April 2015 Journal Photos

Manoa Heritage Center Docent Training

I went for the usual Wednesday morning class on April 1^st. We learned about native plants.

In the morning before I left I took a picture of my easter egg that Andrea hung from the tree.

I found this inscription over a door in Manoa, similar to the script on my easter egg.

Aloha gave a talk on the native plants in the garden of Kuali'i.

The other side of the easter egg. Thursday morning, April 2^nd.

South Pacific at the Diamond Head Theater

Andrea and I took Lenore and Estelle to see South Pacific at the Diamond Head Theater on Sunday, April 5^th. We met Carol, Lynn and Flo at Tango later for dinner.

View of the theater from the Diamond Head street corner.

We arrived early and Lenore and Estelle sat on the corner bench as usual.

View of the theater looking toward Diamond Head.

Inside the theater before the show. It was sold out and a great performance.

Steve, our waiter at Tango restaurant, took this photo of us. Flo doesn't like having her picture taken.

Niu Valley Middle School Lego League Students at Kalani Robotics

Andrea helped organize an outreach activity for Kalani Robotics. She recruited NVMS Lego League students for an educational event at Kalani Robotics on Monday, April 6^th. The kids learned CAD, 3D printing, and laser cutting.

Eric, Kalani alumnus, was instrumental in obtaining the facility and setting up the systems. Photo by Andrea.

First a tour of the robotics lab by Darius.

Inside "the cave" where the Kalani students use computers.

Darius shows the students some 3D printed parts.

Kevin teaches CAD to one pair of students. We had eight students divided into four pairs for CAD training.

A view of the mobile learning facility against the ridge behind Kalani High School.

Mr. Silver on the roof of the Robotics Lab to get a unique photo angle.

Watching the laser cutter working on a plywood sheet. Photo by Andrea.

A group photo afterward. Photo by Andrea.

Later we went to the Kapiolani Park friends meeting at the Outrigger Canoe Club and listened to the new zoo director.

Chess

Some chess games played this month: game one (text file) and game two (text file).

Malama Maunalua at the Aina Haina Farmers' Market

Andrea and I helped at the Malama Maunalua booth Tuesday evening on April 7^th. It was the first Aina Haina farmers' market, held at the Episcopal Church parking lot.

Setting up the booth.

Outreach to the public.

Photo by Pam Weiant.

Ka keiki wanted to learn about mud from runoff polluting the bay.

Docent Training at the Manoa Heritage Center

On Wednesday, April 8^th, I went for my fifth and penultimate training session.

A dramatic view of the Kukao'o heiau.

We went to the beach in the afternoon and I saw these three tour busses at Kapiolani Park. After I took this picture
a fourth bus pulled up.

We saw this 1916 Ford parked on Kalakaua Avenue. Photo by Andrea.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Monthly Meeting

On Sunday, April 12^th, Andrea and I went to The Plant Place in Waimanalo for the monthly meeting.

Bonsai show and tell. I brought my shower tree from seed. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea brought home some puakenikeni branches and started some cuttings in new pots purchased for the purpose. Photo by Andrea.

Docent Training at the Manoa Heritage Center

On Monday, April 13^th, Andrea and I attended a special training session on native plants given by Anthony Ortiz.

We started in the garden behind the visitors' center.

On Wednesday Andrea took this photo of the chair we had reupholstered and had the back redone (cane mesh replaced with uprights).
She took in the other chair to get it done in the same way.

Our docent class on Wednesday getting ready to graduate. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Afterward we were met in Kuali'i by Sam and Mary Cooke. Sam left for an appointment and then we took this group photo.
Click the image to see the full resolution version.

The front room of the house. I like the nautical paintings. Photo by Jennifer Crites. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

In the afternoon we went to the beach and I took this photo of a man painting the scene.

There was a monk seal sleeping at the Sans Souci Apartments end of the beach.

