SMITHSONIAN CONTROVERSY: Martin Harwit, former director of the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum, will talk about his book "An Exhibit Denied: Lobbying the History of Enola Gay" and his resignation from the Smithsonian after pressure to alter the museum's exhibit on the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, 4:30 p.m. Friday, University of Hawaii-Manoa, Center for Korean Studies Auditorium, East-West Road. Sponsored by the East-West Center. Call 944-7343.
ASIA SEMINARS: "The Eighth Annual Language and Culture Seminar," three separate seminars for Japan, Korea and China will familiarize the business or leisure traveler with the language and culture of these regions, 8:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Korea: Saturday; Japan: Nov. 23; China: Dec. 7. Call 942-8553. No fee for Hawaii residents.
POETRY READING: By Haunani-Kay Trask, 1 p.m. Sunday, Borders Bookstore, Ward Center. Call 973-0989. Sponsored by the University of Hawaii-Manoa School of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific Studies.
EAST-WEST DINNER: East-West Center Association holds its annual dinner and membership meeting.
Speakers: Kelvin H. Taketa, Nature Conservancy; Kenji Sumida, president, East-West Center; Chhany Sak-Humphry, Cambodian language professor at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, 5:30 p.m. Nov. 23, the Cannon Club. Reservation deadline: Friday.