CHINESE NEW YEAR
Market City Shopping Center: Kids 6 and older can try box car racing for $1 each, 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Proceeds go to the American Box Car Racing International. At 10 a.m., former U.S. Sen. Hiram Fong and Laurie Chang light 40,000 firecrackers in the back parking lot by Kaimuki Avenue. Lion dance by the Chinese Physical Culture Association. Call 734-0282.
Kalihi-Palama Library: Meilani Wang shares Northern Chinese customs with adults, 10 a.m. Saturday, 1325 Kalihi St. Sample New Year's sweets and other dishes. Reserve at 832-3466.
Waipahu Cultural Garden Park: Firecrackers and a performance by the Asian Lion Dance Team signal the start of the program, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, 94-695 Waipahu St. Cooking demonstrations and a display of items that play a part in a family's traditional celebration. Call 677-0110. Co-sponsored with the Tsoon Nyee Society.
Aloha Tower Marketplace: Fireworks, lion and dragon dances and exhibitions, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday.
Ala Moana Center: A dozen Chinese lions and a 70-foot string of firecrackers (that's 150,000) welcome in the Year of the Ox, noon Saturday at Centerstage. Call 946-2811.
MALLS
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center: Royal Hawaiian Band performs, 1 p.m. Thursday in the Hibiscus Courtyard.In January, Legends presents a musical salute to favorite stars, 4 to 6 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, in the Fountain Courtyard. The Polynesian Cultural Center's mini show is 6:30 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and 10 to 11:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.
Barnes & Noble: Merrill Lynch seminar on how to build and maintain wealth, 7 p.m. Thursday, Kahala Mall.
Borders: Friends join Bobby Baniaga, winner of the KCCN Kanakaole Contest, for music from his CD "Lady of My Life," 2 p.m. Saturday, Waikele Center.
Kahala Mall: Frank DeLima takes Center Stage, 2 p.m. Saturday. DeLima hosts the "Love & Marriage Game," which awards a Valentine's Day package to a lucky couple.
Kekuhi Kanahele performs Hawaiian music from her new CD, "Hanani Mai," 1 p.m. Sunday.
Ala Moana Centerstage: Hawaii State Ballet performance, 7 p.m. Monday. Heather Haar and Bryan Skates dance the pas de deux from "Sleeping Beauty," and Jacquelyn Dowsett, Courtney Fong and Adealani Gerkewicz dance "Vivaldi Variations." Call 947-2755.
MUSICAL GROUPS
The Sounds of Aloha Chorus: Rehearsals for men's a cappella chorus, 7 p.m. Thursdays, Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse. Call 262-7664.
Oahu Choral Society: Rehearsals, 7 p.m. Mondays, UH-Manoa's Music Department, Room 36. Call Joe McAlister at 595-0327.
Oahu Civic Orchestra: Rehearsals, 7 p.m. Mondays, Eiben Hall, Chaminade University. Call 261-6127.
Honolulu Community Concert Band: Rehearsals, 6:45 p.m. Tuesdays, Aiea High School Band Room. Call 236-7057.
Honolulu Chorale: Rehearsals, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Band Room, St. Andrew's Priory. Call Reno Villaren at 941-4266.
Na Leo Lani, Sweet Adelines: Women's barbershop group rehearses, 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. Francis School. Call 373-3192.
DANCING
Tahitian dance: Classes for adult women with Roiti Sylva, 6 p.m. Thursdays, Palama Settlement, Room 205. Costs $10 each month. Call 521-6905.
Line dancing: Phillis gives a free lesson for families, 7 p.m. Thursdays in February and March, Windward Mall center stage. Call 262-7441.
Free country-western dance lessons, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays in February and March, Waimanalo District Park. Call Phillis at 262-7441.
Free family fun with Phillis, 6:30 to 8 p.m. Wednesdays in February, Benjamin Parker Elementary School cafeteria, 45-259 Waikalua Road. Call the Kaneohe Community Family Center and Parent Community Networking Center at 235-7747.
