March 2025 Journal Photos

House of Pure Aloha

Andrea and I went to Uncle Clay's House of Pure Aloha shave ice place in the Aina Haina Shopping Center for their going out of business event, Saturday, March 1. They had been there for over ten years, and it was sad to see them have to shut down.


Andrea talked to Uncle Clay's son, Bronson.


Uncle clay was in the front, greeting customers. Andrea bought a shave ice.


With Uncle Clay. Photo by Andrea.


The Pure Aloha Oath.


Some new ideas in aerial gunnery. Copyright 2025 by Aviation Week. Fair use for educational purposes. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Bocce and Dinner with Paul and Faye

Paul and Faye came over for dinner and a game of bocce on our back lawn Saturday evening.


Ready to play bocce.


Pupu and wine under the lychee tree.


We had taste testing with two merlots.

Bonsai Plumeria Forest

On Tuesday, the fourth, I texted Happy Birthday to Becky and worked on my plumeria forest in the morning.


After shot. It was in a larger pot and leaning over to the left before I pruned and transplanted it.


In the afternoon, Andrea and I attended our Writers Circle Zoom meeting.

Something I posted on Facebook a year ago, more relevant than ever.

Beware the conservative ethic:

'The sick are the greatest danger for the well. The weaker, not the stronger, are the strong’s undoing. It is not fear of our fellow man, which we should wish to see diminished; for fear rouses those who are strong to become terrible in turn themselves and preserves the hard-earned and successful type of humanity. What is to be dreaded by us more than any other doom is not fear, but rather the great pity—disgust and pity for our human fellows … The morbid are our greatest peril—not the “bad” men, not the predatory beings. Those born wrong, the miscarried, the broken—they it is, the weakest, who are undermining the vitality of the race, poisoning our trust in life, and putting humanity in question.'

—Friedrich Nietzsche (quoted by William James in The Varieties of Religious Experience in dismissing him), from Zur Genealogie der Moral, Dritte Abhandlung, paragraph 14.

Sans Souci Beach

Andrea and I went to the beach for a swim on Wednesday afternoon, after haircuts by Janet at our house. I got my blood test results from Diagnostic Labs: testesterone = 11, PSA undetectable.


After doing pullups I walked to the street and took this picture of the banyan (Indian ficus) tree.


The Sans Souci Apartments, named after the beach, unlike the Kaimana Hotel next to it on the left.


Looking back toward the banyan trees from the beach.

Date Night at Arden Restaurant

Andrea and I went to the beach for a swim on Thursday afternoon and then went for dinner at the bar in Arden.


The arbor bars on which I do my pullups.


In Arden restaurant. Selfie by Andrea.


Selfie by Andrea.


Photo by Riley, our bartender. It was his first sidecar.

Stand with Migrants at the Church of the Crossroads

Andrea and I went to the pro-migrant event on Friday evening, March 7. UH Professor Nandita Sharma, moderator.


Friday afternoon I attended my weekly OLLI spycraft Zoom session.


The event at the church meeting room was well attended and lasted two hours (6 to 8).


Food was served. Speakers included a lawyer from the Hawaiʻi Attorney General's office (David Louie), and Liza Ryan Gill.


The first speaker partial video.

Doris Crowell Memorial Service at Arcadia

Andrea and I went to the memorial event at Arcadia care home on Saturday at noon, March 8.


We arrived thirteen minutes before noon.


The welcome table.


Kumu Kilohana confers with hula girls before the event.


During the hula performance.


There was music and informal hula in the lobby afterward.


The duo performed beautifully with Kuʻuipo Kumukahi on guitar.

Potting Workshop with Rainbow Bonsai Club

Andrea went to volunteer with ʻIolani Palace (Kamaʻaina Day) while I went over the Like Like Highway to the Rainbow Club's repotting event on Sunday morning, March 9.


Andrea left before I did and got training at the Palace. Photo after training by Andrea.


A short business meeting was held before the workshop.


Everyone was well engaged in the repotting.


John brought and mixed up the potting soil ingredients at club expense.


I repotted two formal uprights, a hibiscus and a pink trumpet flower tree.


Hula at the bandstand with Hawaiian music. Photo by Adrea.


Various vendors at the popups. Photo by Adrea.


Team Magma, FRC 3008, Kalani High School, was at the Taipei regional competition and did well. Photo by Bryan Silver via Facebook.

