August 2017 Journal Photos

Toyota Service at Lex Brodie's on Queen Street

On Wednesday, August 2^nd, Andrea and I Drove to Lex Brodie's for a 7:00 AM appointment to have routine car service and safety check for the 2008 Corolla four door.

We arrived a little before seven.

We walked to Big City Diner in Ward Village for breakfast. Andrea saved half her breakfast special quesadilla for later.

The tire rotation and wheel balance were free, and the battery was replaced free under warranty. The new safety sticker is good for a year. We went to Ross on the way back from breakfast and got two pair of shorts for me and an assortment of acrylic paints for Andrea.

Manoa Heritage Center Tour

Also on Wednesday, August 2^nd, Andrea and I gave a tour at Manoa Heritage Center at 1:00 PM.

Andrea leads the way on the lower trail behind the heiau.

At Ku Ka Oo heiau.

Finding shade in the canoe garden.

Wednesday evening we went to G70 (a design company) on the fifth floor of the McCandless Building on Bethel Street downtown for an
Aina Haina Prepared meeting on using map tools. David Brotchie, a G70 Associate, is willing to donate some of his time to help.

Sans Souci Beach

On Thursday and Friday, August 3^rd and 4^th, Andrea and I also went to the beach in the afternoon.

On Thursday the two monk seals had taken over the middle portion of the beach. Photo by Andrea.

Rocky and Kaimana. Photo by Andrea.

On Friday the seals were on the Natatorium end of the beach. Photo by Andrea.

Kaimana is growing. Photo by Andrea.

Kaimana nursing.

On Sunday I finished the tile installation and set up to start painting.

Andrea painted the sun-faded gnomes that Robert sent me a few years ago.

I worked on my kengai (cascade) juniper today. Before.

After unwiring, pruning, rewiring, and repotting in the same pot.

The two gnomes after painting by Andrea, shown with cuttings planted for rooting from the cascade pruning.

Manoa Heritage Center Docent Enrichment Events

On Monday morning, August 7^th, Andrea and I went to the Manoa Heritage Center (MHC) for an enrichment event put on by Margo.

Margo gave a refresher on the purpose of the MHC and Hawaii cultural development.

Later I saw a tourist helicopter hover off the beach to get a look at the sleeping monk seals.

Tuesday afternoon, Andrea began painting her tile mural.

On Wednesday morning, we had another docent enrichment activity, this time with botanist Mike, a teacher at Punahou.

Ke Kani O Ke Kai

Andrea and I attended the final Hawaiian music concert, Ke Kani O Ke Kai, at the Aquarium, on Thursday, August 10^th.

Naturally we went to the beach first. Our beach friend John relaxes on the right while an interview takes place regarding the monk seals.

Doctor Rossiter, director of the Aquarium, attended the final event and addressed the audience on returning from his European travels.

Kaimani was up first, followed by Josh Tatofi, Blayne Asing, and Alex Kawakami. Henry Kapono made an impromptu appearance and sang with
Blayne and Alex when they performed his song together "Friends."

68^th Birthday

My 68^th birthday fell on Friday, August 11^th. After a breakfast of eggs Benedict, I worked on bonasi in the morning, repotting three trees. We went to the beach in the afternoon, and had cake and ice cream after a lobster dinner!

Andrea worked on her painting before we left for the beach. It's a picture of our Wailupe Valley.

There was some kind of rescue activity or training going on. Baby monk seal Kaimana (further up the beach) was alone, her mom Rocky
having left earlier in the day.

Andrea saw this tabloid front page when she went to the grocery store on the way home from her ukulele class. Photo by Andrea.

On Saturday I received a hula gnome in the mail from my son Robert. Photo by Andrea.

Rainbow Bonsai Club Monthly Meeting

Andrea and I attended the monthly bonsai club meeting on Sunday, August 13^th. After presiding at the business meeting, we adjuourned and had bonsai show and tell. Ryan, Keith, and I brought trees to show and talk about.

I loaded up the car with trees and tools and then took this picture of Andrea's painting. It's nearly done.

Ryan showed his bougainvillia after I talked about my Chinese elm.

Keith showed his "miracle berry," an unusual tree for bonsai.

Manoa Heritage Center Tour

Andrea and I gave a tour at Manoa Heritage Center on Tuesday afternoon, August 15^th. We went to the beach afterward.

Tour participants at the heiau.

Diamond Head Hiking Tour

Author and journalist Denby Fawcett gave a hiking tour of Diamond Head that Andrea and I attended on Thursday afternoon, August 17^th.

Earlier in the afternoon I took this photo of Andrea with her completed tile painting of our beloved Wailupe Valley.

We drove into Diamond Head via the tunnel and parked and waited for the shuttle bus to take us back outside to the Kapahulu tunnel
to begin the hike.

