Chinese New Year

 We have been in Kauai to experience the Chinese New Year celebration several times. There are many Asian people who live on the islands and many visitors who fall within that general category. The celebration differs depending on whether the celebration is in a larger or smaller community. All communities are small, but some smaller than others. We experienced the Lion Dance in Princeville earlier than the celebrations in larger communities. No fire crackers. Just one dance group probably moving on to a larger celebration but stopping for a bit in Princeville. For some reason, the limitations of the event reminded me of the 4th of July in a small midwestern town. For those of us not from this region, the experience typically includes the town's fire truck, a couple of big tractors, boys and girl scouts, the high school and junior band if one existed, and perhaps a couple of local politicians riding in a convertible.

The Lion Dance includes a percussion group and a couple of "lions" moving through the crowd, scaring the kids and collecting money from the adults. In previous experiences, red envelopes were first passed around and you put your donation in these envelopes. Here you simply stuffed money in the mouth of the lion.