PORT ANGELES — A Holland America crew member stood above the stern of the ms Oosterdam and asked a group of Lower Elwha Klallam tribal members for permission to come ashore.
“I’m glad that you arrived in Port Angeles,” Harmony Arakawa replied. “We’re honored to share our songs and traditions with you. Come ashore!”
The cruise ship’s 12:02 p.m. landing at Terminal 1 on Wednesday was conducted with the same traditional protocol as the Tribal Journeys canoe landings that happen every summer.
There was one big difference: the Oosterdam, at 950 feet long and with a capacity of 1,848 passengers, was on a different scale than the canoes.
The Oosterdam, one of Holland America’s larger cruise ships, was scheduled to stay docked in Port Angeles for 11 hours during its sailing from San Diego to Vancouver, B.C.
When the gangway opened at 12:32 p.m., passengers were greeted by more than 100 civic leaders and community members.
Port Angeles Mayor Cherie Kidd, City Manager Kent Myers, City Councilman Patrick Downie, Port of Port Angeles Commissioner John Calhoun, Port Angeles Regional Chamber of Commerce President Brian Kuh and Lower Elwha Klallam Tribal Chairwoman Frances Charles were among the dignitaries in the welcoming party.
More than a dozen tribal members preformed traditional songs and dances as the passengers disembarked.
Crooner Charlie Ferris sang oldies as hundreds filed out of the port terminal and headed towards downtown Port Angeles or boarded shuttles for transport to the Lower Elwha Klallam Heritage Center, the Olympic National Park Visitor Center, the Port Angeles Fine Arts Center, the Museum at the Carnegie, the Port Angeles Library, the Arthur D. Feiro Marine Life Center, the Lower Elwha tribal casino or various shopping destinations.
Elyse Ceyles of Vancouver, British Columbia, said she wanted to “go to a bar” to play pool.
Her friend, Chermine Alexandre, also of Vancouver, wanted to “check out the park.”
Joe Burns of Eagle, Idaho, said he and his wife were “just going to go into the city,” where Twisted Roots and Sarah Shea were scheduled to perform at The Gateway transit center.
Special presentations by the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center and a representative from Olympic National Park were also scheduled at The Gateway.
For John and Judy Elao of Victoria, the layover in Port Angeles was their first experience on the U.S. side of the Strait of Juan de Fuca.
“Never been here in all these years,” said Joe Liao, as he walked from the dock to downtown Port Angeles.
“We see the lights along this side, but we’ve never been here.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
