Octomber 2014 Journal Photos

Downtown Honolulu

Andrea and I went downtown on Wednesday morning, October 1^st, for dentist and dermatologist appointments. After the dental appointment, we parked in the medical building and walked toward the capitol while we waited for the dermatology appointment at 11:00 AM.

We notice the nice looking Queen's Conference Center on Beretania.

This is a good view of the capitol.

Andrea at the Hawaii veteran's memorial across Beretania from the capitol.

We saw this plaque of Queen Liliuokalani with the music and words to Aloha Oe at the governor's mansion. Photo by Andrea.

We decided to go into the Hawaii State Art Museum and see the sculpture garden. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea in the sculpture garden.

In the afternoon the LEGO League team worked on their project with this result so far: helping people learn to exercise.

Dinner at Willows

Andrea and I took Mom and Jan to dinner at The Willows in Moiliili on Thursday evening, October 2^nd.

In the afternoon we went to the beach at Sans Souci Beach Park. This is the memorial stone. It has always leaned like that.

Entering The Willows, established July 4, 1944.

Checking out the drink menu.

We have our drinks and salads.

On the way out Jan and I paused to look at the model of the Hokulea.

FIRST LEGO League

Andrea and I continued coaching the Niu Valley Middle School (NVMS) LEGO League team.

Friday morning's paper had Bob Sigall's article on the Kaimana Hotel. Click the image to see the high resolution version.

Working on programming robot missions.

Getting parts for building robots.

Testing robots on the field. Photo by Andrea

Saturday, October 4^th. Photo by Andrea

Saturday night barbecued filet mignon with Stephany and Jan.

Bonsai Workshop

Andrea wasn't feeling well so I drove by myself to Kailua for the bonsai workshop at Keith and Steph's house on Sunday morning, October 5^th.

Keith has a nice setup with tarp-covered tables and shade structures.

Keith assists a student with a nice ficus purchased at a recent plant sale.

Sunday afternoon Andrea finished her thousand piece cat puzzle.

Mary Poppins at Diamond Head Theater

Andrea and I took Lenore and Estelle to see Mary Poppins, the musical play, at Diamond Head Theater Sunday evening, October 5^th.

I escorted Estelle to the theater and then crossed the street to get this photograph while Andrea escorted Lenore.

Andrea took this photo inside before turning off her phone.

Afterward we joined Lynn, Carol, and Flo at Kirin on Beretania in Moiliili for dinner.

Kalani Robotics Academy

During the fall break, the Kalani Robotics team put on the Kalani Robotics Academy (KRA) for younger students, starting Monday, October 6^th.

Monday

On the first day I introduced the high school student teachers. The KRA is produced entirely by the students.

I supervised the VEX classes while Andrea was in the LEGO room.

The LEGO room. Photo by Andrea.

I came by and took some photos with the team camera. Photo by Andrea.

The VEX IQ robots were for the younger ones.

After lunch we went to LEGO League at NVMS. Photo by Andrea.

Working on the robot missions on the playing field.

Carter programmed the sports mission to shoot the blue ball into the goal. Photo by Andrea.

On Tuesday the 7^th Andrea took this picture of the yellow helicopter after it made several passes over our house.

Tuesday Hawaiian language class. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

On Wednesday the 8^th I called my father to wish him a happy 95^th birthday and then Andrea and I
went to Barnes and Noble in Ala Moana Shopping Center to buy books and DVDs.

I got a draw against the computer after a failed kingside attack. I was down a piece and two pawns but had checkmate on
the move three ways, so the computer had no choice but to keep checking me. Here's the listing:

White Black
1. Nf3 c5
2. e4 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Nc3 e6
5. Ng5 h6
6. Nf3 a6
7. Rb1 b5
8. Be2 d5
9. exd5 Nxd5
10. g3 Bb7
11. a3 Be7
12. O-O O-O
13. d3 Rc8
14. Bd2 Nf6
15. h3 Qd7
16. Kh2 Rf8d8
17. Ra1 Bd6
18. Na2 Nh5
19. Nh4 Nf6
20. Bf3 g5
21. Ng2 Nd5
22. Bh5 Nd4
23. c3 Nf5
24. Ne1 Bb8
25. Bf3 Nh4
26. Bh1 Nf4
27. Bxb7 Qxb7
28. Bxf4 gxf4
29. gxh4 f3+
30. Kh1 Kh7
31. Rg1 Rg8
32. Qxf3 Qc7
33. Rg3 Rxg3
34. fxg3 Rg8
35. Qe4+ f5
36. Qxe6 Qxg3
37. Qxf5+ Rg6
38. Qd7+ Rg7
39. Qf5+ Kh8
40. Qf8+ Kh7
41. Qf5+ Kh8
42. Qf8+ Kh7
43. Qf5+ Draw

In the afternoon we had Lego League at NVMS.

After project work in the classroom we went down to the robotics lab and did robot development.

Students work on robot programs in Mindstorms software.

After Lego League, Andrea and I went to the beach where I took this photo of a ladder truck on the median on Kalakaua Ave.

Thursday

The Kalani Robotics team banners were on display in the library at Kalani High School.

The VEX room where I provided the day's adult supervision.

The LEGO room where Andrea supervised.

