HARA to give 2 scholarships

The Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts is accepting applications for the 2009 Bill Murata Memorial Scholarships. The $3,000 scholarships are awarded to two individuals.

Applicants must be Hawaii residents attending a Hawaii college or university; demonstrate interest and concentration in the area of Hawaiian music, the music of Hawaii and/or Hawaiian poetry; and adhere to criteria specified in the application.

Applications can be downloaded from the HARA Web site at www.nahokuhanohano.org. Completed applications should be mailed to P.O. Box 821, Honolulu 96808, and postmarked no later than May 15.

Call Bryson Ramos at 593-9424 or Lea Uehara at 941-8751.

Red Cross lunch offers prizes

The Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross will hold its annual luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday at the Kahala Hotel & Resort.

The event will start with a champagne reception and silent auction, followed by a three-course lunch. Guests will have an opportunity to bid on new and estate jewelry, artwork, hotel stays and fine-dining gift certificates, and will also have a chance to win a trip for two that includes a four-night stay in an ocean-view room at the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea, air fare, massage and docent-lead tour of the resort's new contemporary Hawaiian art collection.

Table sponsorships of 10 are available at $10,000, $5,000, $3,000 and $1,500 levels, with individual seats available for $175.

Funds raised will help support Red Cross community services in response to statewide disasters.

For reservations or information, call Mandy Martin at 739-8109 or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Punaluu honu focus of PBS film

“;The Punaluu Experience,”; a film about the honu, sacred fishing grounds and ancient heiau of Punaluu black-sand beach on the Big Island, will premiere on PBS Hawaii at 8:30 p.m. Thursday.

The 28-minute documentary includes interviews with local residents descended from many generations of Punaluu residents.

Pahala resident Danny Miller produced and directed the story, which also explores why people care so deeply about this area.

Da kine

LOOK: Justin Timberlake is on “;The Phone,”; so answer it. At 10 p.m. on MTV.

LISTEN: New albums out today: Depeche Mode — “;Sounds of the Universe,”; Pepper — “;Kona Gold,”; Pet Shop Boys — “;Yes”;

DO: Liliha Library will be showing a mystery movie at 5:30 p.m. today in observance of Earth Day tomorrow. Hint: The movie is about a “;little robot who reminds viewers of the uniqueness of our planet Earth.”; ONLY the first 60 to show up will get in. Bring a pillow for added comfort. Call 587-7577.

MOVIE PREVIEW

Opening tomorrow

”;Earth”;: Documents a year in the life of our planet, following the stories of three animal families and their amazing journeys. James Earl Jones narrates. (G)

Opening Friday

”;Fighting”;: A young man from a small town, with a natural talent for streetfighting, gets caught up in the underground and corrupt bare-knuckle circuit in New York City. Channing Tatum and Terrence Howard star. (PG-13)

”;The Informers”;: Bret Easton Ellis, whose previous novels “;Less Than Zero”; and “;American Psycho”; were later adapted for the movies, now adapts his own novel as he returns to the Los Angeles of the early 1980s with a multi-strand narrative that balances a vast array of characters who represent both the top and the bottom of the Hollywood food chain.

Billy Bob Thornton, Kim Basinger and Mickey Rourke star. (R)

”;Obsessed”;: A thriller about an unhinged stalker who threatens to destroy a happy family and the husband's successful career. Stars Beyonce Knowles (who co-produced with her father Matthew), Idris Elba and Ali Larter. (PG-13)

”;The Soloist”;: Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. star in the true story of the friendship between a former classical music prodigy living on the streets of Los Angeles and the journalist who discovers him. (PG-13)