FITNESS CHALLENGE

Runners and walkers: Ready, set, train!

Free workshops begin tomorrow for those planning to take part in February's Great Aloha Run.

Progressive training is offered for runners, joggers, run-walkers and walkers at 7:20 a.m. every Sunday though Feb. 8 in Kapiolani Park. Meet at the bandstand.

Workouts will cover warm-up, a walk/run that will increase in distance over the eight weeks, cool-down and stretching. Also, discussions will cover topics such as avoiding injury, recovery, what to wear and what to eat, with Dr. Christiane W. Christ, in-training programs director.

Call 943-0309 or visit http://www.drchrist.com.

The race takes place Feb. 15. Entry fee is $35 until Jan. 19; $40 until Feb. 8; $45 after that. Children and seniors are $25; strollers entry, $5.

To register up call 528-7388 or visit www.greataloharun.com.

BRIEFLY

Public ceremony to open Hanukkah

A public menorah-lighting ceremony at 7 p.m. tomorrow at King Kalakaua Park in Waikiki will launch the annual celebration of Hanukkah, the Jewish Festival of Lights.

Chabad of Hawaii will sponsor a parade of cars topped with models of the eight-armed candelabra that is the symbol of the holiday. The vehicles will leave Kaimuki High School at 5:30 p.m. and travel on Kapiolani Boulevard to downtown Honolulu, then along Ala Moana back to Waikiki in time for the ceremonial candle-lighting at the park at Kalakaua and Kuhio avenues.

Gov. Linda Lingle is expected to take part in the ceremony. There will be musical entertainment and hot latkes—potato pancakes—will be available.

The Jewish community traditionally commemorates the holiday with home gatherings, at which a new candle or lamp is lighted each night for eight nights.

The ritual commemorates a miraculous event in Judea in 165 B.C.

Jewish fighters led by Judah Maccabee reclaimed their temple from Syrian-Greek conquerors who had defiled it. Seeking to rekindle the menorah, they found only a small flask of consecrated lamp oil that remained untainted. Although it was enough fuel for only one day, the flame lasted for all eight days of the dedication of the temple.

The holiday is celebrated as a triumph of freedom from religious intolerance and oppression.

» Temple Emanu-El will hold a Hanukkah service at 7:30 p.m. Friday at 2550 Pali Highway.
There will be Israeli folk-dancing before the service. A community potluck dinner will follow with the traditional holiday food, latkes, to be served. For information, call 595-7521.

» Beth Israel Ministries International will sponsor at banquet at 6:30 p.m. next Saturday. For ticket information, call 349-0721.

Rwanda genocide survivor to speak

Immaculee Ilibagiza, a survivor of the 1994 holocaust in Rwanda, will return to Hawaii next month to speak about her experience and the subsequent restoration in her country.

In her 2006 book “;Left to Tell,”; Ilibagiza told of her escape. She and seven other women hid for three months in a tiny bathroom of a local pastor's home while murderous militia members rampaged outside in a genocidal campaign that took nearly 1 million lives.

Ilibagiza has spoken to groups around the world, telling how she overcame anger and resentment against the enemy through prayer during the siege and eventually forgave the men who killed her parents and two brothers. She was awarded the 2007 Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Reconciliation and Peace.

Now a resident of New York, she often returns to Rwanda, where the Left to Tell Foundation she created supports an orphanage.

She will speak at the following locations:

» Jan. 2, 7 p.m. St. Augustine Church, 130 Ohua Ave., Waikiki.
» Jan. 3, 7 p.m. St. John Apostle and Evangelist Church, 95-370 Kuahelani Ave., Mililani. Na Leo Pilimehana will perform at 6 p.m.
» Jan. 4, 6:30 p.m. St. Michael Church, 67-390 Goodale Ave., Waialua. Mabanzi Mutambo, an Oahu group, will perform African music.
» Jan. 5, 7 p.m. St. John Vianney Church, 920 Keolu Drive, Kailua.

Copies of Ilibagiza's recent books, “;Led by Faith”; and “;Our Lady of Kibeho,”; both published this year, will be on sale at the lectures.

For information, call Sister Celeste Cabral at the Benedictine Monastery, 637-7887, ext. 337.

Peacemaker Award nominees sought

The Church of the Crossroads is seeking nominations for its Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award.

The award is given annually to a Hawaii resident whose life and work exemplifies concern and commitment to the ideals of peace and social justice for all. It will be presented at the church's annual service on the January holiday commemorating the slain civil rights leader.

Dec. 30 is the deadline for nominations, which may be made by organizations or individuals.

Nominations with supporting information about the nominee may be sent to the Martin Luther King Jr. Peacemaker Award Committee, 1212 University Ave., Honolulu HI 96826. They should be marked: attention Mike Compton or Jim Howell. Nominations may also be sent to .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Include a telephone number for the committee to call to confirm receipt of the nomination.