May Day is Lei Day in Hawaiʻi, but this year Andrea and I went to the State Capitol to join the protest against Trumpian lawlessness.
We parked on Punchbowl Street and walked mauka to the capitol. Here we passed the original state library building, now the archives.
We turned left at Beretania and stood in front of the capitol building.
It's twenty minutes before the five o'clock start time and the crowd kept coming for the demonstration.
We met our friend Gary there and his friend took this photo.
I stood in the shade until the sun got lower. Photo by Andrea.
The crowd kept building.
Our friend Beth was there giving out "Replace Ed Case" bumper stickers. The Democrat stupidly voted with Republicans for the unnecessary SAVE Act
that "solves" a nonproblem and makes it harder for people to register to vote.
We waved at passing cars and got honks and shakas in return. That's Gary in the tie died t-shirt.
Dinner at Arden in Waikīkī
Andrea volunteered at the Mission Houses while I worked on bonsai on Friday, May 2nd. We had a dinner reservation at Arden in the Lotus Hotel
that evening.
Andrea photographed this manu o kū chick in a kukui tree at the Mission Houses.
Kirsty brought cocktails for us.
Andrea had kampachi (fish) and I had lamb, with brussels sprouts to share. Photo by Kirsty.
A view of the park. Photo by Kirsty.
Photo by Kirsty.
Cheers! Photo by Kirsty.
Saturday morning I renewed my membership in the Science Fiction Writers Association. One must be a published author to join.
Pearl City Bonsai Club Show in Nuʻuanu
Andrea and I attended the bonsai show on Saturday morning, May third. We arrived at half past nine and I was impressed by the large number
of members present in their purple club shirts. There were lots of plants, tools, and supplies for sale, and some great bonsai displays
around the perimeter.
Crowding of displays seems to be a problem at bonsai shows in Hawaiʻi. I realize that space is limited in all venues, but perhaps clubs should
begin prioritizing quality of display over quantity. Critiques presented below are for displays that seemed to me to stand out and are in the spirit
of improvement, in which spirit I hope they are taken.
A good turnout with many helpful members. Andrea and I were impressed with the traffic directors in the grassy parking area in front of the church.
Several tables were dedicated to suiseki (viewing stone) display, a good addition to any exhibit.
A well developed jade tree moyogi in a nice Chinese pot. Critique: The tree is shown with wire on. The apex is slightly to the left of the base.
The pot is off-center on the dai. The slab dai is appropriate to the bonsai. The accent plant is too close to the bonsai. The pot is oiled and
burnished nicely.
Butonwood chokan (formal upright). Critique: Good branch placement but the tree does not appear to have a back branch. The accent plant is too small
for the scale of the bonsai, and needs its own separate dai. There is inexplicable blue tape on the dai. The pot is marred with tape residue. The
pot is slightly undersized and appears not to have been oiled and burnished.
A beautiful starflower moyogi. Good branch placement and the apex is over the base. The right sized accent is too close to the bonsai and should, perhaps,
be on the other side to better suggest the movement of the tree, which would also accord with the tree placement in the right side of the pot. The glazed
pot is of good size, shape, and color, but the pot should be centered on the dai.
I was well impressed with this formal upright. Critique: Good nebari. The tree may be better placed slightly more to the left of center in the pot, which is
the right size and shape. The pot appears wet with oil and would benefit from burnishing with a dry cloth. The slab dai is appropriate to the bonsai,
but the bonsai should be centered on the dai and the accent plant should have its own dai. The accent is too small for the bonsai display and too close
Some great small bonsai and shohin but the display is too crowded. The bonsai are all centerd on their dai, and unglazed pots are well burnished.
Accents are too big and are not paired with bonsai.
Andrea and I invited Paul and Faye over for dinner on Saturday evening, the third. Paul couldn't make it, but we had a nice chicken curry with
Faye and played dix mille (dice game) and skyjo (card game) afterward.
We had dinner under the lychee tree.
"Everything was delicious." —Faye
Chicken curry closeup by Faye.
Lovely chef, too. Photo by Faye.
Playing skyjo. Photo by Faye.
What the red hats really mean. From the Randy Rainbow video.
City Mill
Andrea and I went to City Mill in the afternoon on Wednesday, the seventh, to get plywood, potting soil, etc.
We found everything on the list and it's all in the cart.
Mother's Day
Andrea went to volunteer at ʻIolani Palace on Sunday morning, May 11, Mother's Day. I fixed her a nice breakfast of papaya, blueberries,
and a fried egg on toast. Then I stayed home and mowed the lawn.
Andrea sent this photo when she got to the palace.
Nearing lunchtime, another view of the palace. Photo by Andrea.
Andrea brought Faye and Paul home with her. After some games of bocce, we had wine and pupu under the lychee tree.
Andrea shooed the flies with a ti leaf.
Good prosecco in our champagne glasses.
Faye looked good in her Mother's Day lei.
After a dinner with great lamb chops cooked on our grill by Paul, we had cake for dessert and played a culinary card game.
On Wednesday the 14th Andrea photographed the blooming ʻōhia ʻāi with lots of bees on our morning walk down Hind ʻIuka.
Later that morning I photographed the blooming kokiʻo ʻulaʻula (native red hibiscus).
Bonsai
I continued to work on bonsai every day.
Photographed Thursday: Formal upright bonsai buttonwood, fully wired with no crossed wires. There are always at least two solutions.
Friday the 16th I photographed my recently repotted fukien tea, in an oversize growing pot.
