See a comprehensive list of arts events at www.honoluluadvertiser.com/islandlife.

SPECIAL

READINGS OF WORKS BY NATIVE HAWAIIAN WRITERS, with musical accompaniment by Jon Osorio, part of Hawai'i Public Radio's "Aloha Shorts" series of live program tapings; 6:45 p.m. Aug. 2, HPR Atherton Studio, 738 Kaheka St.; free; reservations, 955-8821.

HAWAII LITERACY ORIENTATION, for volunteers who want to learn to teach adults to read, 1-3 p.m. Aug. 2; Borders Books, Waikele; registration, 537-6706; information, www.hawaiiliteracy.org.

IDENTITY THEFT AWARENESS AND PREVENTION, one of a series of Tuesday Night At The Library programs, with identity theft specialist Welmon "Rusty" Walker, including a question-and-answer session; 6:30 p.m., Aug. 4, Kahuku Public and School Library, conference room; suitable for ages 12 and older; information, 293-8935

NATIONAL WRITERS ASSOCIATION, Honolulu chapter meeting and manuscript critique, 7 p.m. Aug. 4; Borders, Ward Centre; all levels of writers and genres (including fiction, non-fiction, screenplays) welcome; information, manuscript rules, 672-7635.

"KARATE: FROM OKINAWA TO HAWAI'I," exhibition of karate images of prewar Hawai'i, from the collection of the Hawaii Karate Museum, through Aug. 28, library hours, UH-Manoa's Hamilton Library, Bridge Gallery; free; open to the public; information, 988-8688.

BOOK A BRIGHTER FUTURE, Macy's fundraiser for Read Aloud America national children's reading program, ($3 donation gets $10 coupon off next $50 purchase or more), through Aug. 31, local Macy's stores; information, 531-1985.

PAHALA PUBLIC LIBRARY (Big Island) closed through approximately mid-August for construction of improvements. No book drop, summer reading programs or passport application service. Temporary extended hours at Na'alehu Public Library. Information: 831-6877

ESSAY CONTESTS

BOOK SIGNING

GALA BOOK RELEASE PARTY and CD launching, for Kathryn Waddell Takara's "Pacific Raven: Hawai'i Poems," 6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 6, 39 Hotel Street nightclub and art gallery; information, Pacific Raven Press, 808-276-6864.

CELESTE M. GONSALVES will sign copies of "Teen Wise," 1 p.m. Aug. 8, Barnes & Noble Books, Kahala; information, 738-9473.

ONGOING

BILL'S BOOKMOBILE, a library fundraising project, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. first Saturday monthly, 690 Pohukaina St., Kaka'ako; 536-4174.

YWCA BROWN-BAG LUNCH BOOK CLUB, noon-1:30 p.m. third Tuesday monthly; Laniakea (old Richards Street) YWCA: information, 538-7061.

Youth Speaks Hawaii, slam poetry workshops, 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, The ARTS at Marks Garage; free. 387-9664.

FOR KEIKI

CHILDREN'S STORYTIME, 10:30 a.m. Sundays through Aug. 16, Kaimuki Public Library, Children's Room; free. 733-8422.

Keiki storytime, stories, sing-alongs, finger plays and a simple craft, for ages 3 and older, 10-10:45 a.m. Thursdays and Saturdays through Aug. 30, Kapolei Public Library; free. 693-7050.

TODDLER STORYTIME, for ages 2-3, 10 a.m. Tuesdays, McCully-Mo'ili'ili Public Library; free. 973-1099.

Keiki storytime, with books, games and songs, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Waikele; free. 676-6699. Also, 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays, Borders, Ward Centre; free. 591-8995.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Mililani Public Library; free. 627-7470.

Read Me a Story, for children 12 and under and their parents, 2:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, Honolulu Academy of Arts; children included with parent's $7 admission. 532-8700.

PRESCHOOL STORYTIME, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Mililani Public Library; free. 627-7470.

Preschool storytimE, stories, sing-alongs, finger plays and a simple craft, for ages 3-5, 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library; free. 733-8488.