Joe Hauoli Dowson, a cancer survivor, has touched many lives in his 85 years, both in his 30 years as a police officer and as an artist. Joe's paintings, giclees (high quality reproductions) and note cards will be on sale at Wednesday's Night Market at Aloha Tower from 5 to 10 p.m. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society. Joe's wife, Iris, is a recent cancer survivor, as well. Prices will fit most every pocketbook, starting with note cards from $3 to $8, giclees from $10 to $900 and paintings from $95 to $5,000. There is a discount of at least 20 percent for paintings. Call 946-9000 for more information ...

Joe served under chiefs Dan Liu and Francis Keala in the Police Department. He was a special investigator in the chief's office, retiring in 1976. During his police years, he squired (Joe's word) Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson, around town, as well as Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, Elvis Presley, Connie Stevens, Burt Reynolds and Loni Anderson and many other celebrities when they hit town. Joe is fluent in Japanese because he had a Japanese granny. Thanks to knowing Japanese, he got along very well with Emperor Akihito during a visit when he was crown prince. Joe now teaches art four times a week to students ranging in age from 8 to 92 ...

Ben Vereen, a Tony and Emmy award winner, opens the Honolulu Symphony's Toyota Pops season Oct. 23-24 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. The actor-dancer-singer will visit several groups while here, including Castle High's Performing Arts Center and Tripler Army Medical Center, to talk about his life and career ... Jerry Santos, founder of Olomana, is booked tonight and tomorrow at the Palace of Fine Arts Theatre in San Francisco. Hula will be by Na Lei Hulu I Ka Wekiu ... Ukulele ace Jake Shimabukuro performs at the San Francisco Jazz Festival Wednesday at Davies Symphony Hall ... Comedian Andy Bumatai opens the Society of Seven Las Vegas' Thanksgiving shows Nov. 18-21 and Nov. 25-28, 8:30 p.m., in the Outrigger Hotel's Main Showroom ...

Emme Tomimbang digs into some fine grinds and wine when she presents former guests Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi and master sommelier Chuck Furuya on “;Emme's Island Moments—Food, Wine and an Island Moment in D.C.”; The program runs Thursday on KHON at 9 p.m. and will be rebroadcast next Saturday at 4 p.m. The segment with Alan looks at the luau party he presented at President Barack Obama's White House. Emme is also repeating her Obama show, “;With Island Roots,”; which received a Telly Award. Alan won't be here to watch the program because he and his team will be participating at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in Florida ...

Gov. Linda Lingle and Hawaiian Airlines President and CEO Mark Dunkerley are inviting friends to a luncheon marking the 80th anniversary of the airline Oct. 28 at Washington Place ... The Hyatt Waikiki is selling One Hope Wine to help local and national nonprofit organizations. Now through New Year's Eve, One Hope Wine is donating 50 percent of the proceeds from bottle sales to benefit agencies that support breast cancer research, environmental concerns, the fight against autism, and orgs that assist our troops—all worthy causes. Bottles are available in the hotel's Colony Restaurant and Ciao Mein ...