Most definitely not on the East Coast anymore

Since arriving in Hawaii I have been told about the experience that is a high school graduation. Last weekend I got to see the spectacle for myself -- my boarding school graduation, in which white dresses, pearls, and firm handshakes were the order of the day, left me no reference point for what was to come. High school graduation is such a big deal here because for many families it is the highest level of education achieved by a member of their family to date and may be the end of the graduate's academic career. Before the graduates parade into the stadium, proud families and friends fill the stands with balloons, posters with giant portraits of their graduates, and leis made out of not only flowers but candy bars and dollar bills. The ceremony itself was more of a party than a commencement ceremony as the keynote speaker sang a few songs instead of giving a speech and had the graduates dancing around. One similarity I did find, unfortunately, was that the speech given by the student speaker described ad nauseam every possible cliche regarding growing up and moving on.

As the crowd grew restless during the speeches, people started to move out of their seats to get in prime position to attack their graduate as soon as possible with aforementioned signs, balloons, and leis.

It really was a lovely ceremony to see unfold -- the graduates and their loved ones were so proud and at the risk of sounding like the student speaker, I really could sense the optimism and hope in the graduates after having accomplished this milestone and looking towards the future. The celebratory atmosphere was enhanced by the range of people there -- I don't know if there is a more diverse place in the United States than this part of Hawaii. There were men in traditional Samoan dress for the special occasion along with WASP-y New Englanders and Ed Hardy clad Asians, oh, and there were fireworks too.

I now know that if you aren't covered at least to your ears with leis from family and friends, you haven't made much of yourself over the past 18 years.