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New releases from Hawaii authors, reviewed by Burl Burlingame:

"Francis Haar: A Lifetime of Images," edited by Tom Haar (University of Hawaii Press, $49)

This handsome, moving and thoroughly old-fashioned tribute to the Zen photography of Francis Haar clearly has a lot of care embellished upon it.

A photographer of the old, old school, Haar and his beautiful wife, Irene, were from Hungary but managed to establish themselves in Paris and Japan during the war years and eventually emigrated to Hawaii, where Haar became one of the best-known chroniclers of hula -- particularly of 'Iolani Luahine. He also taught at the University of Hawaii for several years.

Haar's accomplishments aside, the book makes it clear that the Haars were a team. Haar's pictures are studied, formal and meditative. There's none of the "decisive moment" snap of a Cartier-Bresson, but Haar's style was perfectly suited to the fragile elegance of a rapidly disappearing Japan. Barbara Pope's layout evokes the era well, having the plummy photographic formalism of 1960's Look magazine.

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Send items at least two weeks in advance of publication to 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, Honolulu 96813; or fax 529-4750.

AUTHOR SIGNINGS

"Grassroots Zen": Perle Besserman and Manfred Steger will discuss approaches to balancing Zen practice and daily life at the book-signing. Free and open to the public, 2 p.m. Saturday at Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall, 737-3323.

STORYTELLING

>> Barnes & Noble: 10 a.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, 7 p.m. Fridays, and noon Saturdays and Sundays. Call 737-3323.
>> Borders Waikele: 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and Saturdays. Call 676-6699.
>> Borders Ward: 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays. Call 591-8995.
>> "Preschool Pals": Stories, rhymes, finger plays, puzzles and more for ages 2-5, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays, Mililani Public Library, call 627-7470; and 10:30 a.m. Thursdays, Kaimuki Public Library, call 733-8422.
>> Waimanalo Public Library: Preschoolers, 10 a.m. Thursdays. Call 259-9925.

READINGS

"Tinfish Always Swim Upstream": Lisa Asagi, Gaye Chan and "school of tinfish poets" Irene Cadalina, Joe Balaz, Caroline Sinavaiana-Gabbard, Jody Hefland, Paige Wilmeth and Juliana Spahr will read from the 10th "Tinfish Journal." 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Native Books Kapalama, 1244 N. School St., 845-8949.

"Poetry Without a Net": The spoken word with Lopaka Kapanui, David Parrish and Robert Pennybacker combined with Shoji Ledward's improvisational guitar. CD release party 7 p.m. Thursday at Glen Grant's The Haunt, 2634 S. King St.

CONTINUING

AAUW Multicultural Book Group: Discussion of books and literature on women's issues, 6:30-8 p.m. fourth Monday of month, 537-4702.

African American Literary Book Group: Group discussion on African literature, 6:30-8:30 p.m. second and fourth Mondays of month, 1132 Bishop St., Suite 1404. Call to confirm attendance and book title, 528-5037.

Asian/Pacific Reading Group: Discussion on "The Tattoo" by Chris McKinney, 11 a.m. Saturday. Barnes & Noble, 737-3323.

Contemporary Fiction Group: Reading of "The Name of the World" by Denis Johnson, 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Barnes & Noble, 737-3323.

Crafts and Stories: 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, Barnes & Noble, 737-3323.

Family Reading Group: Harry Potter Quidditch, 7 p.m. Wednesday. Barnes & Noble, 737-3323.

Online Fun: Barnes & Noble author chat group at www.barnesandnoble.com or on America Online (keyword: bn). Call Elke Villa , (212) 414-6157, or e-mail her at evilla@bn.com.

Romance Writers of America, Aloha Chapter: Call Sally Sorenson at 739-7722 for information.

Science and Fantasy Fiction Reading Group: Meets 7 p.m. last Thursday of month, Borders Ward Centre, 591-8995.

Young Authors' Sharing Group: For children in grades 1-6. Meets 10:30 a.m. second and fourth Wednesdays of month, Borders Waikele, 676-6699.

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