It seems fitting to welcome the birth of a new democracy in the world, even one nestled far away in the Himalayas.

On Monday, the kingdom of Bhutan, "Land of the Thunder Dragon," a country ruled by kings for a century, peacefully transitioned to a representative government with a nationwide election.

Not only was the voting peaceful and well-organized, according to international observers, it was truly popular: the vast majority of the 600,000 population — about 80 percent — cast ballots.

Ironically, the high turnout was attributed not to the people's rejection of their ruler, but the opposite: King Jigme Singye Namgyel Wangchuck himself urged people to vote, and out of respect for him they did. In droves.

The king's influence remains strong. The overwhelming winner, the Bhutan United Party, has promised to maintain many of the monarchy's longstanding tenets, including its unique measure of national growth, the Gross National Happiness index.

And while this tiny Buddhist nation, tucked between India and China, seems far from Hawai'i, it's closer than one might think. In fact, Bhutan's cultural treasures can be seen and experienced no farther away than Beretania Street.

A current exhibit at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, "The Dragon's Gift," introduces Bhutanese art objects, religious rituals and dances never before seen outside the country. The exhibit was years in the making; Bhutan's transition from monarchy to democracy took a century.

Both are worth the wait.