Hickam Elementary at Mānoa Heritage Center

Andrea and I helped at the school education event at MHC. There were nearly 40 fourth graders plus teachers and parents assisting on Tuesday morning, March 10.


The students arrived on a large school bus. They divided into two groups and again into three.


Andrea and I shared the heiau station. Photo by Andrea.


At changeover between the two groups. Six rotations altogether. One group in the learning center, one in the gardens.


Mentor volunteer Hatsuho tells about hana, the work of the people.


There are the farmer, the fisherman, the house builder, the weaver, etc.


Andrea talks about kūkaʻōʻō heiau.


We went to a sandwich shop in Mānoa Marketplace for lunch afterward. Then I drove Andrea to New City Nissan to pick up her car from service.


Wednesday morning, Andrea photographed this Michiko Hibiscus after our morning walk.

Weed Cutting in Wailupe Stream

The city crew came by to access the stream from our yard to continue the stream vegetation cutting work that had begun last week on Friday morning, March 14.


There were four crewmen in all, three workers and a superisor.


They went down by the back gate to the Youngs' house.


Down they went, like mountain goats.


Getting to work on both sides of the stream.


Andrea had this great bento lunch while volunteering at Mission Houses.


After lunch I had my spycraft Zoom class.


While keeping an eye on the stream workers, I repotted my pikake bonsai and photographed it after my spy class.

Tour at Mānoa Heritage Center

I went to Mānoa Heritage Center to give a tour on Saturday morning, March 15. Andrea was already there when I arrived for a kapa decorating workshop. The tour was extra large with 14 people.


Andrea watches an explanation of how to make ʻolena dye.


They watch and listen with rapt attention.


Several of the tour participants near the heiau. We had a mix of people from the mainland and locals from Mānoa and ʻAina Haina.


Hema watches as the students work on their kapa bands.


Before watering in the afternoon I noticed my mame ʻilima was blooming, so I photographed it. It's in one of the little pots that son Robert gave me.

Dinner with Paul and Faye

Paul and Faye came over Saturday evening for a corned beef dinner in celebration of Saint Patrick's Day coming up on Monday.


We loaded our plates inside with corned beef and vegetables and then I took this unposed picture.


The posed photo.


We went inside to eat the wonderful cakes that Paul and Faye brought.


Andrea won the dice game we played. This is the score sheet. Faye kept score.

Mānoa Heritage Center Docent Refresher

Andrea and I went to the Mānoa Heritage Center docent refresher event on Monday the 17th, Saint Patrick's Day.


Interesting sky on our walk before breakfast.


We drove separately. I was a little early and photographed this view off the Learning Center lanai.


Docent students ready to begin at ten AM.


After classroom session we went into the Kaʻahaʻaina Garden, AKA the canoe garden.


In the Kaʻahaʻaina Garden.


Showing some new additions to the canoe garden.


More discussion with blooming and fruiting ʻōhia ʻai (mountain apple) in the background.

Lunch at Olive Garden

Andrea and I went to see my oncologist at Straub and then went to see about our income tax preparation near the Ala Mānoa Shopping Center on the morning of Tuesday the 18th. Then we walked over to Olive Garden for lunch.


We chose to sit outdoors at the Olive Garden.


Our view of Ala Mānoa Park.


Interior view of Olive Garden.


Andrea had the soup, salad, and breadsticks. I had the shrimp appetizer. Photo by Andrea.

Ironwood Bonsai Training

On Wednesday the 19th I began bonsai training of and ironwood sappling, about two years old from seed.


The sapling growing in a terra cotta pot.


After defoliating the lower trunk, triple wound wiring, and bending into a moyogi shape.


Wednesday evening Andrea and I attended the monthly Aina Haina Prepared meeting via Zoom.

Toyota Corolla Service at Lex Brodies

On Thursday the 20th, the vernal equinox, I took the 2008 Corolla for an oil change, etc. to Lex Brodie's off Queen Street downtown. We had a nine o'clock appointment. Andrea and I drove to Ala Moana Shopping Center and stopped at John's office to pick up our taxes. The Toyota was ready at 1 PM.


Andrea photographed our twin bloom Michiko hibiscus before our trip down to Kakaako.


Andrea just had to get a picture of this. Inside the clothes look rather ordinary.


The courtyard on the way to the Ewa end of the mall.


Stopped at the bakery to get a pastry gift for John's staff, lilikoi ladyfingers.

