April 2013 Journal Photos

April Fools Day

April starts out dry, with zero rainfall the first two days.


In the morning Andrea and I drove up to the end of Hao Street to look at the illegal but permitted development.


Andrea at work documenting the activity.


I took this photo of the posted permit.


Later I went up Lawelawe Street to look at the paving activity.


They were surfacing a filled excavation for a water connection.


Andrea took this photo of our fourth garden pineapple this year.

Hawaii Regional FRC

The FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC) Hawaii Regional was held at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa from Thursday, April 4th through Saturday, April 6th.


Click the image to see the full resolution version of the event program cover.

Day One: Thursday

Practice day.


Cammy's Mom takes a photo of the students with the new mascot costume (a falcon) outside the Stan Sheriff Center.


The Taiwan team helps the People's Republic of China team, a good sign.


Mascot at the pit admin table. Photo by Andrea.


MC Jenny Yang introduces teams during practice on Thursday.


Talking to a Lan Down Under mentor. Photo by Andrea.


Jenny at the admin table. Photo by Andrea.


The two MCs, Brianna Acosta (Miss Hawaii, a FIRST Alumna) and Jenny Yang.

Day Two: Friday

Qualification day.


We arrived at 7:00 AM and I walked up to the UH Campus Center for breakfast while Andrea had breakfast at the volunteer
lounge in the Stan Sheriff Center. I used to eat here every day when I was a student at UH and it still has that great
Diamond Head view.


I noticed some palm tree style architecture on this UH building with Kuykendall Hall in the background.


Opening ceremonies began with a mele (chant) followed by hula dancing.


They danced in the exciting Tahitian style.


Saluting the flag during the playing of the national anthem during opening cermonies Saturday Morning. Photo by Friends of Hawaii Robotics.


Former Hawaii Governor Linda Lingle attended Friday and Saturday, but current Governor Abercrombie did not. Here Governor
Lingle chats with a Hawaii State Senator.


Students with the robot on the practice field. The team worked hard and deserves the win.


The team at the controls before a match starts, being introduced by Miss Hawaii.


Miss Hawaii by our robot, introducing the blue alliance.


Madi in the mascot costume participating in dancing to entertain the crowd.


Channel 4 TV prepares to interview a Millilani Trobobot student.


On the air with Channel 4 TV. Miss Hawaii introduces teams in the background.


Receiving the Entrepreneurship Award trophy. Photo by Friends of Hawaii Robotics.


Bryan Silver and the team on the Six O'Clock News on Channel 4 TV.


At the team social Friday night. Madi leads a long train of students in the background.

Day Three: Saturday

Eliminations day.


Miss Hawaii with ZJ at our pit. Photo by Darius.


We got picked by 4158, Leilehua High, Wahiawa. Getting ready for eliminations.


Dancing on the field before eliminations.


Here's a Facebook video of "Harlem Shake" dancing posted by MC Jenny Yang.


We made the finals! The six teams prepare to shake hands before the match.


Shaking hands before the finals match.

Here is a video of the final match on You Tube.


We won! First photo is of the alliance captain's team.


I took this photo of the winning alliance.


Photo supplied by Darius (foreground).


Photo supplied by Darius (foreground).


Photo by Andrea.


Thunder Down Under won the Chairman's Award, FIRST's most prestigious award.

Diamond Head Theater

We went to Diamond Head Theater on Sunday, April 7th, to see 9 to 5. It was a great show with many talented performers.


Walking up to the front of the theater from the parking lot.


Walking to the front of the theater (just turning the corner).


Waiting for the doors to open at 4:30 PM.


At intermission.


Afterward we rendezvoused at Outback in Hawaii Kai for dinner. The waiter took a great photo with Diamond Head in the background.


Monday afternoon we went to the beach.

Aina Haina Community Association Meeting

The Aina Haina Community Association (AHCA) called a special meeting for 7:00 PM Tuesday, April 9th, at the elementary school cafeteria, to discuss the illegally permitted development at the top of Hao Street.


The turnout was SRO. Click the image to see the full resolution version.


Norma Carr speaks.


Photo documentation of the archeological sites was put on the wall by excavator hero Danny Loui and Anne Marie. Click
the image to see the full resolution version.

Mauka Makai Expo at the Waikiki Aquarium

Andrea and I volunteered to help with the Malama Maunalua booth at the Mauka Makai Expo on Saturday, April 13th, at the Waikiki Aquarium. We came at 10:30 AM to help with the second shift, 11:00 to 2:00 PM.


