April Journal Photos

Hawaii Regional FIRST Robotics Competition

FIRST stands for for inspiration and recognition of science and technology. The Hawaii Regional FRC got underway at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii on Thursday, March 31^st, and ran through Saturday, April 2^nd.

Friday: Qualification Matches

Our two MCs at the opening ceremonies on Friday morning.

3008 on the field for our first match of the day.

Charging over the rock wall in autonomous mode.

With the team in the pit. Photo by Andrea.

In the pits with the robot.

Madison and Andrea volunteering in pit administration.

At lunch time walking past the Church of the Crossroads on my way to Terry's Bigger Burgers on Beretania.

Sculpture on campus at the Stan Sheriff Center.

Mascots in the aisle. Later Friday at the awards ceremony we won the Entrepreneurship Award.

Andrea and I went to Roys for dinner Friday night after the pits closed.

Saturday: Qualification and Elimination Matches

368 and 359 both scoring autonomously as alliance partners in a qualification match. They would later pair for the top
seeded alliance (with 359 as alliance captain). They were knocked out in the semi-finals by the Tiki Techs.

Musical instrument sculpture in the UH music complex near the Stan Sheriff Center.

With our fourth-seeded alliance partners the Drop Bears (captain) and Punahou. We lost in two games in the quarterfinals.

The winning alliance photography.

Sarah with the team showing her Dean's List Finalist award.

Camelot at the Diamond Head Theater

Andrea and I took Lenore and Estelle to see Camelot at the Diamond Head Theater on Sunday, April 3^rd. We met Flo and Carol there and had dinner afterward at Cafe Sistina, where we met with Jan.

Diamond Head Theater. Camelot is about Lancelot's devotion to virtue which is overcome by his love for Guinevere, wife
of Arthur.

Cafe Sistina. The waiter let Carol taste two of the reds before deciding.

On Monday after the beach, Andrea took this photo of our sago palm (cycad) blooming in the front yard.

Life in Honolulu

Andrea and I went to the beach for a swim every weekday afternoon of the week ending Saturday, April 9^th.

On Friday I saw a monk seal at beach at the Sans Souci Apartments end.

I saw a sailing canoe being readied on this end of the beach.

Down by the aquarium I saw this guy with his pet pig.

When I got back to the beach after my pull ups and bar dips I saw the canoe had been readied and was being launched.

Saturday morning: happiness is a wife who helps with the yard work.

Andrea and her pick axe removing heliconia roots.

I played a chess game with the computer (black) that lasted 69 moves. I won by a single tempo.

	White	Black
1.	d4	e6
2.	f4	Nc6    White (me) goes right into a stonewall attack after black's rather passive opening.
3.	Nf3	Nf6
4.	Nb1d2	Ng4    White's night move to d2 is necessary to keep black's knight out of e4.
5.	Nb3	b6
6.	e4	Bb7    Change in plans for white, going for the three pawn phalanx.
7.	c3	h5
8.	Bd3	d5
9.	Qe2	dxe4
10.	Bxe4	Nf6
11.	Bc2	Be7
12.	f5	exf5   White begins the attack before castling.
13.	Bxf5	O-O
14.	O-O	Qd5    Black's occupation of the center with his queen is equalizing.
15.	Qc2	Ba6
16.	Bd3	Bxd3
17.	Qxd3	Qe4    It's rather difficult for white to avoid trading queens.
18.	Qxe4	Nxe4
19.	Bf4	Bd6
20.	Bxd6	Nxd6
21.	Ra1e1	Ra8e8   Likely a draw but white keeps playing to the end.
22.	Nb3d2	f6
23.	Kf2	Kh7
24.	Rxe8	Rxe8
25.	h4	Nd8
26.	Re1	Rxe1
27.	Nxe1	Nf5
28.	Nd2f3	Ne6
29.	g3	c5
30.	Nc2	cxd4
31.	Nc2xd4	Ne6xd4
32.	Nxd4	Nxd4
33.	cxd4	Kg6
34.	Kf3	Kf5
35.	b3	b5
36.	a3	g5
37.	a4	bxa4
38.	bxa4	gxh4
39.	gxh4	a5
40.	Ke3	Ke6
41.	Kf4	Kd5
42.	Kf5	Kxd4
43.	Kxf6	Kc4
44.	Kg5	Kb4
45.	Kxh5	Kxa4    White will win because he queens first!
46.	Kg4	Kb4
47.	h5	a4
48.	h6	Kb3
49.	h7	Kc4
50.	h8=Q	Kb3
51.	Qg8+	Kc3
52.	Qa2	Kb4
53.	Qb2+	Kc4
54.	Kf4	Kc5
55.	Ke4	Kc4
56.	Ke3	Kc5
57.	Kd3	Kc6
58.	Kc4	Kd6
59.	Qb4+	Ke5
60.	Qxa4	Kf5
61.	Qe8	Kf4
62.	Kd3	Kf5
63.	Kd4	Kg4
64.	Qf8	Kg5
65.	Ke4	Kg6
66.	Ke5	Kh7
67.	Qf1	Kg6
68.	Qf2	Kg7
69.	Ke6 Black resigns

