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Ducks away!

Race time is 1:18 p.m. tomorrow for 20,000 rubber duckies that will be set adrift from the Kalakaua Avenue bridge at the Ala Wai Canal, for the United Cerebral Palsy's annual Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race.

Ducks may be adopted at any Sizzler Restaurant or Blockbuster Video store for the competition, with proceeds helping to support people with disabilities. Adoptions start at $5, running up to $200 for a VIP (Very Important Duck) designation, including 40 adoption certificates, two duckie T-shirts and two tickets for a party boat ride to watch the proceedings.

The pre-race fun starts at 9 a.m. at the McCully Shopping Center, where there will be children's games, a duckie store and entertainment. At 12:30 p.m. a duck parade will wind its way from the shopping center to the starting line.

Prizes, such as a 2005 Nissan Frontier SE Crew Cab for the 18th-place finisher, await the owners of the Top 50 racing ducks. There will also be a last-place (lame duck) award.

For more information, call the UCPA at 532-6744 or go online at www.ucpahi.org.

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STAR-BULLETIN / 2002 Rubber duckies float atop the surface of the Ala Wai Canal in the benefit race for the United Cerebral Palsy Association.

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Party till you drop

The biggest party of the year could be at the Party Expo, taking place this weekend at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall.

Fun-lovers will have the opportunity to see some of the products and services being offered by hotels, caterers, tent and ride rental companies, purveyors of sweets and favors, and others who work to make special occasions memorable.

Among the participants are Lisa Rose Doll House & Tea Room, Xtreme Fun, Ohana Party Rentals, Casinos in Paradise, Candy Bouquet and Jump Hawaii.

Demonstrations and seminars will cover all aspects of party planning; entertainment and prize giveaways are also planned.

Included are a noon presentation of a Halo 2 Video Game Tournament by the Zone tomorrow, as well as a 2 p.m. "Hawaiian Hold 'Em Poker Tournament" sponsored by Island Rhythm 98.5 with a grand prize of a trip for two to Las Vegas.

Hours for the expo are 5 to 9 p.m. today, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3, free for ages 6 and under.

Ramayana in dance

The Honolulu Academy of Arts will present a free performance of classical Indian dance, "Dancing Around the Ramayana: Stories of Sita and Rama," at 4 p.m. Sunday.

The dance concert features Izumi Sato, who will share episodes from the Ramayana epic during this unique lecture and performance. He will lead a journey through Bharatanatyam, one of the classical dance styles from South India. Call 532-8700.

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Plant sale in Kona

The Kona Outdoor Circle hosts its annual Pua Plantasia Plant Sale from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Outrigger Keauhou Beach Hotel. The event features plant sales, free seminars, live entertainment and food booths. Gardeners who are experts in the field will be on hand to answer questions. Call 808-329-7286.

Pick up opala

The Wai Momi Outdoor Circle on Oahu will hold weekly, one-hour litter pickup sessions, 9 to 10 a.m. Thursdays, April 7 to 28. The clean up will focus on Moanalua Road in the area fronting Pearl Ridge Elementary School. Call 488-0268.

Free garden tour

The Waialae-Kahala Outdoor Circle will host a free tour of Foster Botanical Garden 10 a.m. Thursday, featuring hundreds of botanical species from around the world, including 26 "Exceptional Trees." Call Susan Spangler at 734-3998.

A living tribute

The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle will honor the memory of longtime member Muriel Flanders with a tree dedication ceremony at 10:15 April 8 at Lanikai School.

Two large ohai (monkey pod) trees will be dedicated, and students will perform a song. Refreshments will be provided. Call Betsy Connors at 261-8839.

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