January 2025 Journal Photos
New Year's Day
We slept in 'til past seven, took our morning walk, and had a light breakfast. I did a workout with weights and Andrea took a longer walk in
the morning. After lunch, Andrea began de-decorating while I read Agency, the 2020 book by William Gibson. We watched the news on TV,
had delicious New Orleans gumbo for dinner, went for a walk, saw the sliver new moon and Venus. We read some more, then read in bed before turning
out the lights at nine.
Andrea took this photo of our first maiapilo blossom (Hawaiian native plant) of the year on our morning walk, New Year's Day.
Spectrum Store
After the Spectrum cable modem upgrade, we had to return the old modem and new unused wifi router. We have a much better wifi system so
we didn't use the new one included in the Spectrum internet upgrade. We drove to the Spectrum store in Ala Moana mall on Thursday morning,
the 2nd.
People in line to check in. The wait after check-in was much longer. We spent over a hour in the store, but we got the hardware returned.
I noticed my sandalwood (ʻiliahi) was blooming so I photographed it after lunch on Thursday.
New Lawnmower
I was unable to get a new 5AH EGO lawnmower battery from Lowe's online so I just ordered a whole new mower. This one has a 6AH battery so
it may last a little bit longer. The old battery was warranted for 3 years and that's how long it lasted. It's the major part of the
mower cost. When new, the 5AH lithium battery would mow my lawn twice, and at end of life I had to recharge it twice during the mow.
Photo by Andrea, Sunday, January 5, 2025.
Monday morning ResearchGate notified me of a milestone for an international conference paper.
Here's a
Web version of the paper.
Mango Tree Pruning
Our neighbor across the street had his mango tree pruned on Monday, January 6. The crew brought a wood chipper and worked all day on it.
There are two people in the tree in this photo.
Miscellaneous Photographs
I took some miscellaneous photographs on Tuesday the seventh.
I brought in a sprouting Joshua tree from a seed from Becky in a pot given to me by Malia.
Kedge next door gave us an Axis deer antler from Maui and I made a stand for Andrea's souvenir glass ball from the Kaʻiwi coast run-walk.
School Tour at the Mānoa Heritage Center
Andrea and I assisted with the Kaimuki Christian School tour for third and fourth graders at the Mānoa Heritage Center on Thursday,
January 9 beginning at 9:00 AM.
I had the heiau station and photographed Kathleen, Kanoa, and assistant while waiting for the second group of keiki.
The canoe (Kaʻahaʻaina) garden. There was a snack break after the third shift of five. Photo by Andrea
Laura teaches a group about the canoe (Polynesian introduced) plants.
In case you're wondering about the cause of the fires in Lahaina, Malibu, Pacific Palisades, and Pasadena, all within a year.
On our after-dinner walk Thursday evening, Andrea photographed a glowing sky.
Becky took a photo at Christmastime of Eric's dad and nieces with the pineapple Andrea and I sent them for Christmas in New York.
I first read a Le Guin novel in the 1960s, and have read several more since. I hadn't read The Dispossessed until Damien Walter,
Facebook's Science Fiction group moderator, recommened it. It may be Le Guin's best, and is certainly in the top 100 SF novels. It hits
the mark in both politics and psychology.
Mitsuo Aoki Legacy Foundation Annual Meeting
Andrea and I went to the Mitsuo Aoki Legacy Foundation annual meeting at the Church of the Crossroads in Moʻiliʻil on University
Avenue Saturday morning, January 11. Lunch was served.
We arrived early and checked in before walking to the Japanese Cultural Center on Beretania to see the New Year Festival.
Lots of food vendors at the Japanese Cultural Center.
We went in through the big gate.
We went to the dojo and watched an introduction for a few minutes.
Back at the Church of the Crossroads, Andrea photographed me returning to the table after greeting my friend former governor
Neil Abercrombie.
The ceremony is about to begin.
Foundation President Alan Gamble introduced the honoree for the year, Hob Osterlund, receiving the Mitsuo Aoki 2024 Community Service Award.
There was then a wonderful buffet lunch. Photo by Andrea.
Rainbow Bonsai Club Monthly Meeting
Andrea went shopping while I attended the monthly Rainbow meeting, always the second Sunday of the month, January 12, this time, at 9:00 AM
in Kaneohe. It rained most of the way as I drove over the Like Like Highway to Ahuimanu subdivision.
I finished working on the ficus I brought just as the meeting was getting ready to start. John brought some tools to share.
