We’re back here at the Stan Sheriff Center for day two of the Dalai Lama‘s public speeches. Today’s is the only event for the general public following yesterday’s talk for students.

The crowd is noticeably different today — high school and college students have been replaced by mostly older couples and a few others sporting tie-dye and dreadlocks.

Retired nurse Marilyn Chong, 73, said she lived through the era when the Dalai Lama was driven into exile in 1959, a year before she moved to Hawaii in 1960. She’s since married a Hawaiian and had Hawaiian children.

“I’m happy that he’s investigating and trying to find out more about the Hawaiian culture and what has happened to them through the years,” she said. “I was here when the renaissance started. … History is my passion, and I think we need more of this in our world right now. Absolutely.”

Chris Giles said attending Sunday’s event was the ideal way to spend his only day off.

“I thought it’d be really nice to see someone as popular as he is on a positive level,” Giles, 38, said. “I want to learn whatever he has to say and just educate myself.”

His wife, Stacy, who identified herself as a holistic healer, added: “I’m super excited. I almost want to cry at the thought of seeing someone so spiritual.” (That’s the Giles in the photo above.)

— Michael Levine and Nanea Kalani

(Photo by Nanea Kalani/Civil Beat)