In the summer of 1968, there was a need in the Polish American Community on Long Island, for an organization and a place for young people of Polish descent to gather for social events, as well as educational and cultural programs. This place would provide a forum to express their ideas and beliefs, as well as to channel their creativity. The first meeting of the Polish American Youth Organization of Long Island was held on November 7, 1968. At this meeting, several organizations and clubs were formed, among which, was the dance group. It was given the name "HEJNAL" in honor of the trumpeter of Krakow who lost his life warning the city of an approaching Tartar invasion from the spire of the Church of the Holy Virgin. Hejnal was fortunate to have studied under the strong influence of the late Henry Jaworowski. Throughout the 1970's, the Hejnal Polish American Dancers of Long Island continued entertaining audiences at various social functions throughout the tri-state area. In the early 1980's the group's membership increased. The influx of new members enabled Hejnal to start in a new direction. They began to attend dance seminars that were held in conjunction with the newly formed national organization known as the Polish Folk Dance Association of the Americas (PFDAA). A number of members attended a festival in 1981, held in Philadelphia, where they learned new choreography of various dances from the many regions of Poland. The membership and participation in the PFDAA has played an increasingly important role in Hejnal's history. The group traveled to Baltimore to take part in the 1984 PFDAA festival for the first time. There they made lasting friendships with other dance groups from around the United States and Canada, as well as with some choreographers that had come from Poland to teach at the festival.

In the summer of 1990, Hejnal traveled to Our Lady of Czestochowa Shrine in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, for a full-length performance and has continued to perform annually. In 1992, which proved to be a landmark year, the group traveled to Montreal, Canada for another festival. The major event of that year was held at the Colden Center at Queens College. The Hejnal Polish American Dancers of Long Island, led by their directors, Andrzej Kempisty, Jr. and Robert Kulesa, were instrumental in organizing "Nasza Niedziela", a concert that featured all the Polish dance groups from the Metropolitan area. The concert was a tremendous success, and was held again on November 11, 2000 in conjunction with the Polish American Folk Dance Company of Brooklyn, New York. Hejnal has continued to attend the PFDAA festivals that were held in San Francisco in 1995, in Los Angeles in 1997, and Milwaukee in 2000. In 2003, a celebratory festival will be held in New York City to commemorate the PFDAA's 20th Anniversary.

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In 1996, the group made its first appearance in Warsaw, Poland, which was part of the World Festival of Polish Folk Dance Groups in Rzeszow, Poland. In 2002 the Hejnal dancers returned to Poland for the XII World Festival of Polish Folk Dance Groups. The festival was held in Rzeszow, however, this time they had the distinct pleasure of performing in the Main Square in Krakow. As the Hejnal played from the spire of the Church of the Holy Virgin, our Hejnal danced, celebrating Polish heritage in their motherland.

Participation in the Polish festivals and events supported by an encouraging and proud Polonia, have fostered the growth, ambition, and skill of the young dancers. The Hejnal Polish American Dancers of Long Island have, through the years, expanded and matured. It is the commitment and pride that continues to sustain Hejnal and hopefully will continue to grow for many years to come. As Hejnal celebrates its 35th Anniversary in 2003, it is their wish that the Polish Community will continue to support their efforts to promote and preserve Polish Culture through song and dance.