Shoe-gazing bookworms suffering existential angst and displacement rip through the pages of each new Haruki Murakami book. The Japanese writer who makes an art out of writing about breakfast preparation will give a reading as part of the 10th annual Literature Festival. He takes the podium at 7:30 p.m. April 26 at the University of Hawai'i Campus Center Ballroom. Guarantee the line will start long before then, with copies of "South of the Border, West of the Sun" and "Kafka on the Shore" clutched in hands.

— Lesa Griffith

REPPIN' ROYALTY

For three years, Jason Koji of 808 Empire has turned out original threads with the mission of supporting Hilo's local talent. Now, the Empire is conquering cyberspace with a new e-commerce Web site. Its featured offering? A tee emblazoned with the image of Kamehameha I, the ultimate rep for expansion of the Hawaiian empire. The shirts come in four colors and are a first-time collabo between Koji and Kuha'o Zane of Ethnic Creative. A photo of the Kamehameha statue in Hilo served as the inspiration. Says Koji, "We kept Kamehameha's image clean and true to form out of respect." Big up, boys. Price: $25 (includes shipping). Available at http://808empire.bigcartel.com.

— Melissa May White