Hula dancing: Classes with Iwilani Ohelo, Saturdays, Kauluwela Playground. Costs $10 each month. Call 521-6905.
Contra dancing: With Celtic music by Beyond the Pale, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Church of the Crossroads. The New England-style dances will be taught at 7 p.m. Donation $5. Internet address: http://www.lll.hawaii.edu/contra or call 988-5477.
Israeli dancing: 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays, Ala Wai Clubhouse. Costs $3. Call 623-3603.
International folk dancing: Includes Bulgarian, Greek, Rumanian and Israeli dances, 7 to 9:15 p.m. Sundays, Makiki District Park. Donation $3. Call 239-7078.
Square dance: With the Square Wheeler Club, 7:30 p.m. Mondays, Kapiolani Park Bandstand. Lessons 7 p.m. Donation $4. Call Mel at 946-6320.
With the Spares and Pairs Square Dance Club, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays at Kapiolani Park Bandstand and 4 to 6 p.m. Saturdays at Ala Wai Community Park. Call Norman at 689-6752 or 456-1215.
With the Pali Twirlers, 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursdays at Yacht Club Terrace. Call 254-2333.
Okinawan dance: Class for seniors with Mitsuko Toguchi, 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Kalihi Valley District Park. Call 521-6905.
Line dancing: 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Waikiki Community Center. Costs $3. Call 923-1802.
Kodak Hula Show: 10 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Free. Call 627-3300.
Tap for Health: Classes for seniors with Jack Cione, 1 p.m. Tuesdays at the Ala Wai Clubhouse, 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays and noon Thursdays at the Waikiki Community Center and 7 p.m. Thursdays at Makiki Park. Costs $1. Call 922-8401.
Scandinavian dancing: 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Ala Wai Golf Course Clubhouse. Free. Call 922-0793 or 955-2577.
Scottish country dancing: 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Moiliili Community Center. Call 737-1897.
MEETINGS
Brown Bag Biography: Richard Port, former chairman of Hawaii's Democratic Party, speaks on "A Political Autobiography: The Real Story of Politics in Hawai'i," noon Thursday, Center for Biographical Research, 1633 East-West Road. Call 956-3774.
Sandwich Islands Genealogical Society: Beverly Keever, journalism professor at the University of Hawaii, talks about what you can find in Hawaii court records, 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Manoa Gardens Recreation Center. Free. Call Ritamarie Stone at 951-9317 from 7 to 9 p.m. weekdays.
Hula conference: No Na Pua O Ka Halau Hula (For the Flowers of the Hula) invites dancers and teachers to talk about conserving native forests and preserving Hawaiian traditions, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Ke'elikolani Auditorium, Kamehameha Schools. Frank Kawaikapuokalani Hewett, Kimo Alama Keaulana and Ulalia Berman are among the invited speakers; participants include lei maker Bill Char, Bill Garnett and Nalani Olds. Admission $10 adults, $5 students; includes lunch. Call 595-0704 or 843-2231 for registration details.
Organized by the nonprofit conservation group 'Ahahui Malama I Ka Lokahi.
GreenCycling Expo: The city's Recycling Office demonstrates the benefits of recycled trimmings, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden. Suzanne Varady shows how to compost; Mark Takemoto explains how to make composting bins. Free mulch, free admission. Call 262-0794.
Fashion show: Iolani School's "Straight from the Heart XV" features designs from Cielo in Kahala Mall, A New Season, Vows Bridal Salon and other shops, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki. Buffet lunch, bake sale, boutique, musical performances by students. Tickets $35. Call 943-2238.
Hawaii Society for International Friendship: Henry Curtis speaks on world environmental problems, 7 p.m. Sunday, Church of the Crossroads. Social meeting 6:30 p.m. Call 836-8736.
Students' conference: University of Hawaii graduate students present their research, Monday through Feb. 14, Burns Hall, East-West Center. Opening ceremony 9:30 a.m. Monday. Topics include Asian and Pacific identities, telecommunications, economies, uses of language, human rights and more. Short films on related issues will be shown during lunchtime.
