April 2014 Journal Photos

April Fool's Day Tsunami Warning

In the afternoon we got word via Nixel of an 8.2 earthquake off the coast of Chile.

The forecast was for a very modest event.

Tiki Torches

I had repaired the two broken tiki torches that Malia sent us and we got some torch oil and used them for the first time on Saturday, April 5^th.

Saturday morning we went to Keith and Stephany's house in Kailua for the first of six bonsai classes.

We had wine and pupus with the tiki torches under the lychee tree.

Later I moved them to the retaining wall by the back step because of the smoke.

Astronomy Open House

Andrea and I went to the Astronomy Open House put on by the UH Institute of Astronomy in Manoa Valley on on Sunday morning, April 6^th.

They had set up a scale model (sun diameter = 66 mm) of the solar system outside on the lawn.

Inside the Polynesian Voyaging Society had set up a navigation display.

We got an overview of Polynesian navigation and the star compass. Photo by Andrea.

A number of props were used in the explanation.

Marks on the rails of the Hokulea are used to represent the 32 compass directions.

Astrobiologists were there.

There was a model P40 flying tiger on a fly-by-wire control system.

Andrea got a chance to use the stick-and-rudder simulation system. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Show Boat at Diamond Head Theater

Andrea and I took Lenore and Estelle to see Show Boat at Diamond Head Theater on Sunday afternoon, April 6^th. Afterward we joined Lynn, Flo, and Carol at 3660 on the Rise for dinner in Kaimuki.

Coming around the corner from the parking lot, looking toward the lawn and cactus garden.

The front of the old theater.

In the lobby of the building at Wilhelmina Rise and Waialae Ave. with the rotating dolphin sculpture.

We all have our wine at the restaurant.

The food was excellent.

Sans Souci Beach

Mondays are generally the least crowded days at Sans Souci Beach, and this Monday, April 7^th, was especially good due to high cloudiness and steady strong trade winds. I went by myself in the afternoon while Andrea took care of a plumbing problem.

In the morning Andrea went to the Oahu Club for yoga and Zumba while I exercised at home.

Very few cars in the Natatorium parking lot. These are the arbor bars where I do my pullups and bardips.

Student Resources Fair

On wednesday, April 9^th, Andrea represented the WCC at the Student Resources Fair at UH.

On Tuesday Andrea worked in the WCC Thrift Shop. These are some of the spring items for sale. Photo by Andrea.

At the Student Resources Fair. Photo by Andrea.

The table setup is complete. Photo by Andrea.

Mark Hashem District 18 Fundraiser

On Thursday, April 10^th, Andrea and I attended a State House fundraiser where we supported our District 18 Representative Mark Hashem at the Mandalay Restaurant in downtown Honolulu.

We chatted with Mark for a while. The wine and food were great.

With our two new friends Val and Glenn.

I went to the beach on Friday around 5:00 PM and saw them setting up some unknown event at the Aquarium.

Bonsai Class in Kailua

On Saturday, April 12^th, Andrea and I attended our regular three hour bonsai class at 9:00 AM followed by lunch at Garcia's restaurant in Kailua on Oneawa Ave.

The classes are at Keith and Steph's house. I took some photos of some of his great bonsai. This is an ironwood.

Another great bonsai, I think it's a crape myrtle.

Doug (black shirt) was a guest lecturer on watering and pesticides. Photo by Andrea.

Break time.

At the Mexican restaurant. Photo by Andrea.

It was nice sitting on the front lanai.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Meeting in Waimanalo

On Sunday morning, April 13^th, Andrea and I attended the monthly meeting of Rainbow Bonsai Club in Waimanaol.

On the way there we stopped to look at the surf at Makapuu Beach. It was big and rough.

Andrea took this photo.

There was light rain at the meeting place, one of many nurseries in Waimanalo.

The meeting gets underway.

Bonsai show and tell after the meeting.

Lunar Eclipse at Kapiolani Park

On Monday evening, April 14^th, Andrea and I attended the UH Institute of Astronomy event at Kapiolani Park.

In the afternoon I went to Sans Souci Beach where the City was trimming coconut palms.

Guy Hagi from Channel 5 News was there. We had seen him on the 5:00 PM show before we drove down. Photo by Andrea.