Rainbow Bonsai Club Meeting

Andrea and I went to the meeting in Waimanalo on Sunday morning, April 10^th.

After the business part of the meeting we had bonsai show and tell. I talked about my dwarf hala first.

Then I talked about my black pine in a Karen Ohlinder pot. Showing the signature on the bottom.

Keith showed his wi tree.

Ryan had a flowering satsuki azelea.

Webmaster Scott had a banyan in a too-small pot.

These were my opening remarks as acting President of the club:

Regarding the recent Kunia Orchid Show where we displayed bonsai:

I want to thank our show chairman, Keith, and all those who helped over the show weekend or displayed bonsai. With the assistance of Paradise Bonsai Club, it was one of the best yet. In particular, the historic forest planting demonstration was a real highlight of the weekend. Kunia Orchid Club does a very interesting annual event in Wahiawa with not just orchids, but with ikebana, succulents, and of course, our bonsai. That makes it a real attraction for people in Honolulu. We also won a display award for our bonsai.

It has been said that there are very few things that improve with age, and bonsai are one of the. There are many aspects of enjoying bonsai, and the way bonsai draw us into the future is an important one. When I look at a tree I have growing in a pot, I am drawn into the future. When I plant a seed, I see the seed, but I also see the tree I want it to become. Our vision of the future doesn't always turn out the way we initially conceive it. Sometimes it's better, sometimes it's not. But our thinking of the future is one of many important facets of of bonsai.

Kapiolani Park Preservation Society Annual Meeting

Andrea and I attended the annual meeting of the society at the Outrigger Canoe Club on Monday evening, April 11^th, at 5:00 PM. We took neighbor Joelene with us and met Paul and Faye there. The meeting was addressed by the police major in charge of the park area (Major Clyde Ho) and by the chairman of the city council, Ernie Martin.

Monday morning I took this photo of a praying mantis on the sago palm flower.

The speakers were introduced by the club president.

Afterward we had wine and pupu at a table by the water.

Andrea took this photo of the sunset with many outriggers.

Tuesday morning I took this photo of two of the name placards I have from Dai Ichi Bonsai Kai. John and Jim both passed away in the '90s and the club was going to get rid of these, so I kept them.

Some of my favorite cups.

Mushroom Farm Tour

Andrea and I went to a tour of Small Kine Farm organic portabella muxhroom growing on Wednesday afternoon, April 13^th.

The tour was by appointment and we assembled at a small kiosk at the farm.

Fung Yang, proprietor, gave us a lecture with flip charts.

We headed to the compost conditioner where the wet compost, mixed with chicken manure, is cured with air pumped from below.
Photo by Andrea.

Inside the mushroom shed. Growing boxes are on the left.

Fung Yang gets ready to feed us some mushrooms. Photo by Andrea.

After the tour we sampled fresh raw, pickled, and cooked mushrooms.

Fundraiser for Mark Hashem

Andrea and I went to a fundraiser for State House Representative Mark Hashem on Thursday evening, April 14^th, at the Mandalay Restaurant downtown. We had wine and pupu and afterward we went to Cafe Sistina.

Andrea and I sat by the wall and I took this photo of the front of Cafe Sistina.

Andrea took this photo of the back of Cafe Sistina.

Saturday Barbecue

We had some friends over for a lamb rib barbecue on Saturday evening, April 16^th.

