User:Coastaline/sandbox/Hawaiian diaspora

The Hawaiian diaspora (Hawaiian: Kānaka maoli i nā ʻāina ʻē) are people of full or partial Hawaiian descent living outside of Hawaii. The vast majority of them live in the contiguous United States, though smaller communities are present elsewhere.

Canada
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, thousands of Native Hawaiians were recruited by North American labor companies, many of which were in British Columbia, Canada's westernmost province. Common occupations among Hawaiian migrants included fur trapping and sailing. These laborers were referred to as kanakas, a term derived from the Hawaiian word "kanaka" (human).

Canada's first wave of Hawaiian workers arrived in 1811, with a total of 24 laborers on board. In subsequent years, further immigration continued from the Hawaiian Islands. Initially, most Hawaiians worked in the fur industry. Later on, many of them worked in other fields such as blacksmithing and carpentry.

Hawaiian laborers were highly sought after due to their skilled qualities. In 1829, the Hudson's Bay Company opened up an agency in Honolulu to hire more contract workers. By the year 1844, between 200 and 300 Hawaiians were employed by the HBC, with an additional 50 working as sailors.

United States
Similar to Canada, the United States also received an influx of Hawaiian laborers on its west coast.