I met Channel 5 News's Guy Hagi. Click the image to see the full resolution version. Photo by Doug.

Guy Hagi gets ready for a report. Photo by Andrea.

They had a problem with their microwave link.

Andrea put together this panorama. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

I wandered among the telescopes talking to grad students. Photo by Andrea.

The biggest telescope was a twelve inch relfector. Photo by Andrea.

Simina met us there. Kai had fun.

The moon with Mars. The eclipse is beginning. Lower left edge of moon.

Andrea and me with the fully eclipsed moon and Mars. Photo by Simina.

Click the image to see the full resolution version. Photo by Robert Wagner.

Former Vice President Al Gore at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii

On Tuesday evening, April 15^th, Andrea and I attended Al Gore's talk on climate change at UH.

We arrived at UH early and had bento dinners at L&L Barbecue near the Stan Sheriff Center.

We had tickets for our friends Genie and Tom. We met thenm there and entered at 5:15 PM. We got good seats near
the court level. Photo by Andrea.

Approximately 4,000 students attended, 9,000 people total, according to the morning paper. Photo by Andrea.

The event began with an opening pule in Hawaiian. The upper levels were filled up.

Senator Schatz was introduced and he introduced Al Gore who got a standing ovation. People sprang to their feet
when he appeared on stage.

Al gave an informative and impassioned lecture.

Al Gore. Photo by Andrea.

The next day, Wednesday, Andrea went to Lanikai Splash in Kahala when she took Lenore to exercise class. Photo by Andrea.

Easter

Easter is the first Sunday after the first full moon after the vernal equinox.

Saturday morning, April 19^th, Andrea dyed easter eggs.

Monday morning, April 21^st, Andrea and I dropped her car off at the dealer for repairs and we
had breakfast at Big City Diner at Ward Center.

FIRST Championship in Saint Louis

Andrea and I traveled to Saint Louis, Missouri, departing Monday, April 21^st, and joined up with our robotics team, Kalani Robotics.

Tuesday

We arrived around noon on Tuesday and took the Metro to downtown Saint Louis and found our hotel, the Hilton at the Gateway Arch on Olive and Fourth.

We met up with the team at the Lumiere Hotel.

The Lumiere Hotel has a large atrium lobby. Photo by Andrea.

They posed by the waterfall in the lobby. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Second posed by the waterfall. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Looking down from the fourth floor on the way to the skybridge to the Lumiere Casino. Photo by Andrea.

With a Mobius type sculpture in the casino. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea and I then walked to the venue at America's Center.

The trees were all starting to leaf out. Photo by Andrea.

A mini-arch. Photo by Andrea.

With the statue of Dred and Harriet Scott at the old courthouse. Photo by Andrea.

Can't resist that photogenic arch!

Wednesday

We slept in past 8:30 AM on Wednesday and then explored the Mississippi waterfront.

We stopped to see the old courthouse where the Dred Scott case resulted in the freeing of the slave. It was later overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

We climbed up to the third level of the old courthouse. Photo by Andrea.

Then we walked by the Gateway Arch toward the river.

We looked at the riverboat cruises which were sold out that day.

We walked by the Lumiere Casino and Hotel. That's the skyway in the background linking the two. Photo by Andrea.

The Jones Dome where the robotics matches were held. Photo by Andrea.

The bear and bull statue. Photo by Andrea.

We like this whimsical robot statue. Photo by Andrea.

There were 250 of these cakes, no two alike, placed around the city. Photo by Andrea.

We went to the mall park.

Andrea noticed the palm tree style architecture on the building across the street from the Stifel building.

We visited the Punahou FTC team.

We toured the FRC pits and stopped by 294, Beach Cities Robotics, in the Curie Division. Photo by Andrea.

The Robonauts from Texas (FRC 118) always have an impressive robot. Photo by Andrea.

Dave and Andrew, mentors with 294, came to visit our pit. They were impressed with our robot. Photo by Andrea.

Bryan Silver went to visit the 294 pit. Photo by Andrea.

Once again, PTC used the CAD model of our robot in their display. Photo by Andrea.

We attended the Friends of Hawaii Robotics dinner in the evening.

