On Monday, July 1, Andrea photographed this ginger about to bloom.
Thursday morning I put up the flag for Independence Day. Photo by Andrea.
Andrea photographed the water lilies blooming in the morning.
Thursday afternoon Andrea and I harvested our bananas.
Just cut and catch.
We invited Joleen over for a hot dog dinner and we played bocce. I won.
Franks, brats, potato salad, and watermelon. Cheers! Joleen brought the beans and brownies for dessert.
Saturday evening I photographed our mystery flower. Andrea brings home seeds sometimes and I plant them. Anybody recognize it?
Aina Haina Citizen Patrol Walk
Andrea and I walked with the Aina Haina Citizen Patrol Monday morning, July 8.
We left home at 6:30 AM and walked down to the Aina Haina Post Office for the rendezvous. I couldn't resist photographing this dramatic cloud formation.
We got there at ten til seven and waited for everyone to get there.
Half way through the walk we stopped for a group selfie. I untilted and flipped left-right this photo that Adele sent.
Mickey Mouse Tree Bonsai
I began to make bonsai from a volunteer mickey mouse tree, from a seed probably dropped by a bird. I put the seedling in a pot and let it grow.
I'm going to make a bonsai of this mickey mouse tree. Thanks to Andrea and Sam for helping to identify it. This is the before shot, Monday, July 8.
Andrea asked me to photograph this water lily while she went with Joleen to Hula Monday afternoon.
Tuesday morning, July 9: Step two in the Mickey Mouse Bonsai creation. I have double wound the trunk with 2.5mm bonsai wire and
put as much gentle curve in it as I could without breaking anything. I will not cut any now but enjoy the flowers for a while.
Tuesday morning at 11:00 AM I had my Querying class Zoom session. I have now queried 109 literary agents with 34 rejections so far,
and probably a large portion out to never land. I intend to query every agency in the English-speaking world that accepts science fiction
queries from Hawaii. Some London and Aussie agencies say explicitly for USA-based writers not to bother.
My sister Christina sent me this photo of her dog, Beautiful Belle, at her graduation from obedience school.
Wednesday morning, July 10, Andrea performed hula with her halau, Halau Hula o Manoa, for residents of Arcadia care home,
including the 99-year-old mother of one of the halau sisters.
In my role in the SFWA committee on emerging technologies, I recieved this
white paper
on AI on the Web.
Midsummer Party
Andrea and I threw a summer party on Saturday evening, July 13. Over twenty people came for the fun.
I sat down and chatted with guests. Photo by Andrea.
State House Representative Mark Hashem and his son Noah attended. Photo by Andrea.
When most of the guests had served themselves, I got a plate. Photo by Andrea.
We had to pull out the reserve chairs. Table space was at a premium under the lychee tree.
There was a nice cooling breeze, no rain, all evening.
Fortunately people could hold their plates on their laps.
Everyone appreciated the beautiful space under the big old shady lychee tree.
I talked with Mark whom Simina had brougth with her. Photo by Andrea.
Andrea conducted a mini yarn lei making workshop in the front room.
After dark I talked with old friends Chris and Doug. Photo by Andrea.
Rainbow Bonsai Club Meeting and Potluck
Sunday morning, July 14, Andrea and I went to Kaneohe for the monthly RBC meeting. Tradtionally, the July meeting is a picnic or potluck.
Scott Benis, our treasurer, brought a portable gas grill and cooked some sausages for everyone.
Andrea outside the hui clubhouse, admiring the scenery.
President Pat called the meeting to order while Secretary Eddie took notes.
The meeting room has a high open ceiling and clerestory window.
After working on bonsai I got a plate and ate my fill.
The HBA show is coming up on the 28th of July at new venue Kaimuki Middle School.
Tuesday morning, July 16, Andrea photographed our blooming ohia in the front yard.
Tuesday afternoon I had my fourth writing circle Zoom meeting. My story was Colors Problems.
Tuesday afternoon Andrea photographed the small pineapple I had harvested the day before.
Wednesday afternoon my friend Gary brought over some mahogany seeds he picked up in Tahiti. The tree is from South America.
Andrea photographed this maiapilo blossom Thursday morning on our before breakfast walk.
Thursday morning: our chocolate orchid on the wall is blooming again. Smells like vanilla.
Sunday morning, the twenty-first, I started getting my milo forest ready for the HBA show in one week.
Sunday afternoon I had my monthly philosophy Zoom meetup. The topic was "does science make belief in God obsolete?".
