BENEFIT

Fundraiser at W Honolulu to help in AIDS fight

In 2006, U2 frontman Bono announced a partnership with several companies to sell products under the brand (RED), in a renewed push to provide financial aid for the fight against HIV and AIDS in Africa.

That fight gets a boost with the launch of the online music service (RED)WIRE on Monday, World AIDS Day. W Hotels worldwide—including W Honolulu Diamond Head—will host official viewing parties, with special offers that include trial memberships and exclusive music. (RED)WIRE that day will feature special musical performances by U2, as well as John Legend, Sheryl Crow and many more.

Specialty INSPI(RED) cocktails will also be available for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds going to the global fund.

The party will go from 6 to 7 p.m. locally at the W's hotel at 2885 Kalakaua Ave. Call 922-1700.

FAMILY

Pearl Harbor talk recalls memory of a child

“;Pearl Harbor Child Comes Home”; will be this weekend's special presentation at the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor.

Dorinda Makanaonalani Nicholson, a mainland author who lived at Pearl Harbor when she was young, will share her pictures and memories about the events of Dec. 7, 1941, as she watched the Japanese attack from her family's Pearl City home as a 9-year-old. Her lecture is based on her children's book “;Pearl Harbor Child: A Child's View of Pearl Harbor—From Attack to Peace,”; which will be available for purchase at the museum gift shop.

Nicholson will sign copies of her book before and after her lectures at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday.

The museum is located at 319 Lexington Blvd. in Hangar 37 on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor. General admission is $14, $7 children; kamaaina and military admission is $10, $5 children. Call 441-1008 or visit www.PacificAviationMuseum.org.

FOOD

Bonsai

Restaurant Row / 525-5080

In all the years I've been writing about restaurants, some of the greatest turnover has been in our building at Restaurant Row, and particularly, the space just below our news office, which has housed Touch the East, Baci, Meritage and Carnaval Las Palmas, to name some.

Knowing the site's track record, Burt Kawasaki still decided to go ahead and open Bonsai, and for once, I think the restaurant has a good chance of breaking the vicious cycle.

The sleek, dark ultra-lounge environment exudes a young sophisticated vibe that is not so cooler-than-thou so as to deter those who've outgrown their club-hopping days.

They also understand that most people don't have time for a prolonged sit-down dinner, or may be dropping in just for a snack before heading off to their next destination, so you can feel at home whether you want that sit-down meal or just a couple of pupu and a beer.

For lunch, there is a small selection of steak ($9.75), salmon ($8.50), and chicken karaage ($7.75) plates and salads ($7 to $7.75).

If you're short on cash, show up at happy hour, from 5 to 7 p.m. weekdays, when a handful of appetizers are discounted, such as grilled eggplant or chicken karaage for $4 instead of $6.

Those who like spice might try an appetizer trio of jumbo seared scallops ($8) coated with ichimi pepper and accompanied by a balsamic butter sauce. The pepper also figures into an appetizer of garlic shrimp ($8), but the heat doesn't register as strongly, perhaps due to the more potent mix of garlic, patis and butter. Butter and cream appears quite frequently on the menu, which might explain Bonsai's mass appeal. An entree of pork medallions ($18) topped with a creamy mushroom and onion sauce is definitely comfort food just when we need it.

Ice cream and various flavors of cheesecake are dessert options. Speaking for the girls' night out set, we need more choices.

Open for lunch 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Mondays to Fridays; dinner 5 to 10 p.m. Mondays to Thursdays; and from 5 p.m. to 2 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Costs about $10 per person for lunch, and $40 to $50 for two for dinner.

ON STAGE

Special holiday slam jam ditches rules at the Hut

The First Thursdays poetry slam celebrates the holiday season with a special “;No Rules”; slam on Dec. 4. All team pieces, musical accompaniment, props, etc. will be allowed this time around, but the three-minute time limit will remain in effect.

Special guest for the evening will be Ainsley Burrows, an internationally acclaimed poet who has received awards from Munich's International Poetry Slam Championship (2001), the Farrago Poetry Cafe in London (Best International Performer of 2001 and 2002) and the Nuyorican Poets Cafe (2001 and 2004). In addition, Ainsley has conducted workshops worldwide, from London's Hackney Community College to New York's Julliard School of Music.

First Thursdays takes place at the Hawaiian Hut, located at the Ala Moana Hotel. Doors open at 7:45 p.m.; the show starts at 8:30. Admission is $3 before 8:30 and $5 after. Call 387-9664 or visit www.HawaiiSlam.com.

TELEVISION

Washington Place profiled in PBS show

Catch the broadcast premiere of “;Washington Place: Hawai'i's First Home”; on Dec. 4 on PBS Hawaii.

Produced and written by local filmmaker Robin Lung, the half-hour documentary focuses on the unique history of what was first the longtime home to Queen Lili'uokalani, Hawaii's last reigning monarch, and then became the residence of all the state's territorial and elected governors until 2002.

The documentary traces the important role the home has played since its origins in 1841 to its recent transformation into a National Historic Landmark. The house is open to the public while continuing to be used by the governor for official occasions.

“;Washington Place”; will air at 8:30 p.m.