December 2012 Journal Photos

FIRST Lego League Hawaii State championship

Andrea and I got up early and arrived at the Neal Blaisdell Arena before 7:00 AM on Saturday, December 1^st, to meet the Thunder Lancers of Niu Valley Middle School for the FIRST Lego League Hawaii State Championship.

The seven Thunder Lancers wait patiently for their FLL Core Values judging interview.

A final rehearsal for their Robot Design Award judging interview.

Thunder Lancers (on right) watch the robot performance competition.

The Thunder Lancer drive team at the robot performance table.

Making adjustments to the software between rounds.

Meanwhile our old team in California, Beach Cities Robotics FLL team, competed in their qualifying tournament. Team
Team Beta (shown here) qualified for the regional competition.

Betsy Butler's Visit

Betsy Butler visited the islands with her Mom Marguerrite and we met them in Waikiki on Sunday morning, December 2^nd, at Kapiolani Park.

We visited Paul Forney at the Zoo fence and then walked to the Aquarium. Betsy likes this Kona hibiscus (with ducks in the pond).

In the Waikiki Aquarium.

The ever delightful Peppermint Angelfish.

We went outdoors at the Aquarium and Betsy saw a humuhumunukunukuapuaa, the state fish. Photo by Andrea.

We walked to the Princes Kaiulani Hotel to see the gingerbread display.

The Tower Bridge and Eiffel Tower with Andrea and Betsy in the background.

Betsy and I went upstairs to see the tikis.

We crossed Kalakaua Avenue to the Moana Hotel for lunch with music.

With the Christmas tree, decorated with white orchids, in the lobby of the Moana.

Then I took a turn on the bench with Betsy. Photo by Andrea.

We stopped at Diamond Head Lookout, but it was rather voggy.

We had some wine and pupus under the lychee tree before dinner.

Sans Souci Beach

Andrea and I continued going to Sans Souci Beach in the afternoons for swimming and reading in the sun.

The banyan tree by Kapiolani Park is full of red fruits. Wednesday, December 5^th.

A newlywed Japanese couple gets into a car in the parking drive.

An evening with Wade Davis

Andrea and I took Lenore to a UH event, a reception with and lecture by anthropologist wade Davis, Friday, December 7^th.

Earlier Friday Andrea and I went to Lowes and bought two table-top christmas trees. We put this one in the bathroom.

Wade Davis talks to the assembled group at the private reception in the Art building.

Part of the gallery display "Framing Paradise," a collection of photographs of Waikiki.

Audubon Nature Hike at Paiko Lagoon

Andrea and I went on a night hike at Paiko Lagoon with the Hawaii Audubon Society on Saturday, December 8^th.

Andrea and I arrived a bit early for the tour. There were some rain squalls in the distance.

We met a young man named Jeff there and he offered to take our picture.

Waiting for sunset to begin the tour.

Andrea took this photo just before we set off with the group.

The Honolulu Marathon

Early Sunday morning, December 9^th, Andrea and I went down to Jack's for breakfast and then went to see if we could see our friend Simina go by with the rest of the marathon runners.

We brought some salty pretzels as Simina requested. Photo taken at the corner of Nenue Street and Kalanianaole Highway.

We waited for a while but didn't see Simina. Photo taken at the corner of East Hind Drive and Kalanianaole Highway. There were
over 25,000 marathoners. They just kept coming and coming!

Walking up East Hind Drive on the way home Andrea stopped to take a picture of the purple hippopotamus, yellow duck, and pink
flying pig Christmas decorations.

The next day, Monday, Andrea finished decorating the Christmas tree in the bathroom.

This is the tree in the living room, photo by Andrea.

That Monday afternoon Andrea and I went to the beach. Surf lessons available daily.

The Thunder Lancers at Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha

Andrea and I had promised the Lego team that we would take them to Uncle Clay's for shave ice, so we arranged to meet the team ther on Tuesday, December 11^th, after school.

Andrea with three team members ordering their shave ice.

A shave ice business is fairly labor intensive. Four people were working in HOPA when I took this photo.

Ordering shave ice.

All together eating shave ice.

Photographing the photographer.

At Zippy's in Hawaii Kai for lunch on Wednesday the twelfth.

