FAMILY

Peace on Earth concert features isle performers

Originally scheduled on Dec. 17 and canceled due to rain, the 3rd annual Peace on Earth concert will commence 6 p.m. Wednesday in the sheltered confines of the Mission Memorial Auditorium.

Featured performers include Dennis and David Kamakahi, Melveen Leed, Al Waterson, Stanton Haugen and the Thursday Night Band with Jamie Hope, The Tradewinds, Noelani Kanoho Mahoe, Jonathan Sypert, DeShannon Higa, Ron Miyashiro and the Ron Miyashiro Singers, and the Carmen Haugen Quartet, featuring pakini master Frank Uehara.

The concert is free, and free parking will be available in the city and county's underground lot off Beretania Street. Call 951-4332.

FOOD

Unique event to benefit grassroots fundraiser

The Hawaii Potters' Guild will be hosting a unique event on First Friday, Feb. 6, incorporating two of my favorite things, art and eating.

The two are never mutually exclusive, but come together for a good cause, benefiting the Empty Bowl Project, a grassroots fundraiser that started in Michigan in the 1990s.

Local ceramic groups and artists make soup bowls, which are then filled with soup donated by local restaurants. People will be able to purchase these one-of-a-kind bowls, soup and bread for a donation of $15 between 6 and 9 p.m. Friday at the ARTS at Mark's Garage, 1159 Nuuanu St. All of the donations will benefit the work of Hawaii Foodbank.

Restaurants providing the soup for the event are Side Street Inn, Downtown, Cafe Laufer and Great Life Cuisine. Other local supporters are Koko Head Potters, Fort Shafter Crackpots, the ARTS at Mark's Garage, Hawaii Craftsmen, Commercial Plumbing, First Hawaiian Bank and Kenjo.

A few signature bowls will be available on a silent auction basis. These are special bowls made and signed by well-known ceramic artists such as Yukio Ozaki, Paul Nash, Ken Kang, KennyKicklighter, Charles Patten, Jeff Chang and others.

The event is being held in conjunction with HPG's 42nd anniversary Exhibit at the ARTS at Mark's Garage. View the exhibit while sipping your bowl of soup!

FREEBIE

Dance academy keeps up Japanese tradition

Get a dose of Japanese culture and tradition at the Hanayagi Dancing Academy's maizome, a New Year's recital.

Not only will the students' performances—of classical and semi-classical dances and shamisen performances—impress, but the students themselves will as well: The 25 students range in age from 4 to 90. The recital shows what they've learned after a year's study.

The maizome has been an annual tradition since the academy was founded in 1947.

The event, from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the Mission Memorial Auditorium (550 S. King St., next to Honolulu Hale), is free and open to the public.

Call 381-1859 or 536-1549.

MUSIC

'Moonchild' brings Mississippi-bred blues

The well-traveled bluesman Travis “;Moonchild”; Haddix will be backed by our own James Ronstadt and his Dynamic Shuffle Kings at this weekend's concert at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio.

Haddix is known for his positive and energetic on-stage presence—“;I am the best that I can be, and since no one else can be me, there's none better!”; he claims on his Web site. Haddix fell in love with the guitar when he hung around radio station WDIA in his home state of Mississippi, learning all he could from B.B. King, who was playing daily at the station's studios.

His musical style evokes the sounds of the great Southern Stax-Volt record label days, when the likes of Otis Redding, Sam and Dave, Albert King and the Bar-Kays ruled the R&B roost. Haddix's latest release is “;A Big Ole Goodun.”;

Tickets for the 7:30 p.m. Saturday concert are $25, $20 for Hawaii Public Radio members and $15 students with ID. Call 955-8821.

RADIO

HPR show celebrates local women authors

Sunday's live taping of Hawaii Public Radio's “;Aloha Shorts”; celebrates local women writers with three shows that will air in March, designated as Women's History Month.

The award-winning Barbara Higbie, along with banjoist Paul Sato, will perform a brief set at 7 p.m. before the readings of works, all published by Bamboo Ridge Press.

On tap are “;Earth Surrender”; by Delaina Thomas and “;Tomoe Ame”; by Mavis Hara, read by veteran storyteller Nyla Fujii-Babb; “;Fever”; by Laureen Kwock and “;What She Learned in Sears Charm School”; by Barbara Hamby, read by Bree Bumatai; “;A Spell of Kona Weather”; by Sylvia A. Watanabe and “;Boot Camp for Samoan Girls”; by Jacinta Galea'i, read by Kiana Rivera; “;Ten Cents”; by Jennifer G. Lim, read by Stephanie Kong; and “;Angry Women”; by Brenda Kwon, read by program co-producer Sammie Choy.

The event is held at HPR's Atherton Performing Arts Studio. Admission is free. Call 955-8821.