A band played Hawaiian music.


Four of several volunteers.


Lots of educational volunteer booths were set up.


Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell addressed the crowd.


Andrea gets an iced tea at the food booth.


Volunteer Eva, a PhD candidate at UH, talks with Andrea.


Malama Maunalua had a nice looking presentation.


I took this photo over the Aquarium's back fence of the Natatorium War Memorial.


That evening we had the Coitos over for drinks and barbecued lamb.


Joleen took this great photo of us together.


Sunday we brought lunch to the team in the Robotics Lab who were preparing a new shooter for the robot for the World Championship
in Saint Louis.


BAE Systems volunteer Mr. Chun prepares to do some welding for us.


I finished reading the Collector's Edition of Rolling Stone on the Grateful Dead that Andrea bought for me and scanned
this copy of the 1966 Avalon Ballroom poster that it contained. I had just started my senior year in high school when that
concert occurred. I did not attend and would not see the Grateful Dead perform until 1975 at Kezar Stadium in San Francisco,
although my friend and coworker at Marv's Enco in Salinas told me about the wonders of SF concerts at Avalon, Fillmore, and
Winterland. But it was my Air Force friend Jackson at Tinker AFB who really turned me on to the Dead (and Pink Floyd). Fair
use for educational purposes.

Date Night

Andrea and I went to the beach on Thursday, April 18th, and then changed our clothes and stayed in Waikiki a date night.


View toward the Honolulu Zoo from Kalakaua Avenue on our way toward the Moana Hotel.


View of Kuhio Beach. Photo by Andrea.


At the Moana Hotel in the Banyan Court.


Blue Hawaiian. Photo by Andrea.


I always tell people never take pictures into the sun.


Hula dancer.


We stopped to look at some chess players on the way back from the Moana Hotel.


Time pressure.


Friday afternoon we went to the beach.

Malama Maunalua at Holy Nativity

Andrea and I supported Malama Maunalua at Holy Nativity church on Saturday, April 20th.


Andrea took this photo up the Wailupe Valley early Saturday morning.


We set up the table for Family Fun Night with limu (ocean algae (seaweed)) samples, posters, activity books, etc. Photo by Andrea.


Waiting for the people. Photo by Pam.


Photo by Pam.


A plate dinner truck and a dessert van were there too.

Pancake Breakfast at Aina Haina Elementary

Sunday, April 21st.


This was a fundraiser for school computers.


Lenore and Andrea enjoy pancake, sausage, and egg breakfasts.


On the way home after breakfast. We stopped at Foodland Farms to get papayas.

Kalani Robotics World Championship Preparations

Sunday, April 21st.


The new frisbee shooter is nearly ready. It's also lighter than the old shooter.


Volunteer Malcolm Chun arrived with the mobile machine shop.


After lunch Andrea and I went for a hike up Hao Street where HECO was replacing some utility poles.


We hiked a few hundred yards up the Wailupe Valley trail and then headed home.


On Monday the 22nd, Andrea went to Manoa's Heritage House for docent training. The purple Crepe Myrtle. Photo
by Andrea.

FIRST Robotics World Championship in Saint Louis

Eight student members of the Kalani Robotics team along with Bryan Silver and Anne Torige flew to the FRC World Chapionship held during the week of Wednesday, April 24th through Saturday, April 27th. The team flew on Tuesday evening arriving Wednesday morning, and returned to Hawaii Sunday. Andrea and I flew to Los Angeles on Tuesday, stayed the night in the Hilton Hotel near LAX, arriving in Saint Louis on Wednesday. We stayed an extra day in Saint Louis for sightseeing and flew to Los Angeles on Monday, spent a night in Torrance, and flew to Hawaii on Tuesday, April 30th.

Tuesday, April 23rd


We visited the triangular garden at the Honolulu airport on the way to LAX. It was designed by Ted Viera.


Our friends from Torrance, Elizabeth and Milan, met us for dinner at the Hilton on Century Blvd.


We posed for pictures by the amonite fossils at the entrance to the bar.


Milan took this one with my camera phone.

Wednesday, April 24th


When we arrived in Saint Louis on Wednesday, we went to the Leonardo da Vinci "machines" exhibit from Italy. Photo by Andrea.


Andrea by the air screw lifting device. With a powerful motor, it might have worked.


The students saw this great exhibit too, having arrived earlier than we did. Photo by Andrea.


I like the robotic drum. The cam sets the rhythm. Photo by Andrea.


Reaching out to art. Photo by Andrea.


