In 1770, King Kahekili dove 63 feet from the cliffs to the water at Kaunolu Bay on the southern tip of Lanai island. He forced his warriors to follow suit, to demonstrate courage and to show loyalty. Hence forth, cliff diving has become a tradition in Hawaii. Today, at the Black Rock beach adjacent to Sheraton Hotel on Maui, we got to witness this tradition in a short ceremony. … [Read more...] about Hawaiian Cliff Diving: a test of courage and loyalty
Did Millions Die in the Great Leap Forward: A Quick Note on non-Contemporaneous Data
This is a followup on a previous post titled Did Millions Die in the Great Leap Forward: A Quick Note on the Underlying Statistics. In that post, I pointed out that the only systematic data available from the time (the census of 1953 and 1964) were such that they could neither support nor refute the hypothesis that millions upon millions died during the Great Leap Forward. … [Read more...] about Did Millions Die in the Great Leap Forward: A Quick Note on non-Contemporaneous Data
Lahaina and a little bit of Hawaiian history
Lahaina is a gorgeous little town in the western part of Maui. Today, it is bustling with tourists. Shops and restaurants dot the water-front main street. As I researched into its past, I am confronted with a number of emotions. Foremost, the aloha spirit is abound. So far, we have met travelers from the mainland U.S., Germany, China, and even Lithuania. The aloha spirit … [Read more...] about Lahaina and a little bit of Hawaiian history
Greetings from the island of Maui
My family is currently vacationing in Hawaii, on the island of Maui. I might find inspiration in connecting Maui to China, but don't hold me to it. Dr. Sun Yat-Sen (1866-1925) is locally known in Hawaii, because this is where he came for school. Even on the island of Maui, there is a small memorial park dedicated to him. Perhaps I will find time to pay it a visit. For now, a … [Read more...] about Greetings from the island of Maui
Shaolin Temple USA Blessing Ceremony
Exactly five years ago on February 3, 2008, Shaolin Temple officially opened it's first branch in Fremont, California. Since then, branches in San Francisco and Herndon (Virginia) have been established. More will follow in coming years. At the 5th anniversary, I got to witness a Buddhist blessing ceremony. While I couldn't comprehend everything, my understanding was that we … [Read more...] about Shaolin Temple USA Blessing Ceremony