LOOK
» Better buy your poinsettia plant early (above). The state Department of Agriculture is reporting that inventory is down by 46,000 plants, compared with last year.

LISTEN
» “;I'm Broke,”; by Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears (www.myspace.com/blackjoelewis)

DO
» Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners Randy and Gay Hongo will perform their “;Christmas Is a Time to Love,”; free concert at 6:45 p.m. at Kalihi Union Church, 2214 N. King St. Call 834-1000.

READ ABOUT IT

Isle Pages

”;Pilgrimage and Exile: Mother Marianne of Molokai”;

» By: Sister Mary Laurence Hanley, O.S.F. and O.A. Bushnell
» Publisher: Mutual Publishing
» $19.95

Father Damien, Jozef De Veuster, was canonized on Oct. 11, 2009, for his work with ostracized leprosy (now called Hansen's disease) patients in Kalaupapa, Molokai. But he was not alone.

The Hawaiian Islands were an independent kingdom when Mother Marianne Cope, the provincial of the Franciscan Sisters of Syracuse, N.Y., was asked in 1883 to send some of her sisters to care for the islands' sick poor, especially the victims of leprosy. Her answer was: “;I desire to accept this work in the name of the great St. Francis.”; The same year she personally led the first group of six sisters to Hawaii. They were the first members of a religious community founded in the United States to enter upon mission work in a foreign land. The islands were not annexed to the United States until 15 years later, and they became the 50h state only in 1959.

TELL A TALE!

Holiday horror hunt offers $100

No doubt everyone has a story to tell about rude holiday behavior. We want to hear your true holiday stories of spoiled moments due to others' rudeness, from Christmas past or present. We'll run some of the best stories, and the person with the best story will receive a $100 prize to alleviate some of his or her pain and suffering.

Send your tales by Dec.16 to: Holiday Horrors, Features Section, Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 7-210 Waterfront Plaza, Honolulu, HI 96813. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number.

ENTER TO WIN!

Keiki Kalikimaka contest under way

Kids, help us trim our pages with the holiday spirit. It's time for our annual Keiki Kalikimaka drawing contest. Design an ornament and you'll have a chance at our prize of $100 cash.

We'll select a daily finalist, to be printed on page 3 of the paper beginning Nov. 26. On Christmas eve we'll run all 28 finalists and announce the winner.

The contest is open to kids up to age 12. All entries must be between 5 and 8 inches wide. No 3-D entries (don't glue on any objects). We must receive your drawing in the mail—no faxes or e-mails. Attach the entry form. Entries must be received by Dec. 20.