April 2017 Journal Photos

Hawaii FIRST Robotics Regional Competition

The Hawaii regional competition was held as usual at the Stan Sheriff Center at the University of Hawaii, March 30^th through April 1^st. I supported the team as a mentor and Andrea volunteered in pit administration as she has done in past years.

I created a separate page to document the Hawaii Regional FRC.

Saturday

Saturday, April 1^st, finishes up the qualification matches and features the eliminations.

Governor David Ige spoke at the opening ceremony.

College students and 3008 alumni Madi and Danielle helped in pit administration. Photo by Andrea.

Jan spent the morning with me and received a briefing on the robot from Noah.

Zach Young represented the team as the sixth seed captain. We picked 1622 Spyder and 1378 Hilo Vikings. We got bumped up to the fourth alliance.

In the pits with our alliance partners getting ready for the playoffs.

We were eliminated in three matches by the fifth alliance headed by 359, The Hawaiian Kids. Group photo after the playoffs.

We won the Creativity Award. Photo by Anne Torige.

Mentors and Mr. Silver participated in the recognition for the Creativity award. Photo by Anne Torige.

Wayland with students and trophies afterward. Photo by Anne Torige.

Paul and Faye came in the afternoon to watch and we went out to dinner at Roy's in Hawaii Kai afterward.

Evita at Diamond Head Theater

Andrea and I took Jan with us to see Evita at Diamond Head Theater on Sunday, April 2^nd.

For lunch we picked up Mom and went to Zippy's in Hawaii Kai. The restaurant part was crowded so we went to the fast food counter.

The stage had an elaborate balcony and stairway set.

The marquee at intermission.

We met Lynn at the restaurant Wisp in the Lotus Hotel for dinner afterward.

On Monday we went to the beach and I took this photo of a broken light fixture at Sans Souci Beach Park.

New 2017 Nissan Leaf

Andrea and I drove our Malibu to New City Nissan to pick up our new Leaf on Tuesday morning, April 4^th.

Our new Leaf in the carport.

Andrea drove the Leaf for the first time to the beach and back in the afternoon.

Wednesday morning Andrea backs out of the driveway on her way to visit Mom.

Anthropocene Class at University of Hawaii

Andrea and I drove to Krauss Hall on the UH campus for our regular weekly class on Thursday morning, April 6^th.

Andrea with the newly cleaned up 1948 water garden at Krauss Hall.

Andrea took this photo of me during the class break. The pond looks amazingly clean now, with goldfish and mosquito fish.

Honolulu Biennial

Andrea and I attended Drinking for Museums, a tour of the "Hub" of the Honolulu Biennial art exhibition on Thursday evening, April 6^th.

We arrived early and walked to Na Mea in Ward Warehouse to look at an art opening there.

The Na Mea display featured Chinatown paintings.

At The Hub with an inflatable flying pig. The Hub was at the site of the former Sports Authority on Ward Avenue.

The junk boat display inside The Hub.

Andrea and I met Margo there.

The Hub had a number of art display rooms installed.

Targeting Kahoolawe.

The group split into two tours.

Ku, Kane, Lono, and Kanaloa, by Marcus.

Ku. Photo by Andrea.

Kane. Photo by Andrea.

Lono. Photo by Andrea.

Kanaloa. Photo by Andrea.

With the flying dragon. Photo by Andrea.

Under the fluorescent chandelier. Photo by Andrea.

Phyllis offered to take this photo of us at the end of the tour.

Afterward we joined the group at Real Gastropub. Kathleen, Allison, and Phyllis.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Monthly Meeting

Andrea and I drove our Leaf over the Pali to Waimanalo for the monthly RBC meeting on Sunday morning, April 9^th.

After the business meeting, we had a show and tell session. Photo by Andrea.

I brought a twin trunk kiawe to show. Photo by Andrea.

I had brought the tree in to show a year ago and it had much improved. It was repotted several months ago. Photo by Andrea.

Keith talked about a couple of trees he brought.

Ryan also showed some trees to the membership and answered questions.

Monday afternoon we went to the beach and saw Jerry working outside at the Aquarium.

Manoa Heritage Center at the Volunteer Fair at the University of Hawaii

Andrea and I represented the MHC at UH along with Sigrid on Tuesday, April 11^th.

We arrived before 9:30 AM to set up with Sigrid. We brought the kukui tree in the pot.

Personing the table.

Sigrid and me. Photo by Andrea.

We went to the Aina Haina Prepared meeting at Calvary by the Sea's Aloha Room on Tuesday night but didn't take any pictures. One of the members is camera shy. Danny was back as leader, nearly recovered from his heart attack a while back. The issue of nuclear attack disaster was mentioned, but it was decided that it was premature to add it to our agenda. We have a full plate with hurricane and tsunami preparedness.

