SPECIAL EVENTS

Holiday Book Drive, bring new children's books to Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center, through Jan. 1 for distribution to the children's literacy program, Read to Me International. 949-7307.

Aloha Shorts, weekly radio show with readings of short stories from local authors, 5 p.m. Mondays, on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 with host Cedric Yamanaka. www.hawaiipublicradio.org/aloha shorts.htm.

Talk Story Radio, weekly radio show with local storytellers telling local stories, 5:30 p.m. Mondays, on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 with host Jeff Gere. www.talkstoryradio .com.

Poetry Slam Workshop for Teens, ongoing Youth Speaks Hawai'i workshops in written and spoken word for students ages 13-19, working with members of the HawaiiSlam team, 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, The ARTS at Marks Garage; free. 387-9664.

Poetry Reading, students and faculty from Kapi'olani Community College, including Amber Kalua, Alohalani Brown, Margo Howlett and Lee Tonouchi, read from their journal, "Ka 'I'iwi Polena," 7-9 p.m. Saturday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Youth Speaks Hawai'i Poetry Slam, all ages welcome to participate in the open mike session, sign up 3 p.m. Saturday, slam begins 3:30 p.m., The ARTS at Marks Garage; free. www.youthspeaks hawaii.org.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Ronna Bolante and Michael Keany sign "The 50 Greatest Hawai'i Albums," 11 a.m.-noon today, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3344. Also, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Wednesday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square. 528-2378.

Lopaka Kapanui signs "Haunted Hawaiian Nights," noon-1 p.m. today, Sam's Club, Pearl City. 456-7788.

Brother Noland Conjugacion signs his book "The Lessons of Aloha," noon-1 p.m. today, Costco, Iwilei. 526-6100. Also, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Thursday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square. 528-2378. And Brother Noland is joined by book contributors Ed Fukuda, Atsuo and Curtis Nishioka and George Yoshida for a signing, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo, Big Island. (808) 959-6468.

Lisa Matsumoto and Michael Furuya sign their book and CD, "The Christmas Gift of Aloha," 2 p.m. today, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Joseph Stanton signs "The Important Books: Children's Picture Books as Art and Literature," 2 p.m. today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Susan Middleton discusses and signs, "Archipelago," 3 p.m. today, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Leonora Ching signs "Pickle Passion Cookbook," noon Thursday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square. 528-2378.

Deborah Turrell Atkinson signs "The Green Room," 12:30 p.m. Friday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square. 528-2378.

Gail Watson Omura and Susan Brooks sign "Have You Ever Seen a Swan Smile?" 7 p.m. Friday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Frances Britten signs "How to Buy & Sell Your Home in Hawai'i," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Sam's Club, Pearl City. 456-7788.

Bella Finau-Faumuina and Delia Parker-Ulima sign their book, "Island Memories," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Sam's Club, Ke'eaumoku. 945-9841.

Tokie Ching and Kerina Salazar sign "A Hawai'i Japanese New Year," noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Costco, Hawai'i Kai. 394-3312.

Jessica Lani Rich signs "The Gift of Hawai'i: Island Inspirations," 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3344.

Leonard Villanueva launches and signs "The Hungry Pua'a and the Sweet Sweet Potato," 5-7 p.m. Saturday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

READING GROUPS

Literature Readers' Group, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Bestseller Reading Group, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Contemporary Fiction Reading Group, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

FOR WRITERS

Hawai'i Pacific University accepts entries for its 18th annual Hawai'i High School Writing Competition. Open to high school juniors and seniors with cash prizes for winning works and an invitation to the awards banquet in March. The theme for the composition is a political, economic or social development that has impacted Hawaiian history and its relevance to life in the islands today. Essays judged on originality, analysis, vocabulary and syntax and ability to defend the thesis. Mail entries, with a completed awards nomination form, to The Office of Scholarships and Honors Program, Hawai'i Pacific University, 1164 Bishop St., Ste. 210A, Honolulu, HI, 96813. Forms available from local high school counselors and English teachers or downloaded from www.hpu.edu (type "high school competition" in the search box.) Postmark deadline is Thursday. 544-1419.

The Hawai'i Review, the University of Hawai'i student-run literary and fine arts journal, calls for submissions of poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction from current graduate and undergraduate students for the Spring 2006 issue. Guidelines: 956-3030, hireview @hawaii.edu. Deadline is Dec. 31.

The Hawai'i Literary Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2005 Cades Awards for Literature for cash prizes in two categories: first, an established author with a large body of work relating to Hawai'i and second, a new artist with substantial potential for achievement. Nominees can be poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists or other literary artist. Send nomination with supporting materials to Hawai'i Literary Arts Council, P.O. Box 11213, Honolulu, HI 96828. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 15.

FOR KEIKI

Toddler Storytime, for ages 2-3, 10 a.m. Mondays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Tiny Tales for Tiny Tots, stories, finger plays, songs and a craft to take home, for keiki 4 and younger, 9-9:45 a.m. and 10:30-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Kalihi-Palama Public Library. 832-3466.

Keiki Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Preschool Craft & Storytime, 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Preschool Storytime, for ages 3-4 years, 10 a.m. Thursdays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Saturday Storytimes, 10 a.m. Saturdays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Keiki Storytime, 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to Lit Beat, Island Life, The Hono-lulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Lit Beat" in the subject line; or fax 525-8055.