SPECIAL EVENTS

Bookfair Fundraiser, purchase a book or other item during bookfair hours and request that a portion of the purchase price be donated to Kaimuki High School's Project Grad. You may select an item for yourself or make a purchase for the school itself from a posted list. Books must be purchased 9 a.m.-11 p.m. today and tomorrow at Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall; mention the bookfair at time of purchase. 737-3323, 232-6579.

Da Pidgin Line Up, Imaikalani Kalahele presents poetry and music in celebration of pidgin, 3-5 p.m. today, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

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/alohashorts.htm.

Talk Story Radio, weekly radio show with local storytellers, 5:30 p.m. Mondays, on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 with host Jeff Gere. This week, stories about "Creation: He/She." 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.

"The Many Mansions of Biography," lecture by Nigel Hamilton on how biography has come to dominate non-fiction in print, film, radio and TV, noon-1:15 p.m. Thursday, UH-Manoa's Henke Hall, Room 325; part of the Brown Bag Biography series; free. 956-3774.

Searider Story Night, children's adventure stories read aloud by students of Wai'anae High School, 6 p.m. Thursday, Wai'anae High School library; stories geared toward preschool to 3rd-grade students; free, parents and children encouraged to bring a read-aloud book to exchange with others. 697-7031.

Saturday Morning Authors, series of lectures by island writers, 10-11:30 a.m. Saturday, UH-Manoa, Hamilton Library's Yap Conference Room, A153; free. This week, Robert Sullivan reads from and signs his book "Voice Carried My Family." 381-6610.

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.youthspeakshawaii.org.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Rich Budnick signs "Hawai'i's Forgotten History 1900-1999," 11 a.m.-1 p.m. today, Navy Exchange, Mall at Pearl Harbor. 423-3344. Also, a book signing and discussion of historic Hawai'i events, 7-8 pm. Thursday, BookEnds, Kailua. 261-1996.

Lopaka Kapanui signs "Haunted Hawaiian Nights," noon-1 p.m. today, Borders, Hilo, Big Island. (808) 933-1410. Also, 1-2 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Kahului, Maui. (808) 877-6160.

Simeon Den signs and reads from "8 Meditations on Urban Life," 2 p.m. today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Tom Moffat signs "The Showman of the Pacific: 50 Years of Radio and Rock Stars," 5-6 p.m. Wednesday, Borders, Hilo, Big Island. (808) 933-1410.

Joseph Stanton signs and discusses "The Important Books: Children's Picture Books as Art and Literature," 7 p.m. Friday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Solomon Enos, illustrator for "Akua Hawai'i: Hawaiian Gods and Their Stories," signs his book, noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Coryn Tanaka and May Masaki will display samples of their work and sign "Making Eyelash Crochet Leis 3," 2 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

J. Arthur Rath signs "Lost Generations," 2 p.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

READING GROUPS

Contemporary Fiction Reading Group, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Magic Tree House Club, for young readers, ages 6-10, 6 p.m. Thursday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-332

FOR WRITERS

28th annual International Haiku Contest, entries accepted in three categories: Season Word, Hawai'i Word and Humorous, sponsored by the Hawaii Education Association; $1 per entry for non-HEA members. Send an entries to: HEA International Haiku Contest, 1649 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, HI 96826. Cash prizes awarded in each category. Postmark deadline is today.

International Women's Writing Guild meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Poetry Writers' Circle, group discussion for authors, 7 p.m. Thursday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Further Empowered by the Pen, workshop by Tom Peek, with writing exercises and discussion of the writing process for writers of all levels, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Volcano Art Center, Big Island; $55. (808) 967-8222.

Writing Retreat, Lillian Cunningham leads a workshop with in-class writing exercises for any genre and discussion of the writing by other students, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Windward Community College's Hale Na'auao 146; $5; bring a sack lunch and optional snack to share. Registration: 235-7433.

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

2006 Lorin Tarr Gill Writing Competition, enter poetry, fiction and non-fiction for cash prizes from the Honolulu Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. $5 fee per entry, limited to one entry per genre per person. Guidelines and application at www.nlapwhonolulu.org. Deadline is March 10.

VSA arts seeks original one-act plays from students in grades 6-12 for the 22nd annual Playwright Discovery Award. Two winning scripts, expressing how disability affects a person's life, will be selected for performance at the John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, and the authors will receive up to $1,500 and a trip to Washington, D.C., to see their plays performed. Guidelines and application: www.vsarts.org, (800) 933-8721. Submission deadline is April 14.

FOR KEIKI

Tiny Tales for Tiny Tots, stories, fingerplays, 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.

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.