On March 1st, the King's daughter (Princess Maha Chakri), will be in Oahu to rededicate a "Sala" a traditional Thai pavilion on the campus site of the East-West Center. It is one out of four outside of Thailand, and the only one that was dedicated by the King , himself in 1967, bearing his royal seal.

Hawaii's King visited Siam in 1881, and Thailand's return visits were in 1931, 1960, and 1967.

On March 20th, we will celebrate 175th anniversary of the fomal relationship between Thailand and the US.

In 1833, a treaty of amity and commerce was signed by the US and Siam. in the 1850's, King Mongkut offered the US "war elephants" for the civil war.......President Lincoln declined, saying that our weather climate was too extreme for them........

After Pearl Harbor, Thailand declared war against the US, the Thai minister refused to deliver the declaration........the US never recognized that the countries to be at war, and peace was restored.

Today, Thailand remains a close US security partner, as a major non-Nato ally, with preferential military aid and support for terrorism.

I hope I can get a few nice photos of the "Princess" on Saturday........... ;-)

I know there's one at U of Wisconsin - Madison campus. Lot of students with scholarships from Thai gov't go to that school.