Da Kine Star-Bulletin Staff & Wire services

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Don a kimono for good luck

It is Japanese tradition that when children reach certain ages (3 and 5 for boys; 3 and 7 for girls), they should be dressed in their best kimonos and taken to a shrine in mid-November, to ensure a bright future. The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii celebrates this coming-of-age custom, Shichi Go San, next Sunday with kimono portrait-taking.

In this case, though, the kimono-wearing isn't limited by age. Entire families may pose (think: Christmas cards). Kimono and zori are provided. Cost is $70 per person for kimono dressing; $56 for JCCH members. Photo packages are $20 to $25. Appointments will be taken until Tuesday.

The event is part of a day of free children's activities and food, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Call 945-7633, ext. 33.

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Macaroni opens

Romano's Macaroni Grill opens in Ala Moana Center tomorrow, joining a restaurant chain that spans 220 locations in 40 states and five countries.

Restaurateur Randy Schoch holds the local franchise, as he does for Ruth's Chris Steak Houses throughout the state.

Chef Michael Longworth will oversee the Tuscan-style menu, including Penne Rustica, Chicken Scaloppine and brick-oven pizzas.

Restaurant hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sundays to Thursdays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Call 356-8300.

Chef shuffle

Bali by the Sea chef Roberto Los Banos has been promoted to executive sous chef of Hilton Hawaiian Village. Adam Hightower takes over as chef at Bali.

Los Banos joins executive chef Daniel LaGarde in overseeing the hotel's catered functions, 10 dining outlets and staff of close to 150. Los Banos grew up in Pearl City and studied at Johnston & Wales University in Providence, R.I.

Hightower joined the Hilton earlier this year as chef tournant, a French term for a chef skilled at all food stations. He previously served at the Houston Country Club in Texas.

Restaurant salute

The annual Hale 'Aina restaurant award winners will be honored at a fund-raising dinner, Nov. 20 at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental.

The awards recognize favorite local restaurants, as selected by readers of Honolulu magazine.

Many chefs from those restaurants will be at work that night, serving their specialties: Alan Wong's, Chef Mavro, Hoku's, L'Uraku, Roy's and Shokudo.

Entertainment will be by slack-key artist Makana.

Tickets are $100 ($75 if purchased with American Express). Premium tickets of $150 include a pre-event cocktail party with the winning chefs before doors open at 6 p.m. Call 537-9500, ext. 500.

A portion of the proceeds go to the Hale 'Aina 'Ohana, which supports culinary programs in the community colleges and high schools.

Wine tastings

Padovani's Restaurant & Wine Bar offers these wine tastings in November:

Friday: Selections of California cabernets.

Nov. 17: Celebrate release of this year's beaujolais nouveau wine; $6 for a full pour; $3.50 for a half-pour.

Nov. 18: Pinot Noir Around the World.

Nov. 25: Selections of California chardonnay.

All tastings start at 6 p.m. Call 941-7275, ext. 134.

Ice-cold samples

Have a free taste of a Cold Stone Creamery holiday ice cream cake, Friday or Saturday at any outlet.

Cakes include Candy Cane Wonderland (candy cane ice cream with chocolate shavings, devil's food cake and fudge ganache, garnished with candy canes) and Dark Peppermint Pleasure (red velvet cake and dark chocolate peppermint ice cream mixed with chocolate shavings, covered in ganache).

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Preventive medicine doc discusses ideal diet

Dr. Milton Mills, associate director of Preventative Medicine for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, will address the question, "Are Humans Designed to Eat Meat?" at a public meeting at 7 p.m. Saturday at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park.

Mills is a graduate of the Stanford University School of Medicine and a practicing physician in the Washington, D.C., area. He has an extensive background in nutrition research and focuses on nutrition's role in development of chronic diseases.

The American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Surgeon General and others have recommended that Americans reduce consumption of animal foods and replace them with fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Hence, the question as to whether humans are designed to eat meat.

That also will be Mills' topic for a talk at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Cameron Center, 95 Mahalani St., Wailuku, Maui.

He will discuss "Treat & Cure Diabetes" at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Castle Medical Center, Kailua. Registration is required by calling 263-5400.

For more information, call the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii, which is sponsoring Mills' visit, at 944-8344 or see VSH.org.

Diabetes focus of seminars and fund-raisers

The American Diabetes Association in Hawaii is sponsoring a series of educational and fund-raising events in observance of November as National Diabetes Month:

» Wednesday: Jennifer Rabideau, registered nurse and certified diabetes educator, will discuss "Diabetes & Nutrition" at 5:30 p.m. at the Curves in Kailua-Kona, 74-5565 Lucia St.

» Nov. 12: Keri Leone-Weindel, registered dietitian and certified diabetes educator, will meet with a support group for children and families with diabetes from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Diabetes Association office. She will discuss challenges of matching insulin to carbs in her talk, "Carb Counting for the Holidays." Call 947-5979 if you plan to attend because seating is limited.

» Nov. 19: A seminar entitled "Outpatient Insulin in Managing Type 2 Diabetes: Why Sooner Rather than Later" will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the East-West Center Keoni Auditorium. The conference is designed primarily for health care professionals with an interest in diabetes. Continuing education credits can be earned.

» Nov. 20: Tour de Cure 2005, a bike-riding fund-raiser presented by Crystal Light, will start and finish at Kapiolani Park. A 25-kilometer round trip to Hawaii Kai and a 50-kilometer round trip to Waimanalo will start at 7 a.m. An 85-kilometer round trip to Kailua will start at 7:30 a.m. Registration is $35, with a suggested fund-raising goal of $65. Riders are encouraged to form teams of five or more with family, friends or co-workers.

More than 111,000 Hawaii residents have diabetes, including 25,000 or more who aren't aware that they have the condition, according to the state Department of Health.

For more information about the disease or the American Diabetes Association in Hawaii, which supports diabetes research, information and advocacy, call 947-5979 or 1-800-DIABETES (342-2383) or see www.diabetes.org.

Blood marrow donor to meet child he saved

"The Miracle In You," a benefit for the Hawaii Bone Marrow Donor Registry, will be held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Nov. 13 at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel.

The event is celebrating National Marrow Awareness Month by honoring donors who helped the Registry facilitate 215 organ transplants.

A Hawaii donor and his recipient, a 4-year-old girl from California, will meet for the first time at the benefit. A silent auction and many local celebrities also will be featured.

The Registry maintains a data base of more than 66,000 registered donors throughout Hawaii, American Samoa and Guam. They are part of more than five million donors on the National Registry who may be called to donate "the gift of life."

Tickets for the benefit are $100 per person. Tables also may be sponsored. For more information, call 547-6154.

Expert to speak about prostate cancer

Dr. Mark Scholz, co-founder of the Prostate Cancer Research Institute, will speak at an Us TOO, International Prostate Cancer Support Group, meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Kuakini Medical Center, 347 N. Kuakini St.

The public is invited to the meeting in Room PB5. Parking will be validated.

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States.

Studies show the disease occurs mainly in men over age 55. The average age of a diagnosed patient is 70.

For more information about his lecture, call the Hawaii chapter of Us TOO International, 271-3692 or 521-2630.