Date Night in Waikiki

On Thursday, April 16^th, Andrea and I went for a swim at Sans Souci Beach and then changed our clothes and walked down the Moana Hotel Banyon Court via Chapel Hats and Sand People. She bought me a hat and I bought her some pearl earrings.

Watching the hula girl in my new hat at the Beach Bar in the Banyan Court. Photo by Andrea.

We caught the sunset at the DK Steakhouse lanai. Photo by Andrea.

View of Waikiki from the lanai.

Diamond Head Luau at the Waikiki Aquarium

On Monday, April 20^th, Andrea and I took Lenore and met Pete and Kim at the Waikiki Aquarium for the Diamond Head Luau.

Instruction in musical instruments, lei making, etc.

I made wrist lei for Andrea and me. Photo by Andrea.

A good turnout for a Monday evening.

I also got a braided palm hat band. Photo by Andrea.

The band played while waiting for the hula show to start.

Lenore, Pete, and Kim all got plenty to eat. Photo by Andrea.

The show is about to begin.

Maori, Tongan, Samoan, and Tahitian were represented. Photo by Andrea.

Polynesian dances of all kinds were given.

Fast paced action. The dancers were all excellent.

Here's a hula video that I took that evening. It's the "Hollywood era" with cellophane grass skirts. 60 megabytes Windows movie (.wmv) format.

Lunch with the Carrs at Mariposa

On Tuesday, April 21^st, Andrea wasn't feeling up to going out for lunch due to her hip pain from weeding the garden so I went instead. Lorie Carr with her Mom Norma picked us up and took us to the Ala Moana Shopping Center where we took the elevator up to the Mariposa Restaurant at Nieman Marcus.

Thousands of betterflies (mariposa) over the escalators in Neiman Marcus.

We had a table on the lanai overlooking Ala Moana Park.

Lorrie's lunch, the steak salad. Her phone's memory was full, so I took the photo for her.

Lenore and I had the crab salad. It was excellent, but the service was slow in my opinion. We left the house at 10:30 for
and 11:00 reservation but didn't get home until after 1:30.

While we were gone, Andrea got ready for summer by taking the eggs off the tree and putting on the beach toys.

Manoa Heritage Center Tour

I gave my first MHC tour on Thursday, April 23^rd. Andrea came along and we met Pete, Kim, and a tourist named Leslie there at 1:00 PM.

We started at the driveway with a bit of history. Photo by Andrea.

Then into the white garden and under the kiawe tree. Photo by Andrea.

Then down to the lower path. Photo by Andrea.

Standing in the shade and feeling the mana of the heiau. Photo by Andrea.

At the hau arbor. Photo by Andrea.

The heiau's namesake digging stick. Photo by Andrea.

Ti plants surrounding the offering stone. Photo by Andrea.

Paper mulberry used for kapa making. Photo by Andrea.

And that completes the tour. Any questions? Photo by Andrea.

Later we went to the beach. Photo by Andrea.

We couldn't resist the metaphotography of the wedding party.

On Friday night Peter and Marissa came over for dinner with their two friends, Vince and Mila Roche, from Melbourne, Australia.

This is the photo accompanying a Facebook ad for starting an 800 number business. I wonder what a busty model has to do with business?

Peter suggested that I wire the ironwood sapling and bend it while it's young, so I did.

Chess

Another chess game played this month: game three (text file).

Dinner with Pete, Kim, and Lynn

Pete, Kim, and Lynn came over for dinner on Saturday, April 25^th. We served mai tais and barbecued steak and tofu.

The weather was cooperative.

Kim bought some of the luau greenscreen photos and gave us two of them. This one is with a volcanic eruption.

This one is very nice too.

Pete and Lenore made a pact to zip line on the North Shore for her 100th birthday in ten years.

Pete and Kim brought the dessert. Photo by Andrea.

Sweeny Todd at the Blaisdell Concert Hall

Andrea and I took Lenore to see the musical thriller Sweeny Todd on Sunday, April 26^th. It was a great show put on by Hawaii Opera Theater (HOT), and afterward we had dinner at Kincaid's Restaurant at Ward Warehouse.