Wednesday, June 11 2008

Celebration and Reflection

Great? In that robe, he's fabulous!

June 11th is Kamehameha day in Hawaii. Kamehameha the Great is celebrated in the state as the great unifier of the Hawaiian Islands. Considered the 'Napoleon of the Pacific' because of his impressive military and political accomplishments, he's celebrated with a floral parade, a hotly contested Hula contest, and importantly, a draping ceremony where once a year, he gets lei'd.

On a much more somber note, Nova Scotians are observing Davis Day. Originally commemorating William Davis, who was killed during a coal miner's strike in New Waterford, it now commemorates all miners lost in the province. My own great-grandfather was a gold miner in Nova Scotia, and used to mine a claim that now comprises the land that the Halifax airport sits on. We don't know much about G-Grandfather's past (like a lot of men who work under the earth, he didn't talk just to dry his teeth) but on June 11th I like to take a minute to think about my connection to that area and raise a glass in his memory.

Posted by Tim AT 9:01PM

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