BENEFITS

"Hats of May!": "Native Books & Beautiful Things" invite all women to wear a favorite hat and spend an afternoon with Dorothea Woodrum as she talks about her mother Elsie Krassas, 11 a.m. May 9, 222 Merchant St. There also will be picture taking, a picnic lunch and a visit with Emy Preston at 1:30 p.m. Cost: $15. Proceeds go to the YWCA of Oahu. Information at 599-5511.

Ho'olaule'a: Windward public schools will benefit from AT&T's fundraiser, 2 to 10 p.m. May 9, in Kaneohe on a section of the new H-3 Freeay next to the Pali Golf Course. There will be entertainment, bus tours of the H-3 Freeway tunnel, and food and game booths. Entertainers include Kapena, Teresa Bright, Aunty Irmgard & Puamana, George Kuo with Kipapa Rush Band, Frank Hewett & Kana'e, and Del Beazley & Dub Shop. Call 523-8802, extension 35.

"Na Leo Hone": Celebration of Hawaiian Music by the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, 9:30 a.m. May 10, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Tapa Ballroom. There will also be a silent auction, country store and buffet lunch. Cost: $35, children; $50, adult. Entertainment includes the Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, Halau Na Mamo O Pu'uanahulu (Kumu Hula Sonny Ching), Debbie Kelsey, Helene Woodard, Kaipo Hale, Ku'uipo Kumukahi, Marlene Sai, Kamehameha Alumni Glee Club, and a fashion show by Nake'u Awai. Tickets at 521-2982.

"Crazy For You": Benefit premiere of the Gershwin musical, 8 p.m. May 15, Diamond Head Theatre. Chef Russell Siu of 3660 on the Rise will prepare elegant hors d'oeuvres and Richard Field of R. Fied Wine Co. will provide the wine, 6 p.m. Following the performance, guests will meet the cast at a reception on the lanai. Cost: $50-$100. Limited seating. Cocktail attire suggested. Reservations at 734-0274.

"Taste of Karaoke": Entries are being accepted for people who would like to "sing for their supper" during the "Taste of Honolulu," an Easter Seals benefit, on the civic center grounds near Honolulu Hale. Finalists will receive $25 in script for the "Taste of Honolulu." Grand prize is a neighbor island trip for two. Entry forms are available at select karaoke clubs, the Easter Seals Office or by calling 536-1015. Participants must mail a completed entry form, along with a cassette tape of the entrant performing the song to be sung in the competition (four minutes maximum) to Easter Seal Society of Hawaii, 710 Green St., Honolulu, Hawaii 96813. On the reverse side of the tape, entrant's must have the recorded musical accompaniment for use if he becomes a finalist. Both sides of the tape should be marked with the entrant's name and song title. Include a stamped, self-addressed envelope if you want your tape to be returned. All entrants must e amateurs, 18-years-old or older and Hawaii residents. Songs must be solos sung in English or Hawaiian. Twelve finalists and two alternates will be notified by May 31. The final competition will be held 2 p.m. June 28. Information at 566-0084 or 536-1015. Deadline: May 16.

Luau: Friends of He'eia presents educational demonstrations on Hawaiian culture, science fun for the keikis, food, music, Hawaiian entertainment, silent auction and raffle prizes, 2 to 9 p.m. May 17, He'eia State Park. Lau lau sale: two for $15. Donation: $20. Tickets available at 247-3156. Proceeds go toward preserving the quality of science education and Hawaiian culture programs.

"Convalescent Relief Tea": Sponsored by the Egyptian Temple Number 33, Daughters of the Nile, for the Shriner Hospital's Outpatient Clinic. Tours of the hospital will will be given, performances by the children and refreshments. Cost: $5 (tax deductible). From 1 to 3 p.m. May 17, Shriners Hospital, Recreation Room. Call 949-4321, extension 70133.

Hotel charity walk: 19th Annual Hawaii Hotel Association Visitor Industry Charity Walk, May 17. Walkers will meet at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park and walk through Waikiki, Kapiolani Park and by the Ala Wai Canal, ending at Ala Moana Beach Park. There will be 14 checkpoints with food and entertainment. Pledge forms available beginning March 11. Call Tina Yamaki at 923-0407 (Oahu); Terryl Vencl at 244-8625 (Maui); Shelly Root at 885-2987 (Big Island); and Doug Chang at 245-5050 (Kauai).

"Jailathon": American Cancer Society presents its annual "Jailathon" at five locations. From 11 a.m to 2 p.m. May 21, Tamarind Park; 11 a.m to 2 p.m. May 22, Aloha Tower Marketplace; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pearlridge Center, Phase I; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 30-31, Mililani Shopping Center; and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 16, Windward Mall. Prominent citizens in the community are arrested by Keystone Cops and transported to a jail site. If they cannot meet their bail, they are thrown in "jail," given bread and water, and a cellular phone to raise their bail money. Volunteers are needed for two-hour shifts for keystone cops, bailiffs, judges, jailbirds, chauffeurs or wardens. Call 595-7544, extension 303.

"Dance for Life": Haddassah's annual auction, 6:30 to 11 p.m. May 24, Hilton Hawaiian Village, Coral Ballroom. Entertainment includes Gene Rollin and the Royal Music Makers, and Veronica Kelly. Cost: $75. Tables of eight and 10 available. Hadassah is a worldwide organization helping to build research and teaching hospitals in Israel that fight for the cure of cancer, AIDS and other life threatening diseases. Information at 677-0120.

"Free Mumia": Concert by "Refuse & Resist! - Hawaii" to free Mumia Abu-Jamal, 3 to 9 p.m. May 31, 1212 University Ave. Abu-Jamal was convicted of murder and sentenced to death in 1982. When he was to be executed in Aug. 1995, thousands of people protested and demanded a new trial. Abu-Jamal's appeal is now before the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. Cost: $7. Information at 576-4430.

"World's Largest Car Wash": Sponsored by Budget Rent A Car-Hawaii to benefit "Give Kids the World." On May 31, the following Budget sites will be open for car washing: from 8 a.m to 2 p.m., Kalewa Street (off Lagoon Drive), information at 836-1700; from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Kahului Airport Rental Return, 865 W. Mokuea Place, Maui, information at 1-808-871-8811; from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., Keahole Airport Rental Return, information at 1-808-329-8511; and from 8 a.m. to noon, Molokai Airport Rental Return, information at 1-808-567-6877. Also on June 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Wal-Mart, 3-3300 Kuhio Highway, Lihue, information at 1-808-245-9031.

"Wok For the Cure": Receive a free first dinner course at eight participating restaurants when purchasing a "Wok for the Cure" card for $88. Proceeds benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation-Hawaii Chapter. Participating restaurants and their "free" dishes are: Sam Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant, fried poke salad; Dynasty, medley of roast duck, pork tenderloin and shoyu chicken; Eastern Garden, imperial scallop soup; Golden Dragon, chicken-black mushroom pot stickers; Hee Hing, Chinese sashimi salad; Legends Seafood, fresh shrimp with fruit; Panda Cuisine, minced port, Chinese sausage on lettuce pockets; and Royal Garden, fried scallop on Chinese taro. Limited to parties of up to eight people. Cards valid through Jan. 27, 1998. Order cards at 531-5698 or send a check for $88 per card payable to: JDF/WOK, 733 Bishop St., Suite 2090, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813.