Lenora's Summertime 2026 Visit

We had a third of an inch of rain overnight and I found this mushroom growing in my back yard in the morning.

This bonsai juniper is ready for some work. See how it's growing strong in the top?

Monday morning Andrea gathered plumeria flowers to make a lei for Lenora.

She came in on United a little early to baggage claim 31. Photo by Andrea.

I gave her the lei and a kiss. Photo by Andrea.

Steve serves and Lenora plays the net.

Steve serves again.

Lenora tries for a lob.

Tuesday afternoon I had my OLLI Writers Circle Zoom session while Andrea and Lenora went shopping.

The prostrata juniper after a light pruning. Later I will restyle and wire it.

Follow-up on the bonsai mountain apple (ʻōhiʻa ʻāi) that was styled seven weeks ago. It has one flower bud on the upper left.

We arrived early on Thursday and practiced volleys and ground strokes.

June serves to Tomy.

Lenora, Steve, and Karen on the bench watching Tomy and Patrick (Helen and June off camera).

Jenny, Jenny, and Kevin watch.

We walked up to Kūali‘i. My group started in the living room.

I photographed the room and some of the paintings.

North shore of Molokai.

Kauai.

Cook's ships at Kealakekua Bay on the Big Island.

Part of the art collection.

The sun room, later and formerly a library, to become a meeting room.

It looks festive. Our solstice theme this year is light.

I finished Jane Eyre and began reading Time Enough For Love, the one remaining book of Heinlein's that I hadn't read.
I got half way through I Will Fear No Evil back in the 70s but couldn't finish it.

Joyce and I got plates. Photo by Andrea.

Gary and Simina. Photo by Andrea.

Charlene, Alan, Kilohana, Lothar, Carl, and Alice. Photo by Andrea.

We had a great buffet table, as usual, with superb dishes brought by guests.

Filling up plates.

Nearly every seat was filled.

Laurel and Lenora at the long table.

Closeup of Laurel and Lenora from the picture above.

Andrea looked nice in her muʻu muʻu and puakenikeni lei given to her by Joleen.

Happy partiers.

Lots of conversations.

Hal, Joyce, and Jenny.

Andrea and Anna.

Chopsticks in use.

Alan, Hal, and Joyce.

Alan, Paul, and Karen.

Lots of good food and conversation.

Lenora gave me a desktop pickleball set and Andrea gave me a model backhoe. Photo by Andrea.

Later in the morning we played with the desktop pickleball court.

We walked up to Kalakaua Avenue and saw Diamond Head (Leahi).

On the way home we stopped at the Diamond Head lookout and saw the Amelia Earhart memorial.

Lenora at the net.

We had a Chinese dove in the birdie cam while we were there.

We paid the bill in cash. Photo by Lenora.

We took the scenic route by the highway home.

Verified Einstein quote.

My 1,500 observations thanks.

Lenora and I went to play tennis in the morning.

Andrea and Lenora had shave ice while we waited at the entrance to the Aquarium.

After getting some food, we went into the Aquarium for a look.

At the big tank with the grouper.

A humuhumunukunukuʻapuaʻa. Photo by Andrea.

Looking at the grouper and phone. Photo by Andrea.

The drinks selling area in the foyer.

Ready for the show. Photo by Andrea.

Smile! Photo by Andrea.

First up was Ka Lā ʻOnohi Mai o Haʻehaʻe with a hula noho.

The hula noho (sitting hula). Photo by Andrea.

Kalae Camarillo on guitar with base and ukulele sidemen.

Watching the show.

Kalae Camarillo with Anthony Fluke of Hapa as a special guest.

At intermission Joleen asked Lenora about her wrist bands.

Anthony Fluke with Hapa.

Joleen and Charlene danced. Photo by Andrea.

Photo of the puzzle Saturday morning in natural light.

Andrea and Lenora went to Joleen's house Saturday morning to look at jewelry. Photo by Andrea.

We had pupu under the lychee tree.

Steak, potatoes, and spinich.

Cheers!

Sunday morning Lenora helped me transplant 77 papaya seedlings.

Sunday afternoon I attneded the Zoom Philosophy Meetup, subject: Why can mathematics be used to understand the world?

