What’s Up in Windward Oahu

Wednesday
December 12

Holiday eating Registered dietitian Rita Madden provides free tips on “Delicious and Mindful Holiday Eating” at 6 p.m. at Kaneohe Library, sharing recipes and food samples. Call 233-5676.

Band concert
Castle High’s band program performs its free winter concert at 7 p.m. in Ron Bright Theatre, featuring the symphonic band and jazz ensemble, Christmas favorites, classic and contemporary music, and a food concession. Email castlebandfan@hawaii.com.

Winter medley
Kainalu Elementary School has its annual holiday show at 6 p.m. with the school chorus, a medley of holiday hits, and songs from each grade level at 165 Kaiholu St. Call 266-7835.

Meditations
Windward United Church of Christ offers a Morning Watch Meditation at 7 a.m. today and Dec. 19 at 38 Kaneohe Bay Drive. Call 254-3802.

Careers, sushi
WCC has two public sessions this week : an “iCan” open house at 6 p.m. today in Hale Kuhina 106 on fast-track careers in agriculture, energy and health care; and The Art of Sushi at 6 p.m. Thursday in Hale Kuhina 115 with instructor Harris Sukita. Fee is $25 plus $15 lab fee. Bring cutting board, knife and bamboo mat. Call 235-7433.

Stargazing
WCC’s Hokulani Imaginarium presents “Stargazing” at 7 p.m. and “Tales of the Maya Skies” at 7 p.m. Dec. 21 on the WCC campus. (The latter will dispel misconceptions about the Mayan calendar in a post-show discussion.) Tickets cost $7, $6 or $5. Call 235-7433.

Thursday
December 13

Puppet show
Christy Lipps presents songs and stories of the season through puppetry at 10:15 a.m. at Kaneohe Library. Call 233-5676.

Music festival
St. John Vianney Parish School presents its first-ever all-instrumental concert, “Sound Beginnings: A Festival of Music,” at 6:30 p.m. at the church on Keolu Drive. The free event is organized by music teachers Dana Aubraugh and Bernadine Zimbra and features student emcees, soloists and duets, the concert band and orchestra, and beginning band and orchestra. Call 262-8317.

Friday
December 14

Family movie night
Kainalu Elementary School hosts a screening of Santa Paws 2: The Santa Pups at 5:30 p.m. in the cafeteria (or outside, weather permitting), including snacks and dinners for sale at 165 Kaiholu St. Call 266-7835.

Piano recital
Ernest Chang’s piano students perform a free public recital, including selections from The Nutcracker Suite, at 7 p.m. in Pohai Nani auditorium. Call 235-5025.

Stargazing
WCC’s Hokulani Imaginarium presents a special showing of “Season of Light” at 7 tonight and 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday on the WCC campus. Tickets cost $7, $6 or $5. The show traces the origins of Christmas trees, Hanukkah Menorah, Santa Claus, and the Star of Bethlehem through time. Call 235-7433.

Food drive
The Kailua law firm of Hartley & McGehee accepts donations of canned food for Hawaii Foodbank today at its office in Kailua Professional Center II, 40 Aulike St., Suite 314. The food will be delivered to the food bank in time for Christmas. Call 263-6900.

Saturday
December 15

Gift wrapping
Cub Scout Pack 229 from Kapunahala wraps gifts for free from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. today and Dec. 22 at Windward Mall, Macy’s wing. Call 389-5975.

BYU-Hawaii ceremony
BYU-Hawaii conducts commencement exercises at 9;30 a.m. in Cannon Activities Center. Speaking are Elders David Bednar and Paul Johnson, and graduate Mark Levi. Call 675-3202.

Civic club luncheon
Koolaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club honors a dozen distinguished kamaaina and marks its 75th anniversary from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in a luncheon at Koolau Ballrooms. Tickets cost $60 and can be reserved by calling 239-9334. Proceeds support its scholarship fund.

Church programs
Faith Rivera leads a “sing, play, shine” workshop at 10:30 a.m. at Windward Unity Church, 46-005 Kawa St. #Suite 303. The public is welcome. Also planned is a new-member class at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 17, and Rivera will lead a “birth a new era” celebration at 7 p.m. Dec. 21. Call 262-6731.

Uncle Wayne music
Uncle Wayne Watkins and the Howling Dog Band entertain at 10:30 a.m. at Kailua Library under the Reading Tree. Call 266-9911.

Marsh help
Kailua Hawaiian Civic Club and Ahahui i ka Lokahi volunteers meet from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. for restoration work at Na Pohaku o Hauwahine in the marsh. Call 263-8008.

Santa breakfast
King Intermediate eighth-graders present “Breakfast with Santa” from 8 a.m. to noon in the cafeteria. Admission is $5, $3 and free for keiki age 3 and under. Call 233-5727.

HPU poetry contest
Deadline is today for aspiring poets to enter the James M. Vaughan Award for Poetry competition. Mail entries to 1060 Bishop St. #LB 7A, Honolulu, HI 96813. Call 544-1108 or email pwilson@hpu.edu. Winners will be announced in March at the Koolau Writing Workshops at HPU’s Hawaii Loa campus.

Sunday
December 16

Festival of Lights
Kailua United Methodist Church presents “Festival of Lights,” a free Christmas concert with its Sanctuary Choir, Praise Choir, Youth Choir and friends directed by Robert Peters and Briggs Christie, at 5 p.m. at the church, 1110 Kailua Road. Call 261-6238.

Olomana parade
Olomana Homeowners Association sponsors its annual Christmas parade at 2:30 p.m., starting and ending at Maunawili Elementary School. Call 541-1331.

Monday
December 17

Ohana food
Ohana Food Produce Distribution has free food on a first-come, first-served basis to qualified individuals and families from 3 to 4:30 p.m. at KEY Project on Waihee Road. Call 239-5744.

Tuesday
December 18

Nature hour
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden hosts a Preschool Nature Hour, “Music from Plants,” at 10:30 a.m. Bring lunch, shoes and bug repellent. Call 233-7323.

Kissinger sings
Award-winning vocalist Connie Kissinger presents a free Christmas show at 7 p.m. in Pohai Nani auditorium. Call 235-5025.

Toddler hula
Hale Pulelehua studio has its final Christmas Toddler Hula class at 9:30 a.m. at Windward Business Center behind the mall, where keiki ages 1 to 5 learn simple songs and dances of the season. Fee is $7. Call 247-9440.

Upcoming

Making wreaths
Melody Fanning will conduct a Succulent Wreath Making workshop at 10 a.m. Dec. 19 at Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. Fee is $20. Call 522-7064.

Kaneohe board meeting
Kaneohe Neighborhood Board will meet at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 at Ben Parker Elementary. Call 768-3710.

Senior summit
Kaiser Permanente will have a free Senior Summit talk at noon Dec. 21 at Windward YMCA on Alzheimer’s disease sign. Call 261-0808.

Polynesian Christmas
Polynesian Cultural Center runs “Christmas in Polynesia” canoe rides through Dec. 22 on the lagoon with lights, decorations and music. Call 293-3333.

Items must reach us by Dec. 12 for the Dec. 19 edition. Fax them to 585-6324 or email cchang@midweek.com.