The Dalai Lama arrived at his hotel (location to remain undisclosed for security reasons) a short while ago, and was greeted by high school seniors from Kamehameha Schools. They chanted, sang and danced.

The Dalai Lama cracked some jokes. He shook hands. Before anyone could give him lei, he grabbed an orchid and a maile lei and threw them over his own head and grinned, drawing laughter from the crowd.

He said he liked seeing the students’ smiles — genuine smiles, not fake or sarcastic ones. He said Hawaii feels familiar to him after his prior visits.

“I think humanity is like … different flowers. Different shape, different color,” he said, but we’re all the same.

After speaking for a few minutes, he left without taking questions.

— Michael Levine

(Photo by John Hook/Civil Beat)