Volunteers from the Waikiki Community Center asked if they could gather ti leaves at our house for a giant lei for a Memorial Day
event at the Punchbowl Cemetary. Naturally, we said yes, and they arrived Friday afternoon, April 1.
Collecting the ti leaves.
Group photo afterward.
Hawaii Regional FRC
Andrea and I attended the playoffs to support Team Magma, FRC 3008, Kalani High School at the Hawaii Regional FIRST Robotics Competition (FRC)
at the Stan Sheriff Center at UH Manoa on Saturday afternoon, April 2. In the morning I gave Chris a call in memory of our mother's birthday.
She would be 102 today if she were alive.
Mentor Wayland helping in the pit.
Talking with a member of the drive team. Photo by Andrea.
With team alumna and the Woody Flowers cutout. Photo by Andrea.
Kalani High teacher and team mentor Bryan Silver. Photo by Andrea.
Team members in the stands.
Setting up for the quarterfinal.
Shooting balls in autonomous mode.
Andrea and I caught on camera. Image from Anne Torige via Facebook.
Andrea roasted a duck for dinner.
The duck was delicious.
Dinner Under the Lychee Tree
Andrea and I invited Paul and Faye and Joleen over for dinner Sunday evening, April 3.
We played bocce and then had wine and pupu, followed by barbecued rack of lamb.
Take two.
Sans Souci Beach
Andrea and I went for a swim Monday Morning, April 4.
Andrea reads on the beach after our swim.
Manoa Heritage Center
Andrea and I went to Manoa Heritage Center (MHC) where Andrea gave a tour at 3:00 PM, Wednesday afternoon, to six visitors, April 6.
Andrea took a walk Wednesday morning and took this beautiful photo.
Andrea gave the tour at MHC.
Security Camera
After the two stolen bonsai last week, I bought a security camera (Anran 1080P) and installed it on Thursday, April 7.
We went to the beach in the morning and I saw this dead humuhumunukunuku washed up on the sand. Probably a fishing victim.
I built a support and shade for the Anran pan and tilt wifi camera with solar panel.
Here's a sample image from the camera. The model is Q01 from the box it came in, but it's called a 1080P on their Website.
Solar Backup Unit Saga
Our Bluetti EB240 solar battery backup power unit failed completely Sunday after some intermittent failures. I have been contacting
the company for warranty replacement.
BluettiB240-11.jpg. Boots up without errors.
BluettiB240-12.jpg. DC power comes on without errors.
BluettiB240-13.jpg. AC shows E014 error code.
BluettiB240-14.jpg. AC alone shows E014 error code.
BluettiB240-15.jpg. Back of unit, nothing plugged in.
Jesus Christ Superstar at Diamond Head Theater
Andrea and I went to see the musical on Saturday afternoon, April 9.
We arrived half an hour before the 3:00 PM performance.
The stage set. Then I turned off my phone as required.
Rainbow Bonsai Club Monthly Meeting
Andrea and I attended the club meeting on Sunday, April 10, at 9:00 AM.
Once again the kennel club was taking up a lot of space.
I walked to the far end of the park and took this photo looking back at the restrooms. The elementary school is on the right.
Members brought trees for show and tell. Photo by Mel Carrillo.
Mel brought the donated tree for the demonstration on May 29. Photo by Andrea.
I talked about the citrus chokan I brought. Photo by Andrea.
John talked about his premna on a rock.
Afterward we went to a house nearby that had some trees to dig prior to landscaping.
Mel got a selfie with many club members.
Mel made a flyer for our next meeting.
Mel also made a flyer for our upcoming show and demonstration event.
Fern Education at Manoa Heritage Center
Andrea and I attended the class on native ferns Tuesday, April 12, at 9:00 AM.
I brought the bonsai named Bobo back to Keala and Kevin to take care of. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
Nani, a PhD candidate at UH, gave a talk in the classroom.
We went outside and looked at the ferns.
Some sword ferns by the house.
Dinner with Leon and Judy at Bozu
Andrea and I met Leon and Judy at Bozu restaurant in the McCully shopping center on Tuesday, April 12.
It's a small place with good Japanese food.
Photo by our waitress with Judy's phone.
Solar Backup Unit Saga Continues
I opened our Bluetti EB240 solar battery backup power unit as instructed by the service person, Jojo.
I removed the six screws and pulled the back.
A view down into the unit. I sent the photos to Jojo.
Wine Tasting with Democrats
Andrea and I attended the fundraiser at Hasr Wines in Chinatown Wednesday evening, April 13 at 5:30 PM.
We had several wines starting with pinot grigio and going through rose, chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet, and a red blend.
Lots of political discussions too.
I gathered the tools in preparation for connector reseating. Afterward the same error code (E014) occurred one second after AC on.
Hokulea sailed past Waipio Valley on the way to Hilo from Honolulu on its voyage to Tahiti. Photo from Sam Low via Facebook.
Sans Souci Beach
Andrea and I went for a swim at Sans Souci Beach on Good Friday morning, April 15.