Coming out of the water after our swim.

Lenora and I played tennis Tuesday morning and Andrea took her for a drive over the Pali while I had my afternoon Writers Circle Zoom session
and went to the local bank for Hawaii Bonsai Association to get the new officers (me, Lawrence, and Eddie) on signature for the accounts.

Heading for Hawaiʻi Hall.

In the kāhili room.

Entering the big exhibition space.

The sperm whale and great white shark.

Kū and Kane.

Two flights of stairs go up to the mezzanines.

I Pacific Hall.

Interior of the whale.

View from the front end.

The "Bricks" exhibition.

Look, the pink palace. Photo by Andrea.

The wax volcano in the science hall. Photo by Andrea.

The nēnē. Photo by Andrea.

We drove to the windward side and stopped for lunch at Buzz's Steak House.

At Buzz's. Photo by Andrea.

Lenora had the fish wrap and I had a chicken thigh burger. Photo by Andrea.

Looking at the directory.

The Japanese garden behind the East-West Center.

Descending the steps to the garden.

Looking at the koi and turtles.

Walking out of the garden.

Follow-up on the bonsai fukien tea after growing in the sun for six weeks.

The fukien tea after pruning.

A citrus tree from seed after growing unrestrained for a while.

The bonsai fukien tea after unwiring. It will grow in the sun a while longer before further training.

The citrus tree after pruning.

We flew the flag. Click the image to see the full resolution version.

Lenora with Doraine and Sabrina at the top of Koko Crater.

After a bratwurst lunch, I worked on my painted pot citrus that had been growing wild for several months.

The painted pot citrus after pruning. I chose a new front and made it a bunjin (literati style).

Joleen came over for dinner and we had drinks and pupu under the lychee tree. Photo by Andrea.

After the second round of drinks I put the burgers on the green egg barbecue.

Lenora timed three minute intervals for flipping the burgers. Photo by Andrea.

I gave Joleen and Lenora signed copies of my science fiction book set in Hawaiʻi.

We parked with the valet and stopped on the landing of the orchid wall stairway down.

We were 20 minutes early so we went for a beach walk.

Heading into the Kahala Hotel.

We had an outdoor table near the music.

The trio was named Walea.

Monday morning I took Lenora to Aiea to pick up Treasurer materials from Kathy. A good view of Pearl Harbor.

Monday afternoon Andrea took Lenora to Supercuts for a haircut. Photo by Andrea.

Aiko watches as Tomy handles a return.

A view of Diamond Head.

Steve and Winney asked Lenora to take their picture.

Andrea photographed these lotus blossoms at Les's house on our after dinner walk.

Lenora and I played some chess games.

I picked out this bonsai Mickey Mouse tree in a rectangular Japanese ceramic pot for Lenora to work on.

The bonsai Mickey Mouse tree after Lenora pruned, wired, and repotted it.

A big bright rainbow on our after-dinner walk.

June serving.

I wired the nursery stock ʻaʻaliʻi.

Friday I photographed the open air toilet next door. It's 15 feet away from our property and downwind, but it stinks. Very annoying.
Apparently there is nothing any authority can do about it.

The nursery stock ʻaʻaliʻi transplanted into a painted pot.

The monkeypod after pruning and wiring.

Kahi set up in the pavilion.

Andrea, Beth, Kahi, and Lenora.

We got tickets for the 9:30 tour. This is one of two iron vases.

In the grand entrance.

A foreign portrait in the blue room.

The dining room.

Some silver in the dining room.

A portrait of Queen Kapiolani's sister in the King's bedroom.

Some paintings in the front upstairs room.

We went out to the bandstand and listened to some music.

Selfie with Lenora.

The gazebo (bandstand) where King Kalakaua was coronated.

Mele Apana introduced the Hawaiian music band who won three Na Hoku awards last night.

One of the volunteers took our photo on our way out. Andrea stayed until 11:30.

Aiko made a fourth.

Lenora serves.

The Zoom session.

While I was in my two hour Zoom session, Andrea and Lenora went to the Honolulu Zoo.

The event started with an oli and hula. Photo by Andrea.

