Da Kine Star-Bulletin staff and wire services

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Fresh thoughts

HMSA's first Island Fresh Festival on Saturday will feature food booths, a farmers' market, cooking demonstrations, entertainment and keiki activities -- all with the aim of promoting nutritious diets based on fresh, local produce.

The free event takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Auahi Street, in front of Ward Centre.

Participating chefs include Chai Chaowasaree of Chai's Island Bistro, Dr. Stephen Bradley of the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Medical Center and Pedro Rivera of MAC 24/7.

A corny event

Sure, there's corn on the cob, but learn other ways of enjoying Hawaii's No. 3 agricultural crop at the 18th Waimanalo Corn Field Day, 9 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Kapiolani Community College's culinary program will provide samples and recipes for preparing sweet corn. There will also be field displays, seed samples and research presentations.

The event takes place at the University of Hawaii's Waimanalo Research Station, 41-698 Ahiki St. Admission is free. Call 259-8685 or 261-1926.

Get famous

Wally Amos, founder of the Famous Amos cookie line, brings his new cookie dough to Costco stores beginning this weekend.

The dough is the same formula as that used at Amos' Chip & Cookie store in Kailua.

The Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut dough will sell for $9.99 for a 3.5-pound tub.

Amos will hold baking and sampling sessions at Costco stores:

» Tomorrow: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Kahului, Maui

» Friday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Kailua-Kona

» Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Waipio; and 3 to 7 p.m., Honolulu

» Sunday: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Hawaii Kai

Tasty winners

The Kaanapali Beach Hotel and chef Thomas Muromoto won the Best of Show award at last weekend's Taste of Lahaina, for Muromoto's Seafood Lavalu.

More than 12,000 attended the 15th annual event.

The Judge's Choice Award went to Roselani Ice Cream's Hula Cookie Sandwich.

Other first-place winners: Kaanapali Beach Hotel (seafood), Kimo's (meat), CJ's Deli & Diner (poultry), Hyatt Regency Maui Resort (vegetarian), Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar (appetizer) and Royal Lahaina Resort (dessert).

Singing the blues

It won't be patriotism so much as wine and music at the Arthritis Foundation's Reds, Whites & Blues benefit, 4 to 7 p.m. Sept. 30 at Aloha Tower Marketplace's Mauka Lanai Banquet Room.

The event features wine tasting, martini bar, silent auction and food stations. Music will be by Monk's Beret.

Tickets are $75, to benefit local arthritis programs. Call 596-2900.

Healthy cooking

The Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific offers "Lean, Low Sodium and Scrumptious," a cooking class for those on low-sodium, low-fat or low-cholesterol diets.

Dietitian Moana Bachiller teaches the class from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sept. 27 at the hospital's Frear Cafeteria, 226 N. Kuakini St.

Cost is $30, which includes tastings. Call 566-3780.

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State your peace

Students in elementary through high school are invited to craft expressions of peace in the form of a poster, poem, photo, short video or essay for the Peace Arts & Humanities Contest.

The contest celebrates the 61st anniversary of the United Nations, the 10th anniversary of the Earth Charter and the sixth anniversary of the Aloha Peace Forum on Oct. 14 and 15.

The piece should reflect the theme "Dialogues for Peace -- Youth Voices for the Future," and any one of the four principles of the Earth Charter: respect and care for the community of life; ecological integrity; social and economic justice; or democracy, nonviolence and peace.

One award will be given in each grade level for each principle and selected works will be displayed.

Posters must be no larger than 11 by 17 inches; photos must be 8 by 10 inches; essays may be no more than 150 words, typewritten, double-spaced; videos must be 3 to 5 minutes in DVD format.

Deadline is Sept. 29. Entry forms are required. Call 457-9876 or e-mail Contest-2006@unahawaii.org.

Family fun

First Assembly of God church in Red Hill hosts an Ohana Festival, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, with a craft fair, silent auction and luau.

Admission is free; a luau plate costs $15.

The church is at 3400 Moanalua Road. Call 836-0233.

More on peace

Jeremy Gilley attempted to establish an annual day of peace and nonviolence beginning in 1991. The documentary "Peace One Day" demonstrates how Gilley, a former actor, went about his personal mission.

The documentary will be shown at the rRed Elephant, 1144 Bethel St., at 7 p.m. tomorrow, which marks the annual international celebration of Peace Day.

Later that night, Hearticla Crew, Big Everytime (B.E.T.), Paula Fuga and Sahra Indio will join in the Peace One Day concert.

Call 637-3139. For information on Peace One Day, visit peaceoneday.org.

'Pearls for the Cure'

The Black Pearl Gallery in Aloha Tower Marketplace hosts "Pearls for the Cure," a fundraiser Saturday for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The noon-to-4 p.m. event will include a book signing by Mary Olsen Kelly, co-owner of the gallery and a breast cancer survivor, who wrote "No. 1 Best Tools and Tips from the Trenches of Breast Cancer" and co-wrote "Chicken Soup for the Breast Cancer Survivor's Soul."

A drawing will be held for a $750 "Survive & Thrive" black pearl and pink sapphire pendant, and refreshments with a pink theme will be served. Ten percent of book and jewelry sales during the event will be donated to the local Susan G. Komen Foundation chapter.

Call 597-1477.

Writers' conference

A three-day international conference Friday through Sunday provides a gathering for local Ilocano writers.

The Second Gumil Filipinas International Conference will be held at the Philippine Consulate General.

Among participants are Gumil chapters in Ilocos Sur, Ilocos Norte, La Union, Cagayan, Isabela, Nueva Vizcaya, Pangasinan and Metro Manila in the Philippines, as well as on the mainland and in Canada.

Workshops are meant to encourage members to write about the social, economic and cultural aspect of growth and development in the Filipino community.

Minimal fees will be charged for the workshops. A closing-night dinner Sunday will be held at the Pagoda. Cost is $40.

Call 398-3416.