On our morning walk Saturday, Andrea photographed my blooming plumeria cutting.
Our first maiapilo blossom in quite a while. Photo by Andrea.
Saturday morning I photographed my recently styled and repotted brush cherry, Eugenia myrtifolia.
Saturday morning I finished entering data into the feedback Excel spreadsheet for out galley proofs for
Auctus Publishers. Click the image for the full resolution version.
Wahi Kapu at the Mission Houses
Andrea and I volunteered at the Mission Houses for the Wahi Kapu (forbidden places) performance. We helped set up.
"A night of moʻolelo, mele, oli, and hula with Hālau Mele and Hālau Hula Kamamolikolehua."
Matt provided pizza for volunteers. Bobby and Joleen are also volunteers.
Mike photographed the charcuterie vendor tent while Andrea, Bobby, and Joleen folded programs. I helped.
Marguerite, Andrea, Joan, and Joleen, waiting for the show to start.
After the opening oli.
The keiki simulated pulling a koa log to the sea for canoe making.
Hula.
Mele.
After-performance photo-op.
Cartoon in Sunday morning's Star-Advertiser. Copyright by owner. Sending the FBI to interview Comey is a form of intimidation of us all.
Monday morning maiapilo. Photo by Andrea.
Discerning minds want to know, some mathematics:
Roman:
LXXXVI
XLVII
Binary:
1010110
0101111
Arabic:
86
47
Little Free Library
I began the refurbishment project for the Little Free Library on Monday, June 19.
Tuesday morning I cut top, back, bottom, and sides from the half inch five-ply wood Andrea and I got from City Mill earlier. Photo by Andrea.
Wednesday evening Andrea and I attended the Zoom meeting of Aina Hain Prepared.
Thursday Andrea danced with Halau Hula O Mānoa for Huapala Senior Center with Charline from Paris. Photo from Kilohana via Facebook.
Friday morning the new library box is nearly fully assembled. Need to paint it, make a door, and put up the post. Photo by Andrea.
Our Michiko hibiscus is blooming next to our Juliette plumeria. Photo by Andrea.
Dinner with Paul and Faye
Paul and Faye came over for dinner on Friday evening, the 23rd. They brought chocolate cake for dessert and crab for pupu. I barbecued steaks.
We had pupu under the lychee tree.
All kinds of good things and getting silly with the crab legs.
Enjoyment all around.
More whimsicality. Photo by Andrea.
Later we ate steak outdoors with salad and garlic bread.
Chocolate cake for dessert indoors followed by games of Skyjo.
Paul and Faye discussed travel plans at breakfast the next morning.
Coffee, croissants, and fruit cups.
Saturday morning I started painting the library. Photo by Andrea.
Hot Kupuna Nights
Andrea and I went to the music and hula event at the Waiwai Collective on University Avenue on Sunday afternoon, the 25th.
First some announcements. The venue will be changing as the old bank building will be renovated or torn down. Nobody knows for sure.
Howard, granddaughter Alice, and Veneeta came and sat with us.
Kumu Hula Kilohana danced the first hula.
Music.
Music.
Hula.
Memorial Day
Memorial Day this year is Monday, May 26.
Flying the flag on Memorial Day. Photo by Andrea.
Painting of the library continues. Photo By Andrea.
About half way through with my next novel. Selfie photo.
Andrea created a book cover concept as input to Auctus Publishers for my Love Beyond Orbit.
Andrea's book cover art concept with palm tree, Diamond Head, surfer, flying car, and ballistic passenger rocket.
Andrea photographed my bonsai bougainvillea on the growing bench.
Just for fun:
"White Rabbit" by Jefferson Airplane
One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small
And the ones that mother gives you, don't do anything at all
Go ask Alice, when she's ten feet tall
And if you go chasing rabbits, and you know you're going to fall
Tell 'em a hookah-smoking caterpillar has given you the call
And call Alice, when she was just small
When the men on the chessboard get up and tell you where to go
And you've just had some kind of mushroom, and your mind is moving low
Go ask Alice, I think she'll know
When logic and proportion have fallen sloppy dead
And the white knight is talking backwards
And the red queen's off with her head
Remember what the dormouse said
Feed your head, feed your head
Okinawa Festival Planning Meeting
I attended the festival planning meeting representing Hawaii Bonsai Association for participation in the Labor Day weekend event. Nelson
Diaz also attended.
I arrived at the Hawaii Okinawa Center Legacy Ballroom in Wahiawa just after six thirty and photographed the garden in the back.
Potluck dinner was served at seven. It was delicious.
After most got their plates, the general meeting got underway. I picked up the wristbands and meal tickets for the bonsai club volunteers.
Little Free Library
Every day this week I continued the refurbishment project for the Little Free Library. Photo by Andrea.
I put the door on Wednesday the 28th. Photo by Andrea.
Thursday Andrea dug out the old post.
The library was fully installed on Friday the 30th. Andrea loaded a new set of books. Photo by Andrea.
Ready for book loading. Photo by Andrea.
Weather vane painted blue and installed. Photo by Andrea.
Andrea's portrait photo of the library.
Friday night we toasted the new library with some prosecco from Italy. Photo by Andrea.
Bonsai Citrus
Saturday, May 31, I photographed my bonsai citrus. It's been in this concrete growing pot for a couple of years and needs repotting.
This is the before shot. I repotted it into a larger growing pot and will photograph it tomorrow.
Email Richard dot J dot Wagner at gmail dot com