Hawaii Jewish Seniors: Programs, fellowship and deli food, 11 a.m. Monday, Temple Emanu-El. Reserve at 524-2755.
CLASSES
Gardening: Martha Mist and Janet Hulick teach "Flower Arranging in Miniature" in the first of the Stepping Stones to Good Gardening series, 9:30 to 11:45 a.m. Friday. Costs $8; $45 for six classes. Call 988-7378. Arranged by the Garden Club of Honolulu, Lyon Arboretum and the Lyon Arboretum Association.
Databases for law offices: Computer training in Summation and Concordance, data base management software programs, are offered this spring at Kapiolani Community College. Overview begins 8:30 a.m. Saturday. Each class in the three-part series costs $70. Call 734-9211.
New media workshop: Ron Knowlton teaches web design, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, Manoa Innovation Center. Knowlton created the University of Hawaii's Summer Session web page. Costs $45. Tap into www.summer.hawaii.edu or call 956-7221. Pacific New Media's series of computer workshops with industry professionals continues through March.
Hawaiian quilting class: With Poakalani Serrao, 9:30 a.m. to noon Mondays and Saturdays, Queen Emma Summer Palace. Charge. Call 524-0394.
Hands-on gardening: 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays, Wahiawa Botanical Garden. Free. Call 621-7321.
Urban Garden Center: Class on growing pikake, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 12, 962 Second St., Pearl City. Costs $5. Call 453-6050 for registration form.
Series on gardening in Hawaii continues Wednesdays: organic gardening, Feb. 19; controlling ants and other insects, Feb. 26; basic vegetable gardening, March 5; lettuce, March 12; cabbage, March 19; air layering and grafting, April 2; dendrobium orchids (honohono), April 9; cucumber, April 16; plants for lei making, April 23; and sweet and hot peppers, April 30.
CLUBS
Cribbage players: Join the North Shore Peggers, 6:30 p.m. Friday. Call 531-4611 ext. 350.
Gaming Guild: Fantasy role-playing games club, 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Saturdays, Pogo Stick, 328 Uluniu St., Suite 102, Kailua. Call 261-4760.
Chess clubs: Chess Fans, 3 p.m. Saturdays, Harbor Center, Aiea; call Richard at 488-1221 or 456-0895. Moiliili club meets 2:30 p.m. Sundays at the Moiliili Community Center; call Jeffrey at 956-4678. Mililani club meets 6 p.m. Mondays; call Guy at 625-2769.
Scrabble club: 9:15 a.m. Mondays, 2933 Kalakaua Ave. Call 923-9060. Also 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Barnes & Noble, Kahala. Call 377-0893.
Toastmasters: Practice speaking skills, 7 p.m. Mondays, St. Andrew's Priory. Call Hillary at 524-2388. Also noon Tuesdays at the Net Cafe, Puck's Alley. Call Maggie at 941-9929.
LUNCHTIME
Music Break: Tropi-Jazz plays Latin jazz, noon Friday, Tamarind Park.
Bach's Lunch: Free organ concert, noon Fridays, St. Andrew's Cathedral. Call 524-2822.
Royal Hawaiian Band: 12:15 p.m. Fridays at Iolani Palace and 2 p.m. Sundays at the Kapiolani Bandstand.
Hawaii Pacific University: Free seminar 12:15 p.m. Tuesday on the management graduate program. Call 544-0238.
EXERCISE
Paul Bragg exercise: 9 a.m. Mondays to Saturdays, Fort DeRussy lawn. Free. Call 941-2048.
Aerobic workout: 6 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, Kuhio School cafeteria. Costs $1. Call 735-5755 or 732-5118.
Ursula Hare exercise: 9 a.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, Honolulu Zoo front lawn. Free. Bring beach towel or mat. Call 373-2015.
TAX HELP
Free help with tax returns: The American Association of Retired Persons provides confidential help with volunteers trained and certified by the Internal Revenue Service. Bring copies of last year's federal and state returns and current income tax information. Call 523-4545 or ASK-2000 for the site nearest you.