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As the Americans inaugurate their 44th president, the world looks on — including us, the neighbor-across-the-border Canadians. I myself will be watching and am eagerly awaiting to watch it on TV. What a great moment in history.

I thought it very fitting to post a photo of a luau celebration and not because Obama was born in Hawaii, although it does make a lot of sense that way. As many of you know, luaus are traditional Hawaiian celebrations used to mark significant events. The luau was born in 1819 when King Kamehameha II of Hawaii held a feast to symbolize the end of traditional religious taboos associated with dining (i.e. Men and woman ate their meals apart. Commoners and women of all ranks were also forbidden by the ancient Hawaiian religion to eat certain delicacies.).  This change has been strongly influenced by Queen Kaahumanu:

Kaʻahumanu was ahead of her time and championed the rights of native Hawaiian women, although historians have noted that this was to her own advantage. In what became known as the ‘Ai Noa (free eating), Kaʻahumanu conspired with Keopuolani, another of her late husband’s wives who was also a Queen Regent during the reign of Kamehameha II, to eat at the same table with the young king, breaking a major kapu and changing the rules of Hawaiian society.

The origin of luau is Change. Today, there is Change. Congratulations to Obama, the Americans…we have been inspired by your journey.

FYI, when we entered the luau grounds and before the meal and performances began, this is what it actually looks like:

Photo Notes: Taken at the Old Lahaina Luau in Maui Hawaii in March 2007 with a Nikon Coolpix 5200. Definitely a must-do in Maui, but please plan in advance. My friend and I were lucky to get the last two seats available because a couple just cancelled their reservations three hours before the event , just before I called. We even got good seats, front table on the raised ground with a view of the center stage. One of the couples at the same table (you share tables with other people) booked a year ahead and were surprised (almost kind of dismayed) that we got the same table as theirs last minute. Luck was practically tattooed on our foreheads during that vacation, I have to admit.