When the Dalai Lama spoke at War Memorial Stadium on Maui Tuesday, 'Iolani School was the biggest group from O'ahu that flew in to hear the internationally respected spiritual leader. 
Forty-five students along with 22 teachers, parents and administrators were among the thousands who heard the Dalai Lama's talk entitled "The Human Approach to World Peace."
"The more you experience in life, the more happiness you feel," the Dalai Lama said
He spoke of having compassion at different levels: individual, family, community, national and global. And he noted that if people familiarize themselves with love, respect and compassion over the years, positive emotions become stronger and negative emotions become weaker. Thus, their health improves. 
While he is Buddhist, he says he is not attached to Buddhism. He believes that religious faith is an essential human value, and he supports others who have faiths different from his own.
An engaging man with a deep-bellied laugh, the Dalai Lama sat cross legged on a stage adorned with palms and tropical foliage. He was amused by the Hawaiian lei presented to him before his speech. And he appeared delighted by the Hawaiian chants but admitted that he only understood one word, Aloha.
Toward the close of his appearance, he noted his commitment is to promote human values, religious harmony, and Tibetan sovereignty.
Among the approximately 1,000 school children there, 'Iolani students were inspired by his simple, yet powerful messages and plan to share their thoughts with their community through this web site, the student newspaper, and school magazine. Lower School students, under the guidance of teacher Cheri Keefer, created artwork that was displayed on a Peace Wall at the stadium.
The 'Iolani Peace Institute and teacher Peter Greenhill spearheaded 'Iolani's visit with the Dalai Lama.