Governor Green spoke after the university's President and Chancellor. Photo by Andrea.

The event was hosted by Maya Soetoro, President Obama's sister. Photo by Andrea.

Chancellor, governor, Dr. Carter, head of the NAACP, and UH president. Photo by Andrea.

At Arden with zero alcohol cocktail. Photo by Andrea.

Deciding on our sharables.

We had a table with a view of the park. Photo by Andrea.

I played tennis Thursday morning with Tomy, the two Aikos, and Patrick. Lenora slept in.

Good buffet and cocktails.

I had salad first, then went back for rice, beef, and shrimp. Photo by Andrea.

We saw Venus, Moon, and Mercury while waiting for the car valet. Photo by Andrea.

Friday morning Lenora and I went to Hobbieatat in Kaimuki to buy a birthday present for Grayson.

Andrea volunteered at MHC and Mission Houses. We got a model car kit.

In the afternoon we went to the beach. Photo by Lenora.

After defoliating, unwiring, and rewiring.

After pruning and wiring.

We saw the (main) ceramics gallery first.

Sealed ceramic rattles we were invited to shake. Photo by Andrea.

Lots of round shapes with subtle coloration. Photo by Andrea.

The modern art gallery. Shirley Temple Black, satyrical art. Photo by Andrea.

More modern art.

More modern art. Photo by Andrea.

Looking through a sculpture.

We got into the HOMA restaurant at 11:00 AM. Photo by Andrea.

Delicious BLTs for lunch.

Abe's Two Trees sculpture in the Hawaiian gallery.

Examining a Madge Tennent. Photo by Andrea.

Outside the Hawaiian Art exhibit. Photo by Andrea.

The Sherpa exhibition.

A large Sherpa painting.

Looking at some Sherpa paintings. Photo by Andrea.

Follow-up: the bonsai red cedar formal upright after growing wire-on for three months.

The bonsai red cedar after unwiring and pruning.

The pohinahina after unwiring and pruning.

Lenora took a mask and fins in the water.

A gyotaku on the wall and an extensive menu.

A giant squid gyotaku.

Sailfish.

Opah, moonfish.

The waiter took our photo with delicious food.

The smaller space filled rapidly.

Nathan Aweau was up first.

Nathan is 62 years old and has a long string of hit songs.

Nathan plays his 7-string bass.

Photo by Andrea.

Bobby Modero invited his wife, Pua, up to dance.

Andrea photographed my bonsai red hibiscus Friday morning.

The bonsai lignum vitae after restyling.

This bonsai Kukui, a Polynesian introduction to Hawaiʻi, from seed, has been growing unrestrained for over half a year.

The bonsai kukui after restyling as a literati style. The front will be changed when repotted in the future.

Andrea photographed a rainbow on our evening walk.

Becky and Eric got the package we sent, including the Grateful Dead jigsaw puzzle.

The bonsai croton after unwiring and pruning.

Photo op at Mānoa Valley Theater.

The stage set was a sandwich shop kitchen.

The Aquarium yard was still dug up for the water injection wells.

Lenora and Andrea on the sand.

The meeting was well attended with several new members recruited at the June bonsai show.

I worked on my formal upright alaheʻe at the Pacific Bonsai Club meeting. Photo by Andrea.

The bonsai chokan alaheʻe after unwiring and pruning at the bonsai club meeting.

The bonsai kukui after repotting into a bunjin pot.

The bonsai Chinese ficus after unwiring and pruning. There is a tiny shoot coming out on the middle left that I will let grow to fill that space.

This is the bonsai Chinese ficus we took as a gift for Gary. It will be show-ready after pruning.

We were slightly late and were the first guests to arrive.

Gary's front yard has a great view.

Lots of fun happy guests with Diamond Head in the distance.

It's getting dark. Photo without flash.

Photo with flash.

The bonsai kiawe after unwiring, pruning, and defoliating. A new front is chosen.

The Chemistry Building is next to the Art Building.

A mural inside Bilger Hall courtyard.

Group photo after the performance. Photo by Andrea.

I got my I Voted image from the Honolulu elections website.