Archives Uncorked at Hawaiian Mission Houses

On Friday the 21st, Andrea and I attended the Archives Uncorked event at Hawaiian Mission Houses Museum in the afternoon and evening. We volunteered to help set up and stayed for the archives discussion focused on women in Hawaiian history.


In the morning I pruned my bonsai broom style (hokidachi) escambron. This is before.


After pruning. Wiring is generally not necessary on broom style bonsai.


First we set up chairs outside the gift shop, then we set up tables in the dining area.


Getting ready at the reception table.


Wildlife at Mission houses: kolea.


There are at least four nesting manu o kū (fairy terns).


There were several hens with chicks, too.


The event was well attended. Purple is for Women's History Month.


Inside the archive with Morgan and Cynthia.


Wine tasting on the gift shop lanai.


Mike talked to us in the 1821 frame house.


In Dr. Judd's dispensary in the frame house basement.


Susan became indisposed so Andrea filled her shoes in the Chamberlain house.

Coconut Adventure at Keawawa

On Saturday the 22nd, Andrea and I attended the niu (coconut) worshop at the hale at Keawawa in Hawaii Kai.


We gathered coconuts from a single tree. We made ʻapu (drinking cups).


Mahi showed us many things to do with coconuts.


We got coconut water from the green ones.


My two cups from one coconut. Photo by Andrea.


My two cups after I got them home Saturday.


After drilling drainage holes and epoxying on cork feet.


Sunday, after varnishing.


The subject for the sunday Zoom philosophy meetup was censorship and bowdlerization: is it ever ethical.


I planted two shohin (small bonsai) junipers in my niu (coconut) shell pots.


Monday morning I photographed my plumeria forest bonsai.

Pacific Bonsai Club Meeting

On Monday the 24th, Andrea and I attended the monthly meeting of the Pacific Bonsai Club.


Andrea joined the club. Ten dollars annual dues.


That's my broom style escambron in the foreground, after pruning.


Gary and others observe the work on a ficus.


Tuesday afternoon Andrea and I attended our Zoom Writers Circle meeting.

Dinner at Roy's with Paul and Faye

On Wedneday the 26th, Andrea and I drove to Roy's in Hawaii Kai with Paul and faye.


We (both couples) had the prix fixe dinner for two special. Andrea had the shrimp, Paul and Faye had the rack of lamb, while I had the kampachi (fish).


We later played the dice game (dix mille) at our house with various liqueurs.


Cheers, everyone!


Friday afternoon I attended my Zoom class on spycraft.

Zack and Noelani's Wedding

Andrea and I attended the wedding of Zack and Noelani on Saturday afternoon, March 29. Andrea got her nails done in the morning and I worked out and worked on bonsai.


My bonsai kiawe from seed is coming along nicely, about 15 years old.


The bonsai poinciana from seed gets a new training pot.


The chokan plumeria gets a new training pot.


Photographing the cute keiki.


Grandmother Betty sat in front.


Doraine took our picture.


Bob and Libby wore orange.


Betty and I said hi.


The parents of the bride. We were then asked to refrain from phtographing during the ceremony.


We drove to the reception at the Moanalua Country Club in Salt Lake.


A view of the golf course.


Andrea was beautiful in her muu muu.


Photo opportunity for the wedding party.


Noe and Zack have the first dance.


Photo by Andrea.


We did a selfie together. Andrea held the camera and I pushed the screen button.


A keiki lion dance.

Mel Ikeda Demonstration for Hawaii Bonsai Association

On Sunday the 30th, I attended the Mel Ikeda Demonstration for Hawaii Bonsai Association at the Susannah Weseley Community Center. Andrea had her Zoom meeting with the Progressive Democrats.


I hadn't seen Mel in many years but he remembered me.


People brought various goodies.


The demonstration begins. Charlene asked me to be MC


Charlene was an able assistant.


Clearing soil from the roots.


It was a well attended event by RSVP and ten dollars at the door.


Another view of the venue.


People were weldome to come up for a close view of the informal event.


Charlene helped place moss.


The raft style bonsai with rocks was auctioned for two hundred dollars. Eaton of Rainbow Bonsai Club was the winning bidder.

Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com


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Last updated March 30, 2025 by Dr. Richard Jeffery Wagner. Text and images copyright © 2025, unless otherwise attributed, all rights reserved.