Portlander Who Just Got Back From Hawaii Insists on Calling Sauvie “The Big Island”

Tens of thousands of people flock to Sauvie Island every year for recreation. Located 10 miles North of downtown Portland and originally named Wapato Island,  it sits between the Columbia river, the Multnomah Channel and the Willamette River. 

Clackamas resident Vivian Corah, who recently returned from attending a wedding on the Hawiian island of Oahu, was particularly outspoken about returning to spend time on Sauvie. 

“Whether you’re paddling a traditional Oregonian outrigger kayak in the wetlands, or riding bikes around the flat landscape, the big island truly provides all the splendor that one could ever need. Ohana – family – is very important to the way of life here. We gather our young ones to learn navigation skills in the corn mazes and use the hay from the hay rides to make grass skirts for our hula dances.”

Corah was effusive about Sauvie’s splendor. “I invite everyone to experience the beautiful beaches of the big island, their sands littered with technicolored glass from the traditional beer bottles and energy drinks of our fellow island boys. The delectable cuisine includes unique dishes like pumpkin patch poke and kalua u-pick raspberries. I encourage visitors to come visit, respectfully. When making the journey out here be sure to wave or throw a shaka when someone lets you into their lane. Life on the mainland is so fast paced and stressful, yet here everything is much more laid back and chill. We move on island time. The spirit of Sauvie is the spirit of aloha”

While we were unable to corroborate Corah’s claims that the island was home to sea turtles, Sauvie Island’s wildlife area does support a biologically diverse association of wildlife which includes many species of birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, fish and plants. While visitors are encouraged, portions of the wildlife area are closed to public access October – April for the protection of waterfowl.