The new addition has its first coat. Photo by Andrea.
Work on the water heater shed continued on Friday, March 2nd.
Exterior painting was completed on Friday, March 2nd.
Work on the water heater shed continued on Friday, March 2nd.
Exterior painting was completed on Friday, March 2nd.
We also went to Lowe's on Nimitz to look at ready-made sheds to store the lawn mower and on the way back I took
a photo of this palm tree style bank building on Ward Avenue. The
palm tree style
is in immitation of the Hawaii State Capitol building.
Here's milder form of palm tree style on Kapiolani Boulevard.
The inerior supports of the Honolulu Convention Center, visible through the glass, are also exemplary of the palm tree style.
Day 1 of the Botball workshop. We were in room 323 with about 60 to 80 people attending.
The fourth floor of the convention center has a nice water feature with sculpture.
The robot kits included enough parts to build two robots, including an iRobot Create, the platform for the Roomba.
Participants were attentive and very busy learning programming and the features of the robot kit.
Ryan, Khoi, and Andrea.
The philosophy of being a mentor includes the notion that the students do the work, so I told the kids that if I ever touched
the computer, to slap my hand. However, sometimes it's faster to just write a few lines of code as an example.
The Honolulu Festival was going on simultaneously on the ground floor with hula dancers in the lobby.
Inside the exhibition hall were more performers, food vendors, and art and craft sellers of all kinds.
The two medium sized small hole vases were marked $40 each, but Andrea bought them on Sunday for 20 bucks each.
One of the large Japanese mikoshi on display, later used in the parade.
One of the first activities was to put the CBC (controller) on the Create and get it to run around.
Ryan and Khoi work on the various exercises.
During a break we enjoyed a 3rd floor garden alcove with a lion head fountain.
The sessions were led by Professor Dave Miller from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. As you can see, most of the subject
matter was programming in C. This example could be C++ and you wouldn't know it. The gnu C compiler (gcc) called by the KISS programming
apparently understands C++ style comments.
Ryan and Khoi got the robot to follow a pink ball using the camera.
This is one of the paintings on display that I liked best. Andrea didn't care much for it. It was listed as costing 60 thousand dollars.
I might not have good taste, but at least I have expensive taste.
On Monday, March 5th, the plumber came and finished the bathroom fixture installations. Andrea is pleased with the vessel sinks.
Everything looks beautiful.
On Tuesday, March 6th, there is too much rain for any outdoor work. As on Monday, Arnel stayed away.
The back yard is very wet, and the trees are getting well watered.
The garden is getting its share of water too.
We have three avocado trees, one in a pot, getting their share of rain water.
Tuesday afternoon we drove around to look at the water. Here, whitewater runs in the Kului Gulch drainage channel by Wailupe Valley School
(now closed but used by the Department of Parks and Recreation for administrative offices).
The million gallon water tank that feeds middle and lower Wailupe Valley, Kuliouou, and Niu Valley. All the water is pumped up from the
main that runs along Kalanianaole Highway. The upper Wailupe Valley has its own million gallon tank higher up and its own well.
Andrea at her old school, Wailupe Valley Elementary School (now closed).
This house on Kalanianaole Highway is said to be for the Kalani High School caretaker. It has a triple decorative band. It appears to need
some taking care of.
This circular block wall public restroom at Wailupe Beach Park has a cantilevered circular flat concrete roof.
Diamond Head to the west from Wailupe Beach Park.
On Wednesday, March 7th, we went to see the movie The Artist at Kahala Mall and then walked to Whole Foods for shopping.
Later that afternoon we got our own private rainbow across the street from the house.
On Friday, March 9th, Andrea and I drove to town to take pictures of palm tree style buildings. This is the facade of a highrise
apartment on the mauka side of King Street.
This is a palm tree style portico at King Center on the makai side of King Street.
On the way back home we went up Wailup Valley to take pictures. This is the debris basin at the top of Hind Iuka. Some kids were playing there.
Andrea took this photo of me at a vacant lot taking a picture across the valley of the boulder mitigation project. There are numerous
vacant lots in the upper valley where houses used to be. After the landslides back in the sixties, the city purchased the condemned
properties, razing the houses assuming responsibility for poor planning during development of the valley.
The state-paid boulder mitigation project on the Ewa side of the valley.
Our stream on Sunday, March 11, after two days of insignificant rainfall.
We finally got back to the beach, after ten days without a swim, on Tuesday, March 13th, and found it was fairly crowded.
Inside Fisher Hawaii looking for paper. We found the big rolls of butcher and craft paper in another aisle.
