July Journal Photos

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Some chess games I played this month.

Independence Day

We went to Estelle's house for her annual party on Monday evening, July 4^th. The high trade winds we had for the first days of July subsided and we had beautiful weather, with a bit of rain (quarter inch in July so far) in the nights.

Daughter Becky sent this photo of a celebratory cake she made back in Connecticut.

We brought a bottle of Chardonnay, fruit salad, salsa, hot dogs, buns, and party poppers to the Murphy's house for the annual party.

Drew cooked hot dogs and teriyaki chicken skewers. There was plenty to eat and drink.

Ke Kani O Ke Kai

We took Lenore to the biweekly Hawaiian music concert at the Aquarium on Thursday evening, July 7^th. This was the third of five events this summer.

We arrived two hours before doors open, as usual, and got a good place in line. Places on the lawn are first come, first served.

I wanted to get a picture of the Coitos and us eating because in all the times before Andrea and I were too busy eating to get
pictures! So this time I did.

Mark Yamanaka (left) and Pauoa (center) were up first.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Annual Barbecue and Potluck

Andrea and I attended the meeting and lunch on Sunday morning, July 10^th. Lindsay Shiba, visiting from the mainland, performed a demonstration on a kiawe I donated. Then we had a benefit drawing for the demo tree, which I won, followed by bonsai bingo for prizes and then potluck lunch with barbecued chicken and steak.

Andrea, Secretary, and I, acting President, get ready to start the meeting. Photo by John Arafiles.

Lindsay begins his demonstration of trunk bending. The meeting was held at the Plant Place nursery in Waimanalo as usual.

Photo by Andrea.

Keith helped Lindsay hold the pot.

Lindsay used a pipe wrench for leverage.

During the demo I sold benefit drawing tickets for various prizes including the demo tree. Photo by Andrea.

The completed bonsai. A bonsai pot was provided, but the tree was not put in that pot today. Photo by Andrea.

By a fantastic coincidence I won the demo tree. Lindsay drew the winning ticket. Photo by Andrea.

Photo by John Arafiles.

Lindsay and I shake hands. Photo by John Arafiles.

Well done demonstration. Photo by Andrea.

The club also awarded Lindsay and his wife some official club shirts. Photo by John Arafiles.

While Keith and others cooked lunch, I drew the bonsai bingo words for prizes. Photo by Andrea.

Barbecued steak and chicken. Photo by Andrea.

Dinner at Roy's

Andrea and I took Lenore to dinner at Roy's in Hawaii Kai on Tuesday evening, July 12^th. She had the escargot, and Andrea and I split a Dim Sum Canoe for Two.

Tuesday afternoon we went to the beach. People cooled off in the water.

Andrea getting dry after her shower.

It was a relaxed evening.

I had a Manhattan and Andrea had a cosmopolitan.

Lenore had a creme brulet and I had a macadamia nut tart for dessert.

The musicians started playing just as we were about to leave at 6:30.

Dentist Visit and Lysistrata Jones

On Wednesday, Andrea and I were tour guides at Manoa Heritage Center for pre-schoolers. No photos.

I went to Dr. Ching's office for an appointment on Thursday morning, July 14^th. Having arrived early, I took a walk down to Thomas Square. That evening, Andrea and I went to see Lysistrata Jones, about a group of cheerleaders who withhold sex from a college basketball team until the win a game, at the Manoa valley Theater.

I sat on a bench for a while and read A Midsummer Night's Dream.

On the way back I stopped at a farmers' market at Kaiser medical center and bought a papaya.

Manoa Valley Theater has a graveyard in the front on Manoa Avenue.

The fictional Athens University had school colors of orange and blue.

Potluck Dinner Party at Adelle's House

On Saturday evening, July 16^th, Andrea and I went to Adelle's house for a potluck neigborhood dinner.

Lots of good food, friends, and neighbors.

On Monday the 18^th I went to the beach while Andrea walked around the park. Two monk seals were playing in the water.

A while later the two seals came up on the beach to sleep.

On Tuesday I saw a bunch of young people sitting on the lawn at the Aquarium looking at their phones. I assume they're playing
PokeMon Go.

Malama Maunalua Limu Huki at Paiko

Andrea went to help with the invasive limu huki on Wednesday mornning, July 20^th. I came by later and took photos.

Shift change. There were 82 student volunteers. Half pulled limu while half got lessons on the shore.

Andrea teaches about watershed.