A closer view of my Chinese ficus. This bonsai was in a HBA show at the Okinawa Festival one year.
Treasurer, President, and Secretary ready to begin.
Loraine asked me to help her with her jade bonsai, so I did a demonstration of the weeping style after the business meeting.
Closeup of the completed weeping jade.
Amy Book and Poetry Reading at the Manoa Heritage Center
Andrea and I drove separately to the reading at MHC. She stayed after for hula with the halau.
We sat in a circle to listen to Amy read her work.
Writers Circle Lunch at Gyotaku
Andrea and I joined the local members of the Writers Circle for lunch at Gyotaku on King Street on Tuesday, the 14th.
All seven of us arrived before the restaurant opened at 11:00 AM.
It's a popular lunch place that serves dinner, too.
I photographed our table after we ordered lunch.
Our waitress took a photo with Andrea's phone after we had eaten.
Plant Life
While doing morning exercise on Wednesday, the 15th, I photographed some plants that came to my attention.
Morning walk, photo by Andrea.
The pink trumpet flower tree bonsai has leafed out after defoliation and wiring a month ago (11 December 2024).
My chocolate orchid growing on a stone wall has bloomed again. Smells like hot chocolate!
My orange bougainvillea bonsai is blooming again.
Becky and Eric got the anniversary card we sent.
I came across these quotes from Nicola Tesla on Thursday the 16th:
“The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude.”
“There is something within me that might be an illusion as it is often the case with young delighted people.”
“In the twenty-first century, the robot will take the place which slave labor occupied in ancient civilization.”
“The scientific man does not aim at an immediate result. He does not expect that his advanced ideas will be readily taken up.”
“We are all one. Only egos, beliefs, and fears separate us.”
“There is no conflict between the ideal of religion and the ideal of science, but science is opposed to theological dogmas because
science is founded on fact.”
“What one man calls God, another calls the laws of physics.”
“Peace can only come as a natural consequence of universal enlightenment and merging of races, and we are still far from this blissful
realization.”
“I do not think there is any thrill that can go through the human heart like that felt by the inventor as he sees some creation of the
brain unfolding to success.”
I reproduced my favorite nine here.
Halau at Caring Mānoa
On Thursday, the 16th, Andrea danced with her halau at Caring Mānoa on Beckwith.
Andrea danced the center spot. Photo by Kilohana.
Tour at Mānoa Heritage Center
On Friday, the 17th, I gave a tour to seven mainlanders while Andrea gave tours at Mission Houses.
Photos are being taken in front of Kūʻaliʻi (the 1911 Tudor style house).
Leaving the heiau.
Leaf Maintenance at New City Nissan
On Saturday, the 18th, Andrea drove us to New City Nissan for scheduled maintenance of her Leaf (lithium battery electric car).
We dropped the car off, walked to Jack-in-the-Box, and had Crescent Supremes and coffee. Andrea posed me by Jack's mural.
Good coffee. The dealer's building is beyond the window, a short walk.
The service took about 1.5 hour and we stopped at Whole Foods on the way home.
Dinner at the Plumeria Beach House
Mark and Aloha invited Andrea and me to dinner at the Plumeria Beach House restaurant at the Kahala Hotel on Sunday, the 19th.
While doing my Sunday morning workout, I photographed the still life scene on our entertainment console: a ki'i (image) of the
great god Lono, a model of the Hokule'a, and a hale pili (grass house). Lono is called a "great god" because he is one of four
who existed before the world was created. The other three are Kane and Kanaloa, who created life, and Ku, god of war and justice.
I photographed the shohin bonsai jade tree I had brought into the house a few days ago.
We had a nice table at the side of the room.
It was a buffet night with lots of good food.
A plumeria tree mural behind the musician.
In case you are inclined to argue, an executive order cannot go against a law passed by Congress and signed by the President. The fool swore
an oath to uphold the laws of the land, but as we have seen before, his word means nothing.
Aina Haina Citizen's Patrol Walk
Andrea and I met the Citizen's Patrol at the Hind Drive Bridge at 07:30 for the lowland walk to the highway and back. The bloviating
buffoon was installed today, January 20. He has already failed to enforce the law banning TikTok. He is an outlaw.
Beginning to walk Ewa on Hind Drive. Photo by Andrea.
Walking Ewa on Hind Drive.
Walking into the sun on Kalaniʻanaʻole Highway. Photo by Andrea.
Home again and pleased to see kuahine rain coming down the valley. Photo by Andrea.
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Last updated January 28, 2025 by
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