I photographed a schefflera I have been growing on a rock for some time.
Bonsai schefflera, root on rock style.
Hanafuda at the Manoa Heritage Center
Andrea and I went to the Manoa Heritage Center on Tuesday morning, May 2, to learn more about the card game hanafuda and to hear about
the new Hawaiian card design from Helen Nakano's son Jason.
After two games of hanafuda Andrea and I went to lunch at Le Crepe Cafe in Manoa Marketplace.
While waiting for Andrea's tour group of five to arrive after lunch, I recorded the water dripping on the rain chains.
Daughter Malia and Grandson Trystan at a Mexican restaurant in Newport News, Virginia.
Dinner at DK Steakhouse
Andrea and I went to dinner at the DK Steakhouse on Kalakaua Avenue. We got a table on the lanai overlooking the beach on Thursday
evening, May 4.
We were able to get a table on the lanai so we could watch the sunset.
Contemplating the menus. Photo by Andrea.
Peeking through the vegetation at the waves. Photo by Andrea.
We had the hibiscus margaritas. Delicious. Photo by our waiter, Jason, who also lives in Aina Haina.
I had the ten ounce steak. Andrea had the salmon. Six PM is a good time to arrive for the sunset. Photo by Andrea.
A small and light dessert to share. Photo by Andrea.
Cinco de Mayo with Paul and Faye
Andrea and I invited Paul and Faye over for Cinco de Mayo dinner of fish tacos and margaritas on Friday evening, May 5. We played bocce
before it got dark. Faye and I beat Paul and Andrea 10 to 8. After dinner outdoors on the lanai table, we went inside for dessert and
a few games of hanafuda with the new Hawaiian cards given to us by Helen Nakano.
We played a few games of hanafuda with the beautiful Hawaiian cards and gave a deck to Paul and Faye to take back to Connecticut with them.
Manoa Heritage Center
I had a ten AM tour at Manoa Heritage Center. Four people from here. Meanwhile, Andrea had two tours at the mission houses, one at eleven
and one at one, on Saturday, May 6. I made a fish sandwich for lunch when I got home.
The front lawn has the best view of the 1911 Tudor house for photographs.
Betty Young's Ninety-Seventh Birthday Party
Saturday evening, May 6, Andrea and I went to Betty Young's 97th birthday party at the Waialae Country Club in Kahala.
We brought two lei. One from us, and one from Joleen who was in Fairfax, Virginia, for the UH volleyball tournament.
Andrea give Betty the lei from Joleen.
The view out the back of the country club party room. The Maunalua Bay. See the two mauna?
Conversation before dinner.
Sabrina was MC and she did a great job, too.
Another view with Betty and Sabrina, her granddaughter.
Andrea took a photo of a beautiful dessert.
Betty blew out the candles on her birthday cake.
Dinner with Paul and Faye
We had Paul and Faye over for dinner on Wednesday evening, May 10. We made rum cocktails with the watermelon puree that Faye had
given us. Paul and Faye also brought salmon and New York strip steaks which we grilled on the Big Green Egg. After dinner we
went indoors and had some fancy desserts that Andrea had gotten from Fendu Boulangerie at Manoa Marketplace.
We set up a buffet on the dining table.
Eating outside with Emma and the Cabernet wine that Paul and Faye brought.
Special desserts indoors after dinner on the lanai. We played farkle later. Faye won.
Nā Lei Likeʻole with Bill Char
Andrea and I attended Nā Lei Likeʻole with Bill Char at Hoʻokela Hawaiian Heritage and Culture Center at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki,
on the 2nd floor of Pualeilani, on Friday evening, May 12.
View of the center court from the second floor of the Hyatt.
The Hoʻokela center on the second floor.
Rainbow Bonsai Club Meeting on Mother's Day
Andrea and I went to the RBC monthly meeting in Kaneohe, on Sunday morning, May 14.
We arrived at the Ahuimanu Homeowner's Association Clubhouse a little early to help set up.
There is a swimming pool in the back.
Getting ready for the benefit drawing.
President Pat pulls a ticket. Photo by Andrea.
Later I talked about my red hibiscus bonsai. Photo by Andrea.
John talked about his cascade dwarf Natal plum. Photo by Andrea.
Nearly done pruning the hibiscus while Shogo watches. Photo by Andrea.
Juan, Rick, and Jonathan watch Pat work on Jonathan's jade bonsai.
Prosecco and flowers for Mother's Day.
Cheers! We had a fantastic grilled lamb dinner.
First Hawaiian Bank
On Tuesday morning, May 16, I went to FHB to sign a signature form as VP of Aina Haina Prepared at the request of our treasurer.
I took this photo while I waited for the bank person. The new bank building has an interesting lofted ceiling.
On Wednesday evening, I took this photo of the blooming lotus at the neighbor up the street's house on our evening walk with Andrea.
Maiapilo at our house, evening walk, Thursday.
Lotus at house up the street, evening walk, Thursday.
A new is coming moon Saturday. Lunar calendar from the Thirty Meter Telescope organization. Click image to see the full resolution version.
Hawaii Bonsai Association Pot Sale
On Sunday morning, May 21, Andrea and I went to the bonsai pot sale at the Fong residence near Judd Street. We bought a few pots
for ourselves and many pots for the Rainbow Bonsai Club.
These are pots we bought for us.
We also got ourselves this beautiful set of red mame pots.
Pots we bought for the club. I was authorized to spend up to a thousand dollars.
More pots we bought for the club. I wrote the club check for $365.
Classic British Mysteries
My first three hour Zoom class was on Monday, May 22, at 9:00 AM. We watched and discussed Gosford Park, 2001.
Over 30 people attended the OLLI class.
Okinawa Festival Committee Meeting
I volunteered to assist the president of Hawaii Bonsai Association in the preparations for our annual show at the Okinawa Festival in the
Convention Center. I attended my first meeting via Zoom on Monday evening, May 22.
It was a productive meeting. Warren also attended by Zoom.
Took this photo of our maiapilo blossom after our morbing walk on Tuesday, the 23rd. Later we went to urgent care for my two week old cough.
I got some antibiotics and some symptomatic relief medicine. Two negative covid tests a week apart.
Another maiapilo blooming well on Wednesday morning after our walk down to the bridge and back.
Bonsai with Juan
Juan came over Friday morning, May 26, to pick up the Chinese plum I had been keeping for him while he traveled. He brought his tools
and we did some work on it.
Before Juan arrived, I photographed an 'ohia 'ai (mountain apple) and a kou tree in training, both Polynesian introductions.
This is Juan's Chinese plum after we worked on it.
Juan with his bonsai.
Memorial Day Weekend
The weather was calm and clear to kick off the weekend. I flew the flag and mowed the lawn, and Andrea did Mission House tours.
Saturday, flying Old Glory in memory of our war dead.
Sunday, flying the flag after taking it down for the night.
Sunday's philosophy meetup question was "can civilization survive the century?"
Andrea finished her refurbishment of the sun-moon mirror we got at a yard sale and we hung it up on Memorial Day. Photo by Andrea.
New City Nissan
Andrea had an appointment for car service at New City Nissan on Tuesday, May 30. I went with her because of a recurring tire pressure
indicator problem. Apparently it was a software error that they were able to fix.
On our morning walk before breakfast we saw this night heron in the stream near the Hind Drive bridge. Photo by Andrea.
In the showroom waiting for the car to be serviced.
Afterward we stopped at Whole Foods for some groceries.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com