Television Bonsai Interviews
Eddie Oi, the HBA Event Chair, arranged for two TV interviews before the HBA show on Sunday the 28th, one on Monday evening at KITV
on King Street and one on Tuesday morning at KHON on Piʻikoi.
Monday morning, July 22, Andrea photographed this maiapilo seedpod on our before breakfast walk.
We now have a new Democratic presidential candidate. Looks like an AI rendering.
Later monday morning, I photographed Andrea wearing her feminist shirt.
Eddie picked me up and drove us to KITV where we waited in the room with two other groups presenting in that 4:00 to 5:00 hour.
Still waiting at 4:04 PM. I went last.
Lina interviewed me. Photo of TV screen by Andrea.
We brought two bonsai supplied by Alvin Chang, our show chair, and one in the middle that is my own.
Lina asked questions and I answered.
She was fun and professional.
This is the under-five-minutes-on-KITV video.
I kept Alvin's bonsai overnight and drove to KHON in the morning for their Wake Up 2 show.
Okinawa Festival Meeting
I went to the monthly general Okinawa Festival planning meeting on Tuesday night, July 23. I missed last month and Nelson covered. Nelson
couldn't make this one, and I covered.
There was a rainbow when I arrived so I couldn't resist a photograph.
This is the current layout. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
This is the bonsai area layout. Kent Bowman will add center tables and chairs for plants and demos. Click the image to see the full resolution version.
I made a short video as the meeting got underway.
These are my notes from the meeting:
Move-in is Friday, August 30, from 12:00 to 7:00 PM. Parking might be free but don't count on it.
Park in Row F (second floor) for loading. Use elevators 6 or 7 to the ground floor.
Parking is $15 for all day during the festival.
Before-hours volunteer entrance is on the far right of the lobby, 7:00 to 9:00 AM with volunteer wristband. Phone Nelson or Rick and
one of us will bring out a wrist band to you if you don't have one. Nelson: (808) xxx-xxxx, Rick: (808) xxx-xxxx.
Afternoon shift volunteers enter free at main doors with wristband.
Araki-Kawashima Family at the Manoa Heritage Center
Andrea and I supported the family reunion event at the Manoa Heritage Center on Thursday, the 25th.
It was drizzing steadily when we arrived at 9:30 in the morning.
Soon the family began to arrive.
We all went up to the Hogan House to talk story and have sandwiches for lunch.
Four generations were represented.
From the back of the Hogan House, a great view of Mānoa valley.
Clifford Araki is 94. Andrea, Loke, and I took three tour groups around the grounds after lunch. The rain had subsided.
Hawaii Bonsai Association Show
Andrea and I attended both days, Saturday for Setup and Sunday the 28th for the show. We helped set up and sold books.
Saturday
Show set up was on Saturday the 27th.
We got our book signing place set up. Photo by Andrea.
Work started at noon and most of the setup was done by 2:15.
The shohin display is complete at 2:53. Andrea and I left shortly after. Will be back in the morning with my forest bonsai.
Sunday
On Sunday the doors opened at 9:00 AM.
We got there before eight and I set up my seven tree milo forest. It was titled Ka Hale o ke Konohiki i ka Nahele
(The Landlord's House in the Forest). Click the image to see the full resolution image.
Lorraine, who was in charge this year, wore a nice head lei.
I was ready to sign books. We sold nine that day. Photo by Andrea.
Just before doors opening at nine they were lined up down to the restrooms behind the music room.
This is a video of the inrushing crowd. Notice the early buyers taking trees to the holding area even before everyone is in.
Some people came to see the exhibit and browsed the vending tables later.
Lots of people buying plants, pots, etc.
Andrea helped at the holding area and at the sales tables.
Two people looking at my Hawaiian style bonsai.
I was the announcer during the demonstration by Alvin and Nelson. Here I talk about the cloud shaped pot. Photo by Andrea.
I answered questions from the audience, this one about the jin. Photo by Andrea.
The beautiful completed demonstration tree. Photo by Andrea.
Sister Malia at the Manoa Heritage Center
Andrea and I attended the workshop on Hawaiian medicinal plants at the Manoa Heritage Center on Monday, the 29th.
We arrived before the start time of nine AM and went back to see the Philipino Garden.
Sister Malia began her workshop.
She began to pass out workshop materials.
We got busy making glycerine soap from laukahi and ʻokoleʻoiʻoi.
Letting my herbal soap cool in the heart shaped mold.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com