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Hop to it -- get Easter items in

Easter is early this year, only two weeks away.

Churches with special events for Palm Sunday on March 20, Holy Week and Easter on March 27 may list them in the Star-Bulletin's Easter calendar next Saturday.

Wednesday is the deadline to submit information. Send it by fax to 529-4750 or e-mail to madamski@starbulletin.com.

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Waipahu churches plan Easter fair

Two days of free music, food and inspirational speakers on the Easter holiday weekend is planned by Waipahu church and community organizations.

"Impact 2005" will open at 6:30 p.m. March 24 at New Hope Leeward, Waipahu Town Center, 94-060 Farrington Highway. It will continue March 25 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Concert performers include Paul Wright, Larissa Lam, Believe, Seven Simple Pieces and Jacob's Well. A virtual surfboard simulator and a biker club demonstration are also on the program.

The promoters have invited government officials, University of Hawaii athletes and other special guests to make appearances. The event is sponsored by Island Women Empowered by God, a network of churches. For information, call Karlyn at 386-3996.

Author to speak on Jews in America

Jewish contributions to American culture will be the topic of a lecture by author and professor Andrew Heinze on April 3 at the University of Hawaii Campus Center Ballroom.

Heinze is an American-history professor and director of the Swig Judaic Studies Program at the University of San Francisco. His topic will be "Jews and the American Soul: Reflections on the 350th Anniversary of Jewish Life in America."

The 2 p.m. lecture will be preceded by a program of music by Jewish composers produced by Ken Aronowitz, teacher and cantor at Temple Emanu-El. A reception will follow where Heinze will sign copies of his recent book "Jews and the American Soul: How Jewish Thinkers Changed American Ideas of Human Nature." He also co-authored "Race and Ethnicity in America, A History," published in 2003.

The lecture is sponsored by the Fund for the Promotion of Jewish Life and Studies, with the University of Hawaii Foundation, the UH Jewish campus ministry Shaloha-Hillel and Hillel's Soref Initiative for Emerging Campuses, and by the Honolulu chapter of B'nai B'rith.