Maui artist N. Robert Wagstaff's painting “;Peek-a-boo”; was selected a Top 40 Winner in the 2008 SmallWorks North America exhibition. Wagstaff is represented by the Village Galleries Maui and is part of the Artist of Maui Fine Art program at the Four Seasons Resort.

The East-West Center's AsiaPacificEd Program for Schools received a $150,000 “;Landmarks of American History and Culture”; grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. The funds will be used to conduct teachers workshops on “;Pearl Harbor: History, Memory, and Memorial”; for the fifth year. The event, to be held next summer, is co-sponsored by the Arizona Memorial Museum Association, the National Park Service and the Japan-America Society.

Ward Centers' Festival of Giving in November raised $96,830 for 75 local nonprofit organizations. Proceeds from the sale of $10 Festival of Giving tickets provided shoppers with discounts and special offers.

Some of the nonprofits include the Baby Hui, the Children's Center, Farrington High School soccer, Hawaii Dog Foundation, Hawaii Youth Opera Chorus, Honolulu Habitat for Humanity, KCAA Preschools, Royal School, Lupus Hawaii, Manoa Elementary School, McKinley High School Band, Missing Child Center-Hawaii, Palama Settlement and Voyager Charter Public School.