The LEGO robot challenge on the table. Photo by Andrea.

Sumo wrestling LEGO robots. Photo by Andrea.

Friday

The morning paper had this Rear View Mirror article on the old Ranch House Restaurant at Aina Haina.
Click the image to see the full resolution version.

VEX class got started with a competition of VEX and VEX IQ paired teams.

The LEGO kids in Andrea's room.

Sumo wrestling with LEGO robots. Photo by Andrea.

Both classes went down to the pool area for a photo. Photo by Andrea.

More fun with sumo-bots. Photo by Andrea.

I found this view of Diamond Head from the second level at Kalani High.

Certificates of completion are handed out to the VEX students.

Certificates of completion are handed out to LEGO students. Photo by Andrea.

In the afternoon the Black Dragon, Ron Van Clief came to LEGO League to talk about fitness.

Ron's son Kai, wife Simina, and friend Sabrina from Maui also attended.

After Ron's talk about the importance of fitness and being motivated, we went downstairs and the kids demonstrated their robots.

The team now have several missions working on three different robots. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea and I went to the beach for a swim after LEGO League and saw this monk seal resting on the beach.

NVMS FLL

Andrea and I coached LEGO League on Saturday, October 11^th.

After working upstairs on the project presentation, we went downstairs to the lab to work on robots.

That evening Stephany came over for a barbecue.

It was a bit windy so we ate the grilled game hens inside.

Sunday the 12^th we went to the WCC thrift shop where we saw the new dedicated parking places.

Madam Butterfly

Andrea and I took Lenore to the Neal Blaisdel Auditorium to see the opera Madam Butterfly on Sunday, October 12^th.

Drummers performed outside before the show.

In the lobby at intermission.

We went to Roy's in Hawaii Kai for dinner afterward.

This photograph store is next to Roy's.

On Monday Andrea went for a walk and took this photo of the new house on Hao Street. As we expected, they are
concreting in the front "yard."

NVMS FLL

Andrea and I continued coaching LEGO League on Monday, October 13^th, also Columbus Day, or Indigenous People's Day.

We had a robot run-off tournament and subteam C won (Hajin's team). This is the winning robot, which the other two
will be reconfigured to match.

We went to the beach after LEGO League in spite of the threatening skies. Hawaii Five-0 was filming there.

This is the shelter on the beach they had set up.

Andrea got a shot of it too.

Andrea took this photo of a dramatic cloud.

On Tuesday we went to the beach and rain had driven off the lightweights.

We swam and Andrea sat on a bench while I exercised on the bars by the Natatorium.

I received my Obama sticker in the mail from the Democratic Party. Scanned October 19^th.

Andrea took me to the dermatologist on Monday, October 20^th, and afterward we had lunch
at Ward Warehouse and shared a barbecue combo from Brian's Hawaiian Kitchen.

Halloween Preparations

Andrea and I prepared for Halloween by decorating and obtaining a pumpkin.

On Thursday the 23^rd Andrea got a hat at Longs.

On Friday I hung up the framed sheet music by Irving Berlin that Andrea got from the Thrift Shop.

Friday FLL was a robot missions day. We also worked on the robot design executive summary. Click the image to see the full
resolution version.

On Saturday we worked upstairs for two hours on project activities.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Meeting

Andrea attended the Thrift Shop end of month sale while I attended the bonsai club meeting in my new capacity as Vice President.

The club meeting was held a The Plant Place nursery in Waimanalo. Members socialize before the meeting.

Marion Uyeno is the new President. Steph acted as Secretary in Andrea's absence. Ethan acted as parliamentarian.

On Sunday evening we had cocktails and barbecued chicken on the lanai with Stephany.

Bonsai club plant fair flier.

NVMS FLL

Andrea and I continued with coaching the LEGO League team.

Monday the 27^th was a robot development day. Kalani Robotics lent us two wheels and four batteries.

The kids were busy for the whole hour and 15 minutes.

We went to the beach after FLL and saw a line of squalls south of Oahu.

On Tuesday morning Andrea went for a walk.

Tuesday evening we went to Hawaiian class and had the bento at Brian's Hawaiian Kitchen afterward. It was enough for us both.

The team worked on making props for their skit.

Working on props. After making the props, we rehearsed the skit.

Honolulu Museum of Art

Andrea and I went to the Honolulu Museum of Art on Thursday, October 30^th, to see the Art Deco Hawaii exhibit. On the way there we stopped at Honolulu Hale for early voting.

Before we left, Andrea checked her email.

After voting at Honolulu Hale on King Street.

They had free parking nearby on King Street for early voters! Photo by Andrea.

We parked in the museum lot and walked through the Art Academy School where some sculptures were on display. Photo by Andrea.

Approaching the art museum.

We saw the art glass display first.

Various ceramic works. I like the teapots. Click the image to see the full size version.

Here's a closeup of a very unpractical teapot.

This is the current art deco exhibit. Photo by Andrea.

Art deco Hawaiian wood carvings. Photo by Andrea.

Six large Eugene Savage paintings were on display. The information card on this one, Discovery, inaccurately
refers to King Kamehameha greeting Captain Cook. Kamehameha was a boy at the time. Click the image to see the full
resolutio version.