Stephany was there too. Photo by Andrea.

We got off the bus at Battery H.

Walking up to the battery. Photo by Andrea.

Denby Fawcett told us about the eight 12 inch mortars, four on this side, and four on the other side.

Then we hiked up the road to the Kapahulu tunnel and got a talk about the cultural considerations of Leahi.

The Kapahulu tunnel. I had never been there before.

Inside the tunnel we got a talk about the future of the park.

The view of the crater after emerging from the tunnel.

Sandy Beach Cleanup with Kalani Robotics

Andrea and I helped with the Sandy Beach cleanup on Sunday morning, August 20^th. The Kalani Robotics team met at Sandy Beach at 07:45. A Parks and Recreaction Department man met us there and told us what to do. Then students organized the effort under Mr. Silver's direction. The Matson company sponsored the event.

Sunday morning I received a set of pictures from Becky of her balloon ride with Eric and his marriage proposal.

The team broke up into several smaller groups. I went with the group near the road.

Another group went through the naupaka nearer the water.

We went the length of Sandy Beach and then headed back to the Matson container.

Loading trash into the Matson container.

Afterward we stopped at Costco to buy a new coffee maker and then Andrea took Lenore to lunch at Jack-in-the-Box in Waimanalo.

Democratic Party Fundraiser at Bishop Museum

On Sunday evening, August 20^th, Andrea and I attended the "Pupus and Politics Hawaiian Style" fundraiser for the Democratic Party of Hawaii at the Bishop Museum.

The Hawaiian luau dinner was served in the Hale Waa.

It was full house with seating for over 200.

Senator Mazie Hirono was there. Also speaking later were Governor Ige, Senator Schatz, Mayor Caldwell, etc.

We left early and got cocktails at the beach bar at the Kaimana Hotel. I tried a zombie for the first time. It was good.

We also tried their Honolulu cocktail, also good. Photo by bartender Ashlee.

Monday morning I wore my new T-shirt. It says "I'm not arguing, I'm just explaining why I'm right." Photo by Andrea.

Kapiolani Park Preservation Society Meeting

After a 1:00 PM court appearance as witnesses on Monday, August 21^st, Andrea and I attended the Kapiolani Park Preservation Society (KPPS) meeting at the Outrigger Canoe Club (OCC).

We drove hom from the court hearing (where the accused pleaded no contest to leaving the scene of an accident) at 2:15 PM and then went
to the beach before the KPPS meeting. It was high tide on a new moon (and solar eclipse) day. This is the highest I have ever seen the
water here at the Natatorium.

At the OCC waiting for the KPPS meeting to start. The main presentation was on the planned Centenial Park in Waikiki.

After the meeting we went to Wisp in the Lotus Hotel for drinks, pupu, and Hawaiian music and hula by Rae.

Aina Haina Prepared

Andrea and I assisted Aina Haina Prepared on Tuesday, August 22^nd.

After lunch Andrea practiced her ukulele. She's getting pretty good.

Andrea helped Danny person the table at Aina Haina kid's night and I brought dinner from McDonalds.

Later in the evening we attended Danny's shelter operations training session.

Manoa Valley Huakai

Kumu Kai Crouch lead a huakai (walking tour) in Manoa District Park on Thursday, August 24^th, at 5:00 PM.

First stop at the makai side of the park. The king of Maui conquered Oahu first, making it easier for Kamehameha to follow and conquer him.

We heard a story about the Punahou stone at the small theater at the mauka side of the park.

Picnic with Lenore

Andrea and I picked up Lenore and took her for a picnic lunch at the park in Aina Haina on Sunday, August 27^th.

Andrea made oven fried chicken and macaroni salad.

We got a good table with shade. Photo by Andrea.

The table nearby had ukulele players.

Dinner and a Movie at Wisp

Andrea and I picked up Lenore and took her for a picnic lunch at the park in Aina Haina on Sunday, August 27^th.

Gary Bowersox, the Afghanistan gem hunter, brought some for display along with his book and DVD.

I got a photo of Don, producer of the movie events, standing by the screen.

Cropped version of the above photo of Don.

Kalani Robotics Planning Meeting

Andrea and I attended the planning meeting with students and parents at Kalani High School on Monday evening, August 28^th.

We had a nice rainbow when we arrived before 6:00 PM.

The meeting was in the cave.

Food was available but we ate before we came.

Manoa Heritage Center Tour

Andrea and I conducted a tour at the MHC on Wednesday morning, August 30^th.

On Tuesday I went to the beach by myself while Andrea stayed home. It started to rain. Earlier we stopped at the Verizon kisosk
in Kahala Mall to get my Galaxy S7 phone replaced. The battery had swollen alarmingly. This is the first photo taken with the new phone.

Andrea tells the Schofield Stroller Warriors about the history of the Cooke family.