (Photo: Lavonne Leong)
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A shell found on Russell Island. (Photo: Lavonne Leong)
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