Kalani Robotics students prepare for the Chairman's Award interview at the upcoming Hawaii Regional FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC).
The Botball team works on their robot grasper design.
Working on the pit structure for the upcoming regional FRC.
A student drills holes for the pit structure.
Bathing beauties on the beach later that afternoon.
Arnel works on the door to the small cupboard in the water heater enclosure structure. Wednesday, March 14th.
The front of the Diamond Head Theater.
Inside the theater, waiting for the show to begin.
Afterward we went to the Golden Duck restaurant for dinner.
The cashier's counter has an elaborate fountain display, a gold money frog, and several lucky kitties.
People work maintaining the garden.
Kaiser High School has a great view of Hawaii Kai. Diamond Head Crater is in the distance.
The temporary protective fence was removed and trees and shrubs were planted.
After the glue dried Andrea put on a coat of water based varnish. Saturday, March 17th.
Arnel surveys the scene of the slab installation for our Rubbermaid Big Max shed.
The front walkway is formed up.
Jeff has given the water heater enclosure and cupboard a coat of primer, inside and out.
Lenore and I presented the McGlones with leis when they arrived. Here we enjoy our entrees.
Marion and Bob enjoyed their dinner.
Naturally we had to get a photo of the desserts: chocolate mousse cake and creme brulee.
The next morning Andrea gives a second coat of varnish to her decoupage floor. Sunday, March 18th.
Flat Stanley with the bust of Jack Lord at Kahala Mall.
We took Flat Stanley to visit the House of Pure Aloha, the shave ice store in the Aina Haina shopping center.
The counterman Matt and Uncle Clay with Flat Stanley.
That afternoon we went to Sans Souci Beach.
The next day, Tuesday the 20th (vernal equinox), we drove over the Pali, stopping at the lookout.
We visited Zelko Woodworks in Kailua. Here Charley, who constructed our bathroom cabinets, poses with Flat Stanley and a photo of the
cabinet installation.
Coming back via Waimanalo and Makapuu, we stopped at the Maunalua Bay lookout. Here Andrea holds Flat Stanley with Koko Crater in the
background.
Later I went to Sans Souci Beach by myself.
It was a sunny and peaceful afternoon at the beach. The Hao Tree Lanai is in the background.
Wednesday morning the 21st I saw two ducks in our backyard.
Andrea took Lenore around the island and stopped in Laie to photograph Flat Stanley.
I took Flat Stanley to Sans Souci Beach Wednesday afternoon.
This is the clean and shiny green concrete mixer that brought the concrete. The blue concrete pump is in the driveway.
The crew get going on the front walkway.
They work quickly and expertly.
With four experienced men it doesn't take long at all.
Later Thursday morning I returned with Lenore and she sat with some of the Kalani Robotics students.
This is where Andrea worked the three days in pit administration, along with announcer Larry, lead Karen, and Doni. Photo by Andrea.
Our pit and robot looked great and got a lot of attention.
Students spent most of the day getting the robot in shape after the San Diego competition.
Later that afternoon I went for a swim by myself.
These two also seem to be out of Greek myths.
Material for the white statues seems to be marble. They are finely executed.
Mixing butterfly wings with bird wings seems a bit too whimsical for me.
Six beautiful women adorn the gate. Darker stone lions abound on the property.
Kalani 3008's robot "Daedelus" on the field in a qualifying match.
FRC team 359 (Waialua) dominated its qualifying matches, and eventually won the regional, knocking Kalani out in the semi-final.
The Kalani drive team in action in a qualifying match.
FRC 368 (McKinley) allied with 359 won this qualifying match.
Kalani's t-shirt cannon was a real crowd pleaser during a break in the elimination matches.
Hybrid period of semifinal match two.
The end of semifinal match two.
Our alliance photograph with Iolani and Honoka'a.
City Councilmember Stanley Chang attended. Here he is sitting with the Kauaibot team during the finals. He said to me "This is really cool!"
Councilmember Chang was very excited by what he experienced at the Hawaii Regional FRC.
Before the awards ceremony, Councilmember Chang visited our pit. He was very well impressed with the event and our team.
Best of all, Kalani won the Hawaii Regional Chairman's award, FIRST's highest honor presented at a Regional Competition.
Andrea took this photo of the team receiving congratulations from the judges on winning the Chairman's Award.
Then we had lunch at Bluwater Grill.
The waiter took a photo of one couple there. Koko Crater is looking very green this time of year.
Later we went for our daily swim at Sans Souci Beach. It was fairly crowded on that State holiday.
I took this picture when we got home. Our new walkway and entry area look good.
Andrea started landscaping the front yard.
View of the shed from the back of the back yard.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com
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