Down to Earth turns 25

Down to Earth Natural Foods celebrates its 25th year in business, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Honolulu store, 2525 S. King St.

Music, food samples and prizes are part of the birthday party, along with these presentations:

>> 11 a.m.: Dr. Terry Shintani on "The Good Carbohydrate Revolution."
>> Noon: Dr. John Westerdahl on "The Power of a Vegetarian Diet."
>> 1 p.m.: Thauna Abrin on "Cancer Prevention through Nutrition and Lifestyle."
>> 2 p.m.: Carol Lent hosts vegetarian cooking classes on Angel Hair Pasta and Hawaiian Party Mix.

Call 949-0298.

Bocce potluck planned

The Friends of Italy Society of Hawaii is holding a Bocce Potluck, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Paki Hale on the mauka side of Kapiolani Park.

Along with bocce instruction and competition, the celebration includes contests for best antipasto, pasta sauce (pasta provided) and dessert.

Admission is free, as long as you bring a dish to share. Call 527-8010.

Veggies and dance

The Vegetarian Society Contra Dancers of Hawaii are combining food and dance, 6:30 to 9 p.m. April 10 at the Ala Wai Golf clubhouse.

Admission is free for an evening of contra dance lessons (no partners required). For those unable to contribute to the potluck portion of the program, Down to Earth Natural Foods is providing some vegetarian dishes. Call 735-1493.

Maui show entries sought

The Maui Agricultural Trade Show & Sampling, better known as the Ulupalakua Thing, is seeking entries for several competitions:

>> Ultimate Picnic Contest: Chefs and culinary students create ideal picnic settings.
>> Veggie Centerpiece Contest: Design a table centerpiece using Hawaiian produce, props and plants.
>> The Glory of Hawaii's Aina: A floral design contest for professionals to create multi-arrangement displays out of Maui-grown plants.

For entry forms go to the Web site, www.MauiAg.org.

The 10th anniversary event is scheduled for April 27 at Tedeschi Vineyards. Call 808-875-0457.

Okinaga named queen

Lisa Akiko Lokelani Okinaga has been crowned Cherry Blossom Queen.

A graduate of Kamehameha Schools and Loyola Marymount University, Okinaga was named queen Saturday and will reign over the Golden Anniversary year of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival, representing the local Japanese community at cultural events in Honolulu and Japan.

Okinaga majored in accounting at Loyola Marymount, with a minor in Asian and Pacific Studies. Her parents are Clyde and Naomi Okinaga.

Other festival awardees are:

>> Princess and Miss Popularity Nina Hashimoto
>> First Princess Katie Young
>> Princess Michele Nakata
>> Princess Charlene Sakuma
>> Miss Congeniality Nicole Kuwahara
>> The $2,500 Violet Niimi Oishi scholarship award winner is Michele Nakata.
>> The Community Service Award winner is Akira "Sunshine" Fukunaga.

For information call Sharene Urakami at 627-8522.

Crazy for Kikaida

Japanese superheroes Kikaida and Kikaida-01 will headline the Kikaidamania Festival April 12 and a Kikaida Fan Fair April 13, along with their original human alter egos, Jiro (actor Ban Daisuke) and Ichiro (actor Ikeda Shunsuke).

Hosted by Kikaida's enemy, Professor Gill, "Gill's Gala," a grand banquet with live entertainment, guest appearances and a silent auction of limited-edition Kikaida memorabilia, will take place from 6 to 10 p.m. in the Japanese Cultural Center Hawaii Ballroom at 2454 S. Beretania St.

Meet the actors during a question-and-answer session and take a peek at the "My Kikaida Treasures" exhibit featuring memorabilia from Japan and Hawaii, spanning three decades.

Tickets are $52.

The Kikaida Fan Fair, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 13 in the JCCH Courtyard, will include the above-mentioned celebrity appearances, displays, demonstrations, food and a collectibles sale.

Highlights include a Kikaida karaoke contest, Kikaida look-alike mini parade and "My Kikaida Treasures" Exhibit.

Admission to the fair is free; a fee will be charged for autographs and photos, with proceeds benefiting JCCH.

Call 836-0361.

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