Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center

There are plenty of major tourist attractions in Alaska, but sometimes it’s the off-the-beaten-path locations that offer the most unique experiences. The Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center in Hoonah is one of them. Located in a primarily Native Tlingit community, this quaint building showcases the culture and history of the Hoonah tribes with artifacts and stories from local elders.

About the Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center

The Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center is located in Hoonah on Chichagof Island, and the community is only accessible by plane or boat. The Cultural Center is filled with artwork and intricate wood carvings from the Native people, and the elders here are happy to share stories of the First Nation people’s history in the Pacific Northwest, as well as the special meanings within the symbolism of the art.

Visiting the Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center

The Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center is free to enter and open to the public—and there has never been a better time to visit! Visitors to the center enjoy a relaxed atmosphere where they can get to know local Native people and get a firsthand account of the intricate and fascinating culture of Alaskans.

History & Geography

The Native Huna Tlingit had originally settled in the Icy Strait and the region that’s now within Glacier Bay National Park. After rapid glacial advance and a tsunami induced by a landslide hit the area, they were forced from their homeland to seek settlement elsewhere.

They eventually resettled in Xunaa—now the town of Hoonah—and the oral stories and traditions of the Native people still tell the story of the migration of their ancestors to the area.

Modern-day Hoonah remains a primarily Tlingit community with its isolated location on Chichagof Island in the southeast Alaska panhandle. Just 30 miles west of the capital city of Juneau, the population of the town is just under 800 residents, but it grows to over 1,300 in the busy summer months.

Interesting Facts

Native culture is preserved, accessible, and celebrated at the Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center. With its beautiful location, friendly atmosphere, and variety of Native art and history to explore, it’s a must-see stop on your tour of the Hoonah community.

• Visitors to the Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center will find a hand-carved canoe and totem, along with knowledgeable Native elders willing to explain both the meaning and carving process.
• The name “Hoonah” comes from the Tlingit word Xunaa—which translates to “lee of the north wind” or “protected from the north wind”.
• Alaskan Bush People, a popular television show that aired on the Discovery Channel, featured the town of Hoonah.
• Chichagof Island is the 5th-largest island in the United States and the 109th-largest in the world, and Hoonah is the only first-class city on the island.
• Hoonah’s major industry came from salmon canning in the early 20th century, and the Hoonah Packing Company built in 1912 was one of eight facilities in operation in the area at the time.

Points of Interest

While you’ll need to take a float plane or boat to get to the shores of Chichagof Island, Hoonah and the Yaakw Kahidi Cultural Center are worth the trip. From the hand-carved Native totem pole and canoe to the stories and traditions passed down through the people that work there, this Cultural Center is a true gem in one of Alaska’s most-beautiful towns.

View all of our Icy Strait Point tours and things to do in Icy Strait Point.