Limu biology was taught at the rightmost tent.

On Wednesday afternoon the young pepople were back at the front of the Aquarium.

Ke Kani O Ke Kai

Andrea and I took Lenore to the bi-weekly concert at the Aquarium on Thursday evening, July 21^st.

In the morning I drove Ron to court for some business. This is the stained glass ceiling.

Later that morning Ron took me to lunch with a lawyer at Zippy's on King Street.

We arrived two hours early as usual. Nalani, in dark shirt, was ahead of us in line as usual too.

Dinner was catered by A Place to Eat on University Avenue. The Coitos sat with us again.

Aaron from the radio station, KINE, greets Raiatea Helm as she arrives at the back gate.

Some of the volunteers posed for a photo.

Lehua Kalima (right) was up first.

The group Maunalua was the third and final act.

Maunalua invited Nalani, who had toured Korea with them recently, up to dance hula.

Incredibly, the PokeMon Go players were still there after 9:00 PM when the concert let out.

Book Signing at Na Mea Hawaii

Andrea and I went to get Victoria Knuebuhl's new book at Na Mea Hawaii at Ward Warehouse on Saturday afternoon, July 23^rd.

After lunch Andrea took Lenore for a ride around the east end of the island. At the blowhole.

Makapuu. Tropical storm Darby is coming in and the surf is up. There are a few body boarders and body surfers in the water.

At the book signing with Victoria Kneubuhl. She read excerpts from the book along with her friend from the English Department at UH.

Mamma Mia! at Diamond Head Theater

Andrea and I took Lenore and Estelle to see the great musical on Sunday afternoon, July 24^th.

The tropical storm Darby had enveloped Oahu but we arrived during calm weather.

It rained during the first act, but was dry during intermission.

We met Lynn, Carol and Flo afterward at Assagio's in Kahala for dinner. I had the seafood salad and Andrea had the calamari.

Shakespeare Class at UH and Hawaii Bonsai Association Meeting

Andrea and I went to the two events on Tuesday, July 26^th.

Andrea and I arrive at Krause Hall for the 2:00 PM class taught by Dave Johnson on Shakespeare's comedies. We have both read the first play,
The Taming of the Shrew. Next Tuesday is A Midsummer Night's Dream.

We arrived at the Moiliili Community Center for the 7:00 PM Hawaii Bonsai Association meeting. The association represents all the bonsai clubs
in Hawaii. I used to live in Moiliili when I attended UH in the '70s, but I had never been to the community center.

This is the inner court of the Moiliili Community Center. The meeting was in a room on the second floor.

Democratic National Convention

Andrea and I went to a DNC watch party at Democratic Headquarters in Ward Warehouse on Thursday afternoon, July 28^th. Afterward we went to dinner at Kincaid's.

The upper floor of Ward Warehouse where the meeting was.

Our California friend and member of the House of Representatives, Ted Lieu, spoke before Hillary was introduced by Chelsea.

Andrea gazes out the window at Kincaid's.

That painting behind my right shoulder has been there for over 20 years. Photo by Andrea.

It was a great speech by Hillary and a great time to celebrate. Photo by Andrea.

Date Night in Kaimuki

Andrea and I went out to dinner at 12^th Avenue Grill on Friday night, July 29^th.

At 11:00 AM Andrea gave a tour at Manoa Heritage Center to this student hula halau. Photo by Andrea.

We went to the beach in the afternoon and the PokeMon Go players were still at it in front of the Aquarium.

We had a reservation for 5:45 PM at 12^th Avenue Grill. We shared a small table near the bar.

Andrea had a Tanquerey martini and I had Chardonnay wine.

The waiter offered to take this photo. We had several of their small plates to share and duck and lentil soup.

After dinner we walked around the block and Andrea checked out the menu at this restaurant with the great dragon on the window.

Saturday morning Andrea took Mom for a drive around the Windward side and took this photo of a green Rabit Island.

Hawaii Bonsai Association Show and Plant Sale at Washington Middle School

Andrea and I helped with the show and plant sale on Sunday morning, July 31^st.

Doors opened to the public promptly at 9:00 AM. Photo by Andrea.

The central exhibit tables. Photo by Andrea.

Two very nice trees. The elm on the right belongs to Jim Meyer. Photo by Andrea.

I helped with security at the exit door for a while.

I took a couple of trees to work on for demonstration. Photo by Andrea.

Working on a kiawe. Photo by Andrea.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com