Kapi'olani Community College is hosting "KCC Cares" educational events this week in connection with Saturday's World AIDS Day.

A "Quilt of Flowers" — made up of plotted sections at the center of campus that students, faculty and community will be invited to decorate in honor and remembrance of those who have been affected by HIV/AIDS — will be displayed today.

There will also be a larger central design created by the KCC World AIDS Day committee. Most of the flowers will be donated by local florists.

The quilt is intended to promote awareness and unity on the KCC campus and in the community. It also serves to help students understand the personal impact AIDS has on communities while reminding all that AIDS has not gone away.

LEGO LEAGUE TO HOLD TOURNAMENT

The Hawai'i FIRST LEGO League this weekend will host the fifth annual Hawai'i FLL State Championship Tournament — the state's largest scholastic robotics competition, with 64 teams of students.

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a national educational robotics program for young people.

The national FIRST LEGO League began 10 years ago. It was introduced into Hawai'i in 2002. The program is designed as a platform for students ages 9 to 14 to develop technical and life skills through teamwork, research and building/designing autonomous robots.

The 2007 Hawai'i FLL State Championship Tournament — set for 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the McKinley High School gymnasium — is free and open to the public.

The Hawai'i FIRST LEGO League is a nonprofit organization founded in 2002. It is dedicated to motivating young students to pursue education and career opportunities in science- and math-based fields while developing self-confidence, knowledge and life skills.

For more information about the organization, visit the official Hawai'i FLL Web site at www.hawaiifll.org or e-mail info@hawaiifll.org.

GRAND OPENING GALA FOR SCHOOL

American Renaissance Academy, a new private school in Leeward O'ahu, will celebrate its first three months in operation with a grand opening gala on Dec. 7 at its temporary Kalaeloa location.

The private K-9 school opened its doors Sept. 4 and offers an 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule and an afterschool program that includes piano, guitar, violin and voice lessons; Japanese; art; ballet; and martial arts. ARA plans to move to its permanent facility in Kapolei in late 2008 or early 2009. When its permanent facilities open, the school is expected to expand to 12th grade.

Applications are being accepted for the 2008-2009 school year. Log on to www.americanrenaissanceacademy.com for more information. Or call 682-7337.