Annie at Diamond Head Theater

Carol picked up Andrea, Lenore, and me, and then we picked up Estelle and went to the theater on Sunday, December 16^th. The musical was very good and we met Lynne and Flo at Tango's in Ward Center for dinner afterward.

Diamond Head Theater.

As usual, we were each handed a program as we entered the auditorium of the theater.

Andrea photograps the resident rooster in the tree.

The waiter offered to take our picture at Tango's for dinner.

Christmas Preparations

As the weekend of our December 22^nd holiday party nears, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Andrea made two driftwood Christmas trees. The smaller one on the left has a starfish on top, and the taller one has
a glitter sprig on top.

Andrea made a driftwood and sea shell wreath for the front door.

While I was photographing, I decided to get these two Micronesian masks.

This Micronesion figure is on our bedroom door.

Tuesday, one week from Christmas, we went to the beach for a swim. Andrea reads on the beach in her black one-piece swimsuit.

On Wednesday, the 19^th, I went to Kalani High School to give safety training to the robotics team.

Christmas Party

Our December 22^nd holiday party was a lot of fun for everyone.

Every chair and cushion in the house were taken.

Paul, Andrea, and Patty.

Marion, Estelle, Laurel, Gil, and Fritz.

May and Annette.

Bob, Ruth, and Stephanie.

Makapuu Lookout

On Sunday, December 23^rd, Andrea and I took Lenore and drove out to Makapuu lookout to see what we could see.

There was some fairly big surf at Makapuu beach.

Andrea got me taking the picture above.

Andrea and Lenore.

Lenore and Rick watching.

Me.

Me pointing in the direction of Kailua where the President is staying.

Heading back to the car.

Later Andrea and I went to the beach.

It was a nice day for the beach and fairly crowded as usual on a Sunday.

Christmas

On Tuesday, December 25^th, we opened presents in the morning after a breakfast of a "Dutch baby" with sliced strawberries on top and cocktail weiners on the side. I had two cups of coffee (usually only one) along with my usual glass of orange juice on ice.

Andrea and Lenore begin to unwrap presents.

Malia sent me a flamingo ornament.

Andrea got some earrings from Malia.

Andrea got a bullhorn to help in calling me for dinner.

Lenore got a wireless weather station so she can see what the windspeed is (plus direction, temperature, and rainfall).

We went walking before the rain started and I showed off my new Seiko watch, waterproof to 100 meters.

Looking up the valley with Andrea in her sexy hot pink shorts.

At the Ani Street bridge we met Wayson out for a walk too.

Andrea had decorated the tiki in the front yard.

Later I put up the thermometer that Andrea and I got for Lenore.

It was initially a few degrees cool, but I calibrated it using the electronic weather station that Santa Claus brought Lenore.

Holidays

In the days leading up to New Year's we kept busy with various activities.

Andrea used her new pole saw cut more branches from the scheflera growing out over the stream. It's an invasive species.
Wednesday, December 26^th.

I put up the weather station on the corner of the carport roof. Lenore wanted an anemometer for Christmas, so Santa
brought her a wireless weather station with rain gage, thermometer, hygrometer, barometer, and wind speed (anemometer)
f and direction instruments. It communicates wirelessly with a panel in the hallway that also measures interior temperature
and humidity.

We went to the beach the day after Christmas, a Wednesday. It was the most crowded I have seen it.

Beautiful Andrea soaked up some rays.

Andrea took this picture of the weather station data panel.

I styled and repotted this bonsai into the pot that Ann gave us at the housewarming party in October.
Saturday, December 29^th.

Becky's Visit

Becky visited with her boyfriend Eric, arriving on Saturday, December 29^th.

At baggage claim C3.

Unpacking the car on Lawelawe St.

We had cocktails later on the lanai under the lychee tree.

Okole maluna!

That evening, Becky emailed me her to-do list for this visit:

Warmth and sunshine, Suzi's trail, aquarium, Diamond Head hike, Koko head hike, Koko crater botanical garden, Hanauma Bay, Dole plantation, Cinnamon's, Breakfast at Longhi's, Dinner at BluWater Grill, Pake's Chinese with Suzi, surfing, Uncle Clay's shave ice, sky diving or parasailing or something like that, and more!