Akebono to wed

Sumo star Akebono is getting married. His fiancee, a 25-year-old Japanese-American with blonde hair, is expecting the couple's first child shortly before the September nuptials, according to reports.

The woman is identified as a private tutor who met Akebono in 1988, shortly after he arrived from his native Hawaii for his sumo debut.

Akebono, born Chad Rowan, made sumo history when he became the first non-Japanese to reach the top rank of yokozuna in 1993. He became a Japanese citizen in 1996.

In keeping with tradition, the 28-year-old, 516-pound Akebono sought and received the blessing to marry from his stablemaster.

Bargains wait at Academy Shop

Art at a discount can be yours if you act quickly. The Academy Shop at the Honolulu Academy of Arts wraps up its annual clearance sale tomorrow, 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with an additional reduction on most sale items.

Those items, including art books, folk art, posters, jewelry, stationery, ethnic clothing, Brett Weston photographs and more, have already been discounted 20 to 80 percent. Duplicate and donated books from the Robert Allerton Library are also being offered.

Admission to the sale in the Academy Fountain Court Gallery is free. Validated parking is $1 -- no purchase necessary -- in the parking lot behind the Academy Art Center at Linekona. Enter the lot from Young Street. For more information, call 532-8703.

'Thomas Jefferson' in public debate

Discuss American values with "Thomas Jefferson" 7 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Wo International Center on the Punahou School campus.

Clay Jenkinson, who has portrayed Jefferson before the Supreme Court justices, members of Congress and groups across the country, brings his living history presentation to Hawaii.

Appearing in the costume and character of Jefferson, Jenkinson leads a spontaneous public debate on issues and questions raised by the audience.

Such topics as the separation of church and state, classroom prayer, school vouchers, federal funding of parochial education, states' rights, the growth of federal government, Jefferson's record on slavery and the treatment of native Americans are all fodder for his presentation.

Jenkinson's visit is sponsored by the Hawai'i Committee for the Humanities and the Hawai'i Council for History Education. For information, call 732-5402, or e-mail hch@aloha.net.

Shanghai acrobats return with new show

If the ever-popular hoop-diving and trapeze acts set your spirit to soaring, imagine what a host of new tricks will do.

The Stars of the Shanghai Acrobatic Theater return to Hawaii with new material -- using bicycles, spinning plates on sticks, sword levitation, new magic acts and more comedy routines -- plus a crew featuring new graduates of the troupe's training academy, the Shanghai Circus Training Center.

Shows will be 7:30 p.m. daily Feb. 19-21, plus a 2 p.m. matinee Feb. 21. Tickets are available at the Hawaii Theatre Box Office , telephone number 528-0506, and Connection outlets at $12, $15 and $18. An additional $1 Hawaii Theatre restoration fee is charged on each ticket.

Mardi Gras party helps future architects

The University of Hawaii School of Architecture Alumni Association hosts its annual dinner party -- Mardi Gras 1998! -- at Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch and Crab Restaurant from 6 p.m. to midnight Feb. 22.

Dinner/party tickets are $50 including a Cajun feast, drink, tip, tax, dancing and music by Rolando Sanchez & the Salsa Hawaii Band. There also will be a Latin dance exhibition, a costume contest and door prizes. Tickets for the party only are $10.

Proceeds after expenses go toward the UH School of Architecture student scholarship fund.

For more information and reservations call Lee Manfredi at 735-8466; Video Joe, 261-4808; or Linn Henniger, 395-7068.

Ecology, design go hand-in-hand

Landscape architect and environmental planner Ian L. McHarg discusses "Design With Nature" in a free lecture at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at the University of Hawaii's School of Architecture Auditorium.

McHarg was the first landscape architect to promote the integration of ecology and design.

While in Honolulu, McHarg will meet with government officials, landscape architects and planners to discuss creating a "Lei of Green" for Honolulu.

For information call 521-5631.

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