The Halekulani and its exec chef Vikram Garg invited chefs Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi, vintner and owner of Napa's Hall Wines Kathryn Hall, master wine sommelier Chuck Furuya, Nalo Farms Dean Okimoto and a number of other people involved in food and beverage to prepare “;An Evening of Sustainable Cuisine”; Jan. 8. The Halekulani Living event was a benefit for UH's Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Diamond Head. Chuck was blown away by Alan's tilapia dish. “;The coolest aspect of the dinner for me was all of the locally grown and caught produce featured at the dinner,”; he said. “;The highlight was the North Shore tilapia. Grown in a natural spring fed pond, it is harvested at 3- to 4-pound size for Alan. I thought it was terrific.”; While all of the sustainable action was going on, Elton John and his entourage were across the street dining at Nobu's in the Parc, the Halekulani's sister hotel ...

Three young classical musicians and slack-key guitarist Sean Robbins, 16, have been selected for National Public Radio broadcast tapings of “;From the Top.”; Sean, of Pahoa on the Big Island, is only the second slack key guitarist to be featured in the mainly classical music weekly show, which is marking its 10th anniversary season. The first was Danny Carvalho in 2004. The award-winning show is taping two live performances on the Big Island for national broadcast. They will be held at Kamuela's Kahilu Theatre Wednesday and at the Kamehameha Schools Hawaii's Lunalilo Center in Keaau Friday . Pianist Tiffany Cheung, 17, of Honolulu, is in the Kahilu program. Besides the Iolani student, a prerecorded segment on the Honokaa High School Jazz Band and its leader Gary Washburn will be on the program. This is the first time a jazz band will be in the classical show. Along with Pahoa High's guitarist Sean, others in the Keaau program include cellist Arin Doike, 17, of Honolulu and Moanalua High, the third member of his family to win a spot on “;From the Top”; and 14-year-old pianist Evan Lin, of Pearl City and Punahou School. The Kamuela program will be on national radio the week of Feb. 15 and the Keaau show will run the week of March 15 ...

Quinn Kelsey, a local boy who has made good in the world of opera, will give a recital Wednesday , 7:30 p.m., in the Hawaii Theatre. Quinn is presented by the Hawaii Opera Theatre and the Hawaii Theatre Center in celebration of HOT's 50th anniversary season. Quinn has won acclaim here and on the mainland. He began his career as a member of HOT in 1991 ...

Congratulations to Duke's Waikiki, which is celebrating its 17th anniversary on Aloha Friday , 3 to 5 p.m. Duke's 2009 Legacy of Aloha recipient will be named in conjunction with the anniversary. Duke's is known as Waikiki spot that welcomes “;slippahs and aloha shirts”; ...

Ben Wood, who sold the Star-Bulletin on Honolulu streets in World War II, writes of people, places and things Saturdays. E-mail him at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)