Wednesday morning Andrea took this picture of our orchids on the coffee table before she left for her morning exercise class.

Anthropocene Class at the University of Hawaii

Andrea and I attneded the lifelong learning center class as usual on Thursday morning, April 13^th.

Professor Fred starting the lecture with a summary chart of anthropogenic carbon dioxide.

This year's temperature anomaly is particularly large.

During the break I took this picture of the mother and baby ducks.

Internations Meeting at Wisp

Also on Thursday, April 13^th, Andrea and I attended an Internations meeting at Wisp restaurant in Waikiki.

We went to the beach, then for a walk in Waikiki, and then to the Wisp restaurant in the Lotus hotel.

Our friend Simina is one of the meeting organizers.

Wisp restaurant overlooks Kapiolani Park. Simina and Andrea chat.

Friday morning we had a third of an inch of rain and I took this photo of green lychees on our tree.

Tax March

Andrea and I participated in the Tax March from Ala Moana Park to the Federal Building on Saturday, April 15^th. We met at the McCoy Pavillion at noon. It was five miles round trip.

We arrived at 11:30 and waited about an hour and a half for the march to begin. The inflatable chicken was late.

I got a chicken beak for my hat. Photo by Andrea.

The crowd milled around under the trees.

Andrea got a T-shirt and a sign.

Looks like about several hundred people.

The inflatable chicken rode on a 4-wheeler.

Looks like Trump. Photo by Andrea.

Off we go!

Almost there. Photo by Andrea.

Lunch with Mom at Zippy's

Andrea and I took Mom to lunch at Zippy's in Hawaii Kai on Sunday, April 16^th. Afterwards we drove out to Sea Life Park and back to see the sights.

Mom talked to her brother Bob on the phone while we were there at the care home picking her up.

Photo by Andrea.

We sat outside again after ordering from the take-out window.

We had a good view of Hawaii Kai.

Paul and Faye took a helicopter ride and sent us this photo of Aina Haina Sunday afternoon.

Hawaii Bonsai Association Meeting

Andrea and I attended the regular meeting of the Hawaii Bonsai Association (HBA) on Tuesday evening, April 18^th.

We went to the beach in the afternoon and Jerry told me they were setting up for an Outrigger Hotels event. No photos from the HBA meeting.

Hawaii Public Radio Fundraiser Volunteer

Andrea and I helped other Manoa Heritage Center volunteers with fundraising at Hawaii Public Radio (HPR) on Wedneday afternoon, April 19^th. We worked the 2:00 to 4:00 PM shift.

HPR has two streams, HPR-1, jazz and news, shown here for fundraising, and HPR-2, classical music, which was downstairs for fundraising.

Jessica and Mary were on-air for fundraising while MHC volunteers manned the telephones in the background. Producer Sarah is on the right.

Afterward we went to the banyan court at the Moana Hotel for mai tais and ahi poke nachos.

Our waitress took two photos of us. Yes, I actually used chopsticks.

Haulani was the lovely hula dancer. Photo by Andrea.

Haulani had two hau blossoms (pua lua) in her hair.

We stopped for dessert of coffee, ice cream, and chocolate Manhattans at Wisp restaurant in the Lotus hotel, overlooking the park.

We watched the activities in Kapiolani Park until dark and then we drove home. Photo by Andrea.

Dagon Burmese Restaurant in Moiliili

Andrea and I met Paul and Faye at Dagon restaurant in Moiliili on Friday evening, April 21^st.

We arrived early for the 6:30 reservation Paul had made and walked past the restaurant to Kokua natural food store.

Inside the natural food store. We almost bought some frozen bacon but decided not to.

Paul and Faye arrived right on time and we got a nice table. It was BYOB and the food was great.

The March for Science on Earth Day

Andrea and I volunteered at the table for the Institute for Astronomy at the March for Science gathering at the lawn at Bachman Hall ath the University of Hawaii at Manoa on Saturdayday afternoon, April 22^nd. We worked the 2:00 to 4:00 PM shift.

This was a worldwide event. Andrea and I arrived at 1:30 to help set up.

Prof. Roy Gau takes a photo of Dan and Andrea.

Dan makes a sign for the march.

KITV was there interviewing people.

A beautiful lawn in front of Bachman Hall. Sinclaire Library is on the left.

It started getting busy long before the march was scheduled to begin at 4:00 PM. It started half an hour late.

Hawaii Hall in the old part of the campus.