Thursday

Qualifying matches started on Thursday.

The 3008 robot's name is Atlas. Drive team in autonomous on the blue alliance.

Atlas on a blue alliance receives a ball in teleoperation.

The action in the Galileo Division. Photo by Andrea.

The CIA had a booth there and a robot.

We visited the FLL team from Hawaii.

It's always good to see the legacy teams there.

SpaceX had a booth.

The Hall of Fame.

A Lego robot swinging on a swing! The programmer showed me the source code.

Lunch time. The team had the provided lunches each day.

The Galileo MC was Dave, the usual Einstein MC.

In the pits keeping the robot in top form.

MC Dave waves our 3008 flag.

Hooray Kalani Falcons!

Naturally we visited the BeachBots (330) in Archimedes Division.

Exploding Bacon!

We made it a point to visit all the Hawaiian teams pits.

The team also attended conference sessions. This is the session on programming the new control system for 2015.

Andrea took notes at the conferences and here the are as a PDF.

Friday

Qualifying matches continued on Friday.

Andrea and I had breakfast at Pickles Deli on Olive and Sixth.

We arrived before 7:00 AM and waited for the doors to open. Photo by Andrea.

Waiting for the opening ceremony to start. Photo by Andrea.

President Obama recorded an address for the opening ceremony.

Lunch time. Photo by Andrea.

The team is ready to take to the field on the red alliance. Photo by Andrea.

On deck. Photo by Andrea.

I congratulate the team on a great performance. Photo by Andrea.

Atlas scores in autonomous mode. Photo by Andrea.

Atlas ready to shoot in autonomous mode.

Beach Cities Robotics (FRC 294) mentor Peter Johnson explains the new control system.

We attended the evening baseball game, Cardinals vs. Pirates. In queue at Busch Stadium before the robot parade at the
Cardinals game. Photo by Andrea.

At the end of the robotic parade around the stadium
the Cardinal mascot and our falcon met. Photo by Andrea.

I had fun taking pictures. Photo by Andrea.

It was a very low scoring game. Photo by Andrea.

The score was Saint Louis 1, Pittsburg 0 at the bottom of the 4^th when we left to get dinner at the Hyatt.

Saturday

Qualifying matches finished up on Saturday, followed by Division eliminations and Championship eliminations. The HOT Team (FRC 67) and the Greybots (FRC 973) won the Galileo Division and the Cheesy Poofs (FRC 294) won the Championship.

ZJ gives an interview at our pit. Photo by Andrea.

Team Rush (FRC 27) won the Chairman's Award.

Will I Am performed his song Hall of Fame.

Game designer Dave Lavery of JPL speaks. His license plate frame reads "My other car is on Mars." Photo by Andrea.

Finals action on Einstein.

Our team at the finals. Photo by Bryan.

An acrobat performed at the finale.

Andrea and I went for dinner to Prime 1000 restaurant on Washington Street.

We both had spicy cream of zucchini soup. Photo by Andrea.

Sunday

We did some more sight seeing on Sunday.

Andrea got one more photo of me at the arch. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea at the Arch with the old courthouse in the background.

We walked up olive street and found this whimsical statue. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea browses in Left Bank Books at Pine and tenth.

The City Garden sculpture park. Peabody Energy must have bribed the planning department to get to block the view like that.

We saw some spring flowers in the park. Photo by Andrea.

A springtime Robin in the Gateway Park. Photo by Andrea.

Monday

We took a walk after breakfast on Monday before taking the Metro to the airport for the return flights to Hawaii via LAX.

Some last pictures with that photogenic arch!

Colorful banners on the lamp posts on Gateway Park. Photo by Andrea.

After this short walk after breakfast, we went back to the hotel, packed and took the Metro to the airport for the long flight home.

The flight home was strenuous with our plane an hour late getting out of Saint Louis, but we made our connection in Los Angeles and were glad to arrive in Honolulu and get a taxi home without problems.

Bob Dylan Concert at the Blaisdell Arena

Andrea and I went to the Bob Dylan concert at the Blaisdel Arena on Tuesday, April 29^th, the day after we returned from Saint Louis.

Outside the Arena.

Inside the Arena before the performance. Photographs were prohibited during the performance.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com