After my swim and pullups, I photographed this big hau tree at the Natatorium.
Pili's Birthday Party
Andrea and I went to Keala and Kevin's son's first birthday party on Saturday morning, April 16.
Went down the stairs to the Manoa Stream area below the Hawaiian Studies building.
We walked along the pathway that went under the Dole Street bridge on the Manoa Stream.
Coming back Andrea photographed the lo'i.
An artwork and hale. Photo by Andrea.
Closer to the stream was a much larger konane stone.
We had very good lunches on the green benches.
Photo by Andrea.
Keala with Pili. His real name is Ellis. Pili means entwine or embrace.
On the way out we stopped for a photograph with Keala and Pili.
Metaphotography of a mural at the Hawaiian Studies building on Dole Street.
Andrea's photograph of the mural.
Easter Sunday
Easter fell on April 17.
The Easter bunny brought cards for us. I got Easter candy and a small tripod too. Test photo with the tripod.
Andrea went to see Mom in the afternoon.
Termite Treatment
On Monday morning, April 18, Integrated Pest Management came to treat the kitchen and study for termites.
Andrea put pantry food on the dining table and cleaned the pantry shelves.
We went to Foodland and got a bento to split for lunch and chicken for dinner Wednesday night. After lunch we went to the vacuum cleaner shop
to pick up the one left last week for repair.
I downloaded this Ram Dass image from Facebook. No words.
Adele came to drop off books Tuesday morning, April 19, and triggered this
driveway video (MP4 file).
A moment from the driveway video.
Downloaded from Facebook on Tuesday afternoon.
Eric got the box of goodies we sent for his birthday. Photo by Becky.
Dinner with Pete, Kim, and Tom
We invited Pete, Kim, and their son Tom over for dinner on Wednesday evening. They're in the Islands for a week, staying with cousin
Lynn.
Wednesday morning Andrea went to the Maunalua Heritage Center to look at the fresh water spring and the dilapidated house designed by Vladimir
Ossipoff. Photo by Andrea.
Conversation indoors. Photo by Andrea.
The weather cooperated so we ate out under the lychee tree.
Thursday morning, April 21, FedEx was across the street so I asked the driver if he could pick up the return Dell computer that I had a shipping
label for. He said if it had a G on it he could pick it up. Sure enough, he scanned into the system the box and took it away. Tracking
number 950356410790762.
Reading After Dinner
I have been reading Bewilderment by Richard Powers, an excellent book.
And eating chocolate haupia given to us by Keala. Photo by Andrea. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
Beautiful at the Blaisdell Center
We went to see Beautiful, the Carole King musical, at the Blaisdell Center on Friday night (8:00 PM show), April 22.
I installed Andrea's new microphone and camera in the morning. She has the black colored professional mike. Various modes shown.
Normally the cardioid pattern will be used for Zoom sessions.
I worked on my bonsai citrus last week. It's a formal upright and coming along nicely.
I took this photo of the stage set before turning off my phone. The place was nearly full before the show started.
175th Anniversary Tour of Washington Place
We went to see the governor's mansion, built 175 years ago, for the public open house, on Saturday, April 23.
We parked behind the department of health and walked past the parking entrance to the capitol.
We had arrived half an hour early for the 1:00 PM event so we walked over to the State art museum. Photo by Andrea.
Exhibit on the ground floor of the State art museum.
At the Eddie Kamai photo exhibit.
Checking in. We got the time wrong due to a confusing ticket, but we got in OK due to a helpful volunteer.
The tour started at the front of the building.
The music room of Queen Liliuokalani with a koa wood grand piano and na kahili lua.
The State formal dining room. It seats 20. Queen Elizabeth II ate there during the George Ariyoshi governorship.
We went upstairs after seeing the Blue Room, and Governor Ige came up while we were there.
Visit with Lenore
Andrea met cousin Kim at the care home to visit Lenore on Sunday morning, April 24.
Kim with Mom. Photo by Andrea.
Wailua, team 359, posted this photo of the Hawaii teams at Worlds in Houston. Click the image to see the full resolution photo.
Mate in two puzzle from Facebook, Monday, April 25. I got it, so it must be easy.
Wednesday morning, April 27, I photographed this scheflera on a rock in a bird bath in front of our house.
History Theater at Hawaiian Mission Houses
Andrea and I went to the Hawaiian Mission Houses for the History Theater event on Wednesday evening, April 27.
We checked in and then got bentos and wine for our dinner before the show.
First up was missionary wife Clarissa Richards played by Emily Wright. Later Charles Cooke, missionary son, was played by Christopher Denton.
Mate in two puzzle from Facebook, Friday, April 29. I got it, so it must be easy.
Brainstorm Barbecue
Andrea and I invited Democrats over for a brainstorming barbecue on Saturday evening, April 30. We talked about putting on a
candidate's forum in a public park among other things.
Wine and pupu while the steaks grilled on the big green egg.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com