Yes it is the custom.
"Methinks it’s more likely to be a welcome than a farewell - and that would place it to before obama was born."
Yes, I agree that it is a welcome. "Thoughts?
My thoughts are that it could have been taken when Barack Sr. arrivded in 1971. That Stanley Dunham brought his grandson (who I think the boy in the front looks like) to greet him, and that is why they are both in the picture. Look at the suit Barack Sr. is wearing. It is the same one he is wearing in the picture of him and Barack Jr. If those lei's weren't covering up Barack Obama Sr's tie I bet it is the same as the one he is wearing in that picture also. Maybe Ann took this group picture. I think the picture of Barack Sr. and Barack Jr. at Christmas is when Senior was leaving after that trip.
These are just my thoughts and I am going to stick to them, even if it isn't so, it makes it interesting. :-)
I think you could possibly be right about this being the night of Sr’s arrival in 1971 because of the multitude of lei’s around his neck. In the airport picture there are no leis and someone I read somewhere pointed out that they were at the place where you check your baggage to leave. The boy I think could very well be Jr. because if he stood up he would be about as tall as the Hawaiian lady and that is about how tall he is compared to his father in the airport picture. His mother might not have arrived back in Hawaii yet which would explain her absence. It makes sense since Stanley is there beside Sr. that Jr. would be there to welcome him. I don’t think the other blacks are from a Kenyan freighter. Maybe they are other Kenyans that took the same flight and got invited to join the party or maybe they are somehow connected to him from his student days since they are not wearing any leis. The Hawaiian woman, if she were 20-25 years old at that time, could be Okuba and that would put her at about 57-62 today which is possible. I met a Chinese lady once that I thought was about 18-20 years old and she turned out to be in her mid-50s so some Asian woman age very well. I wonder if there is a way to check out her age and if she has contributed to O’s campaign.
Do you think the smattering of lights in the background are more Christmas tree lights? It's hard to tell in a black and white photo.
-PJ