We had wine and pupu outdoors on the lychee tree lanai, but had to come indoors to eat when it started raining.

Neighbors Joel, Sylvia, Ester, and Floyd enjoyed the food. Photo by Simina.

A good time was had by all. Photo by Simina.

Lenore, Simina, and Kai.

Ron, Lenore, and Simina.

Betty Young's 90^th Birthday Party

Andrea, Lenore, and I attended Betty's 90^th birthday party at the Waialae Country Club (next to Kahala Hotel) on Sunday evening, April 17^th. We drove Betty there.

The Coitos hold hands while Pam, Zach, and Bronson fuss with the lion dance costumes. Photo by Andrea.

We sat at table one with the Coitos and Chings.

Betty greeted guests at the entrance with photographers.

Sylvia, Joel, and Zach. Photo by Andrea.

There were six photo boards set up. It was raining outside the whole time.

The program started off with a lion dance. Betty held bamboo with red envelopes tied on to "feed" the lions. Photo by Andrea.

The lions moved toward the audience.

Then guests came up with money to feed the lions.

Pam's daughter Amanda performed a hula. Can you spot Senator Daniel Akaka and his wife?

Libby's daughter Tracy peformed a hula. Well over 100 guests attended.

Zach and Tracy light the candles on the two cakes. Photo by Andrea.

Betty blew out the candles. Photo by Andrea.

War Memorial Natatorium

Andrea and I went for a swim on Tuesday, April 19^th, at Sans Souci Beach, adjacent to the Natatorium War Memorial.

Andrea took this photo of me doing pull-ups on the hau tree arbor at the War Memorial.

This is the full shot the picture above was cropped from.

On Wednesday, on the way back from my pull-ups and bar dips, I saw the lifeguards backing the jet ski onto the beach.

On Friday canopys for the Earth Day celebration were being set up at the Aquarium.

Polo at Mokuleia

Andrea and I joined Paul and Faye as their guests at the Polo Club on Sunday, April 24^th. A team from England was scheduled to play the team from Hawaii.

At the start of the first (local) match, the two teams were introduced, and the national anthem was sung.

Andrea, Paul, Faye, and Mike. We sat at a table undere an umbrella. It was pleasantly overcast with a light sea breeze.

A halt in the play after a referee whistle.

Here comes the English team in the pre-match parade.

Right behind came the Hawaiian team. England won eight to six.

I took this picture of Andrea by accident, but it turned out pretty well.

Malia took this photo of the Hokulea in Virginia. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Just Eat It at Iolani School

Andrea and I went to the food rescue event by Aloha Harvest at Iolani on Thursday, April 28^th, from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. There was food tasting from five chefs followed by the screening of a movie about food waste and food rescue.

One of the five chefs serving rescued food.

The Iolani hawk sculpture was in the background. Iolani means heavenly hawk.

Uncle Clay was there and he introduced us to board chair Lisa. Photo by Andrea.

Group photo. Photo by Andrea.

The event was well attended. Photo by Andrea.

Some of the food. We got enough to eat. Photo by Andrea.

Henry Kapono was there, in the back by the tree.

Uncle Clay chatted with one of the volunteers. Photo by Andrea.

Having a good time. Photo by Andrea.

Uncle Clay. Photo by Andrea.

Uncle Clay was given a kukui nut lei. Photo by Andrea.

Talking and eating. Photo by Andrea.

Nearing the time to go in and watch the movie. Photo by Andrea.

From another angle.

Paiko Limu Huki with Malama Maunalua

Andrea went to Paiko beach in the morning on Friday, April 29^th, to teach watershed science and conservation to students from Kamehameha school.

As I walk up the beach to the huki site, students go out to the square plot marked with yellow bouys.

The canopies were set up in a volunteer's back yard. Watershed on the left, limu on the right.

Andrea teaching about watershed.

Students learn about limu.

Half the students went out to pull invasive limu. Then they will switch with the lesson students on shore.

New Bonsai Display

I worked over several days to cut back the mock orange in the back yard. I cut three stumps off horizontally and made plywood shelves to attach to them with expoxy and brass screws. They were painted and then attached.

I put three medium bonsai on the three shelves, each at a different height.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com