Coming back from Hemenway Hall where the nearest restroom was. Bike rack beams were set up for checking in bicycles.

Some speech making before the march down to King Street and back.

Institute for Astronomy Open House

Andrea and I volunteered at the table for the Institute for Astronomy (IFA) at their Open House across from Noelani Elementary School Sunday afternoon, April 23^rd. We worked the 12:00 to 1:15 PM shift.

Scanned copy of the program flyer.

The acoustic flame device fascinated the children.

Andrea manned the reception table for Friends of the IFA.

Tales of Hoffman at Hawaii Opera Theater

Andrea and I met Faye later Sunday afternoon, April 23^rd, for the Hawaii Opera Theater (HOT) performance of Tales of Hoffman.

We sat fairly close to the stage in row F.

Reading the program in the first of two intermissions.

With "creation of Adam" in Cafe Sistina for dinner with Paul afterward.

Monday morning I scanned this piece about Hillary Clinton's work to save elephants.

Monday afternoon we went to the beach and saw that these two hau trees had been cut down.

Aina Haina Prepared Tsunami Presentation

Andrea and I went to the AHP meeting at Wailupe Community Park (the old elementary school) on Tuesday evening, April 25^th.

Tuesday morning I repotted the false kamani on the left into a bunjin pot.

Danny helped Linda get out of her car and into her wheelchair.

Guest presenter from the city disaster agency.

Wednesday morning Andrea took this photo of me wearing the rocket scientist cap that the Kalani students got for me from NASA in Houston.

On Wednesday, April 26^th, my son Thomas posted this text message on Facebook about his hardships and successes:

Tonight, I am celebrating. I will explain why, but forewarning, this is a long post.
Seven years ago I was put into the situation I've been in living on my own, under circumstances I'd like to keep anonymous because of personal/family reasons. Nothing bad, just shit happens.
From then I've worked my ass off trying to scrape a living off of nothing after having lost everything twice. I tried to stay in school; but I went from a shitty minimum wage job and school, to a shitty minimum wage job and school while on EBT, to multiple jobs at once (at one point four jobs at once), to continuing to to the same thing for years after having to drop out to keep from becoming homeless, and so on and so forth.
And I HATE asking for help. I've asked my parents a few times but every time has made my depression worse. I hate asking for help. Even when I need it I've hated it. I'll avoid it at all costs if I can even to my detriment because accepting help makes me feel useless and burdensome.
I don't want help, I want to make my own way.
But again, tonight I am celebrating. Why?
Because after seven years, five of which I have spent at the bike shop I work at, I picked up my final check at what was my second job.
I'm finally making enough at one job, that I can start living like a normal person. I can finally start trying to get back to myself, my projects, my own future. I'm no longer working 50 to 80 hours a week trying to keep from losing anymore. Of course I have to thank many people for this, but most especially Katherine Selby whom I believe to be the love of my life for helping me out at home.
Tonight I celebrate, moving forward. For this first time in a long time.
P.s. and a special thanks that I should have added especially to my parents Andrea Wagner and Rick Wagner for raising me, dealing with me, and still paying for the phone service from which I made this post possible.

On Thursday morning I scanned a thank you note I got from some students for a tour at Manoa Heritage Center. Andrea got one too.

Final Anthropocene Class at the University of Hawaii

Andrea and I attended the final weekly anthropocene class at UH on Thursday morning, April 27^rd.

The head of the undergraduate program in earth science introduced two student speakers (seated far left).

One student described a study performed in antarctica.

During the break I photographed a mother duck with some of her ducklings.

On Friday I went to the beach for a swim while Andrea gave a tour at Manoa Heritage Center. Sunny at Sans Souci but a storm townside.

Ellison Onizuka Day of Exploration

Andrea and I volunteered at the Ellison Onizuka Day of Exploration at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall on Saturday, April 29^th.

We arrived before 8:00 AM to help in workshop registration. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Opening ceremony began on the Ewa side at 8:30.

The day honors astronaut Ellison Onizuka, a Big Island eagle scout who died in the Challenger accident.

Mayor Caldwell gave an inspiring speech.

Andrea at the workshp registration table.

I walked around and looked at exhibits. This is a pool with underwater robots.

Wizard Jake, who wrote the TV series Myth Busters, gave a science talk and demo.

Team Magma (FRC 3008) demonstrated VEX and Lego robots.

Andrea and I also helped Mark with the parachute drop workshop.

In the first parachute drop workshop Mark and I chatted about rocket science. I wore the "Rocket Scientist" cap the
Team Magma students gave me.

Parachutes!

Here are some Chess games I played against the computer in April.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com