ZJ on the sidewalk outside the entrance to the venue: the Convention Center adjacent to the Edward Jones Dome
where the Saint Louis Rams play football.

Thursday, April 25th


The HOT Team (Heroes of Tomorrow, FRC 67) were our alliance partners when BCR (FRC 294) won the Championship in 2010. Photo by Andrea.


On Thursday an event volunteer helped the team troubleshoot an electrical problem. It turned out to be another loose wire.


Action on Archimedes field. Photo by Andrea.


I stopped by the Galileo Division field to see Beach Cities Robotics (FRC 294) alumnus George Chen who was announcing
(standing in light blue shirt). Galileo eventually provided the alliance that won the Championship on Einstein field.


Kalani's CAD model of this year's robot was featured on PTC's design competition poster. Photo by Andrea.


I ran into George Chen in the pits. George was instrumental in BCR's winning the LA Regional Chairman's Award in 2004. Photo by Andrea.


Touring the pits. There's always lots to see. Photo by Andrea.


The NASA JPL Mars Excursion Rover (MER) model was on display again this year. Photo by Andrea.


We attended the dinner Thursday night for Hawaiian teams (and the Australian teams that advanced from the Hawaiian Regional).


The dinner was put on by the Robotic Organizing Committee (ROC) of Hawaii. Corrie Heck photographed the teams.


Everyone appreciated the food and drink provided for us.

Friday, April 26th


Hanging out in the pit. Photo by Andrea.


Kalani students on Archimedes field (our division) on Friday.


Back at the pit. Photo by Andrea.


The Kalani drive team waits to get on the field on Friday. The team drove the robot on the field in every qualification match
assigned and finished with four wins and four losses.


The bristle bots generated a lot of interest. Photo by Andrea.


Friday evening we saw the Saint Louis Cardinals play the Pittsburg Pirates. Even though we left after the fourth inning due to
cold, it was enjoyable. The Cardinals won that night nine to one.


Everybody had something to eat. Photo by Andrea.

Saturday, April 26th


Saturday was drizzly all day. Photo by Andrea.


An elimination match on Saturday on Archimedes.


Woody Flowers speaking a the closing ceremony.


Dean Kamen speaking at the closing ceremony.


An English team won the FIRST Lego League Championship. Photo by Andrea.


FTC Championship winners. Photo by Andrea.


The Chairman's Award was won by the Holy Cows, FRC 1538 from San Diego. Photo by Andrea.


The MC on Einstein introduces the finalist teams. Photo by Andrea.

Sunday, April 27th

On sunday Andrea and I went sightseeing, walking around the hotel neighborhood and through the City Garden.


Early Sunday morning they were lined up for baseball tickets. View through the Westin hotel window. Photo by Andrea.


Pinochio on a cart. Photo by Andrea.


Interesting old building. Photo by Andrea.


This is the Soldier's Memorial. It has a nice free museum inside.


View leaving the Soldier's Memorial. Photo by Andrea.


This nice old building cought our eye in the distance so we circled back to it. City Hall. Photo by Andrea.


Naturally, no visit to Saint Louis would be complete without seeing the Gateway Arch.


The arch through the trees in the park. Photo by Andrea.


The Mississippi river was flooding the walkways down below the Arch.


The Federal Reserve building. Photo by Andrea.


The Arch and a stately looking law office building.


A person in the park offered to take this one of Andrea and me.


The City Garden is marked by a sign so you can't miss it. It's basically a park along Market Street. Photo by Andrea.


A blocky sculpture. Photo by Andrea.


A mobile. Photo by Andrea.


An abstract sculpture with bent knees. Photo by Andrea.


This whimsical sculpture is in the restaurant at City Garden.


Another public sculpture with Andrea by one of her favorites.


Terra cotta facade detail. Photo by Andrea.

Monday, April 28th


On Monday, the 30th, we got up early, rode the Metrolink train to the airport, and flew to LAX.
We took the Supershuttle to the Best Western hotel in Torrance.


We went for a walk, made a reservation at Red Lobster, and then spent some time reading on the bed.


We met Tom at the Red Lobster at 7:10.


I had lobster, Tom had salmon, and Andrea had the shrimp scampi.

Tuesday, April 29th


We got up early, took a taxi to LAX, flew to HNL, took a taxi home, unpacked, and went to the beach. The TV news
was there to get a live weather shot of the rain clouds over Waikiki and also to report on the Natatorium. There's
now a joint State and City plan to demolish the structure and restore the beach.


Beach Bunnies on Sans Souci Beach.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com


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