Some of Hawaii's leading entertainers will perform in a free show with the Marine Corps Forces Pacific band Wednesday, 7 p.m., at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Danny Kaleikini and Carole Kai will emcee and perform in the Na Mele o na Keiki (Music for the Children) Christmas concert. They will be joined by singers Anita Hall, Jasmine Trias, the Honolulu Boy Choir, uke master Jake Shimabukuro and jazz-blues guitarist Chris Vandercook. BAE Systems, a worldwide partner of the USO, is teaming with the Marines in putting on the big night. Free tickets, four to a person, can be picked up at the Blaisdell Box Office. Marines will be at the concert to accept toys and donations for the Marine Corps' annual Toys for Tots program that benefits needy Hawaii kids ...

Don't forget this evening's annual Christmas tree lighting festivities at Honolulu Hale. Food booths and kids' rides will get things under way at 4 p.m., followed by a concert at 5 p.m. across the street at Kawaiahao Church. Mayor Mufi Hannemann and his wife, Gail, will preside over the lighting at 6 p.m. Sen. Dan Inouye is scheduled to appear. A holiday concert at the Civic Center grounds starts at 7:30 p.m. ... “;Emme's Christmas Island Moments”; at Honolulu Hale will run Dec. 18 at 9 p.m. on KHON2 and be rebroadcast Dec. 20 at 4 p.m. An encore of Emme Tomimbang's annual show will play on Christmas Day at 3 p.m. ... The Honolulu Boy Choir presents “;The Merriest Hawaiian Christmas”; in song and dance Dec. 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Central Union Church ...

...American Radio Theater producer Joy Jackson sent Star-Bulletin reporter Burl Burlingame a letter of thanks for his newspaper stories on legendary Honolulu detective Chang Apana that were used in research radio dramas about the lawman. Chang, who joined the HPD in 1898 and gained detective rank in 1916, is considered to be the prototype for fictional detective Charlie Chan. He specialized in opium and gambling cases and was a tough guy who carried a bullwhip, according to Burl's stories ...

...Hawaii-born surfing great Gerry Lopez, master of the notorious Banzai Pipeline, will sign his new book, “;Surf Is Where You Find It,”; from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Kahala sportswear at Ala Moana Center. Gerry's book is made up of 38 short stories on lessons learned from a lifetime of surfing and stories about his contemporaries. Gerry now lives in Bend, Ore., pursuing his latest passion, snowboarding. He works on surfboard and snowboard designs ... Fatu Iaulualo, serving with the Army in Iraq, e-mailed a “;thank you”; to Oceanic Time Warner Cable and OC16 for making it possible for him to watch his son Brad, a Leilehua standout, play football via OC16's Web site ...