In the morning I worked on the bonsai podocarpus in a hand built cement pot by Shogo has been growing with wire on for many months.

The bonsai podocarpus after unwiring and pruning.

Screen capture.

People at the end were looking for shells.

We saw the exotic varieties of pineapples and Lenora got a sweatshirt inside. I bought a Hawaiian angel for Andrea.

Look. Wili wili. Photo by Andrea.

We went into Waimea Falls but didn't get out of the car. We had lunch at The Crouching Lion.

The volcanic brisket fries we shared. Photo by Andrea.

We stopped at Heʻeʻia and saw the fishpond.

A C17 passed overhead twice.

The canoe shed.

The three pots of maiapilo seedlings that Andrea took to Mānoa Heritage Center on Friday, the seventh, on her way to Mission Houses.

A passion flower that Andrea photographed on our after dinner walk on Friday.

Alan brought two seven-ups.

Slava with his girlfriend Yumikot, Ana, and Aries. Click the image for the full resolution version.

Lots of good food and birthday cake. Click the image for the full resolution version.

We had tables set up in the back yard. Click the image for the full resolution version.

View to the southwest. Click the image for the full resolution version.

Mauka view. Click the image for the full resolution version.

View to the southeast. Click the image for the full resolution version.

Candles all lit.

Singing Happy Birthday.

All blown out with one breath.

A core group of seven stayed later talking.

We had quite a good turnout.

Birthday cards.

After. The milo forest is defoliated and straightened with guy wires. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea made a sausage and egg breakfast and I got to open presents. Photo by Andrea.

After adding fertilizer and potting soil to the forest. Photo by Andrea.

My bonsai kokio ʻulaʻula bloomed again on Tuesday morning.

June is serving with Lenora at the net.

Lenora goes for the ball.

Patrick returns serve with a lob.

I wore the shirt that Robert gave me to go out to Roy's for dinner. Photo by Andrea.

Beautiful women by the koi pond at Roy's.

Having a happy birthday. Photo by Andrea.

Cheers!

I had the lychee martini. Photo by Andrea.

Andrea loves to photograph the sea, clouds, Diamond Head, etc., at Roy's.

Lenora too! Photo by Andrea.

The sunset was gorgeous. Photo by Andrea.

We had sushi, fish, and meatloaf. Photo by Andrea.

Lenora looked happy with her Shirley Temple. Photo by Andrea.

I blew out my one candle. Photo by Andrea.

The heat has changed the black to red completely. Photo by Andrea.

In the plumeria grove of Koko Crater Botanical Garden.

Half way around, starting down.

Sausage tree flower. Photo by Andrea.

Myrrh tree. Photo by Andrea.

Waiting for Grandma to read a sign off to the left.

Grandma returning having read the sign.

Dorothy joined us later.

I waited by the Aquarium entrance while Andrea took Lenora for a walk to Kuhio Beach. Walking back by way of Queen's Surf Beach. Photo by Andrea.

High tide and high waves. Photo by Andrea.

Waiting by the entrance.

After the doors opened at five, we got food and drinks.

It was cloudy with occasional sprinkles.

First up: Hālau Mohala ʻIlima followed by a singer and keyboardist.

At intermission Lenora went in to look at the aquarium exhibits. Photo by Andrea.

Jerry Santos (right) and Kamuela Kimokeo.

Jerry and Kamuela with hālau.

Jerry and Kamuela.

The bonsai avocade in the painted cement pot is leafing out. Photo by Andrea.

We put up the storm shutters in the morning.

I worked on a painting kit I got for my birthday. Photo by Andrea.

Progress was being made. Photo by Andrea.

Measuring the rainfall Sunday morning after Hurricane Lala passed 60 miles to the south of Oʻahu. We got 3.65 inches in 24 hours.

365 hundredths of an inch at 8:00 AM. Video by Andrea.

Breakfast Sunday morning without power.

Power was still out 12 hours later.

Monday morning Andrea drove Lenore down to the Aina Haina Foodland. The big monkey pod tree by the bus stop had blown down. Photo by Andrea.

Tuesday morning I refurbished the rain gauge mount. After 14 years, the old one had rotted and was leaning. Photo by Andrea.