West Oahu Highlights

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Below are highlights of what’s coming up in West Oahu.

March

* RAIL MEETING Mayor Hannemann and his transit team conduct a community meeting on the commuter rail projects at 6:30 p.m. March 17 in the Waipahu Elementary School cafeteria. Call 566-2299.

* SPRING READING Kapolei Public Library sponsors its third annual Spring Reading Program during schools’ intercessions March 17-29. The free program offers weekly prizes and bonus awards for elementary-aged keiki who visit the library and read during those two weeks. Call 693-7050.

* HERO PHOTOS Winners of the Everyday Environmental Hero Photo Essay contest are on view March 17-28 at Kapolei Hale. Call 780-8872.

* WEIGHT LOSS Castle Medical Center presents information on its surgical weight loss service at 6 p.m. March 17 and April 21 at Aiea Library. Call 263-5400 to register.

* HEALTH SCREENINGS Pali Momi conducts free blood pressure and blood sugar-level testing from 7:45 to 9:30 a.m. March 17 at Pearlridge Uptown, fronting Cookie Corner. Call 488-0981.

* MAUI’S KITE Select Oahu libraries host free 45-minute performances of Maui’s Kite: Another Tale of Old Hawaii,a new Honolulu Theatre for Youth stage production designed specifically for keiki ages 3-5. Showings are at 3 p.m. March 17 at Pearl City Library; 3 p.m. March 18 at Waipahu Library; 10:30 a.m. April 3 at Ewa Beach Library; 10:30 a.m. April 29 at Aiea Library; and 10:30 a.m. May 14 at Kapolei Library. Visit www.librarieshawaii.org

* STORYTIME Waipahu Library hosts preschool storytime and activities from 10:30 to 11:15 a.m. on Tuesdays from March 18 to April 8. Call 675-0358.

* ACTIVE LIVING The state Department of Health plans free public workshops on its Healthy Hawaii Initiative at 7 p.m. March 18 at Keone’ula Elementary School and 7 p.m. March 19 at Kapolei High School. Call 586-4526.

* BLOOD DRIVES The Hawaii Blood Bank conducts donor drives from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 21 at Resurrection of the Lord Church, 94-1260 Lumikula St.; from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. March 23 at the Ewa Town Center Foodland; from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5 at Pearlridge Center; from 7:30 a.m. to noon April 12 at Waipahu Town Center; and from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 15 in the Waipahu High School chorus room. Call 845-9966.

* EASTER PHOTOS Pearlridge Downtown Center Court is home to the Easter Bunny now through March 22 during center hours. Everyone who visits for a portrait receives a free lollipop. Call 488-0981.

* BORDERS WAIKELE Augie T. performs from his DVD at 2 p.m. March 22, and Brittni Paiva plays from her Brittni CD at 2 p.m. April 6 at Borders Waikele. Call 676-6699.

* ONSTAGE Pearlridge Center Uptown presents a performance by Honolulu Dance Studio at noon March 22, followed by Te Rangatahi Polynesian Dance School at 2 p.m. On March 30, Baton Hawaii performs at 11 a.m., followed by Ike Pono at 1 p.m. and Halau Hula O Hanauna Kuu Aloha at 2:30 p.m. Call 488-0981.

* HEALTH ACTIVITIES The Mokichi Okada Association (MOA) shows how to improve mind and body through jorei, flower arranging and Japanese tea ceremony from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. March 24 at Pearlridge Uptown Center Court. Call 488-0981.

* NEIGHBORS Pearl City Neighborhood Board meets at 6:30 p.m. March 25 in the Highlands Intermediate School cafeteria; the Makakilo-Kapolei-Honokai Hale board meets at 7 p.m. March 26 in the Kapolei High School cafeteria; the Waipahu board meets at 7 p.m. March 27 at the Filcom Center. Call 768-3710.

* PARADE The Maluohai Resident Association plans a Mau ke Aloha No Hawaii parade from 3 to 5 p.m. March 26 from Kapolei High School to the site of the Hawaiian Home Lands office building. Call 520-2338.

* ROYAL MUSIC The Royal Hawaiian Band plays at 9:30 a.m. March 26 at the dedication of the Hawaiian Home Lands administration building in Kapolei; and at 3 p.m. March 26 in Kapolei’s Prince Kuhio Day Parade. Call 922-5331.

* BORDERS AIEA Rebel Souljahz performs at 2 p.m March 29, and Brittni Paiva plays at 2 p.m. April 5 at the Pearlridge bookstore. Call 487-1818.

* TRIATHLON The Iroquois Point Island Club Triathlon is set for 7 to 10 a.m. March 30 in the area. Call 864-0113.

April

* TAI CHI Kaiser’s Waipio Clinic offers a tai chi class with John Carpenter from 5:30 to 7 p.m. April 2 to June 4. Nonmembers pay $52. Call 432-2270.

* SHAKESPEARE TRYOUTS Leeward Community College holds auditions from 3 to 6 p.m. April 4 in the lab theater for the seventh annual Hawaii Shakespeare Festival, set for July 18-Aug. 31 in the ARTS at Marks Garage. Call 256-6657.

* SAFE DRIVING The AARP Driver Safety Program is scheduled from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. April 7 and 9 or May 13 and 15 at Kaiser’s Waipio Clinic. Fee is $10. Call 432-2260.

* LEI MAKING CLASS Aiea District Park conducts parent/child lei-making classes at 2:30 p.m. April 8 and 15 at 99-350 Aiea Heights Drive. Call 483-7859.

* MARSH CLEANUP Hawaii Nature Center leads a cleanup at Pouhala Marsh from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. April 12. Call Pauline at 955-0100, ext. 18.

* MANANA FAIR Manana Elementary School PTA plans a “Celebrate Spring” craft fair April 27.Call 456-4272.

Ongoing

* INTERNSHIPS MA’O Farms seeks Waianae youths age 17 to 24 for two-year LCC internships that involve studying, farming and $500 a month pay for work on its organic farm in Lualualei. Call 696-5569.

* SOCCER SIGNUPS Leeward Soccer Club seeks players and coaches for the upcoming HYSA season. Practices are held on various West Oahu fields. Call Sam at 224-5534.

* THE PEARL The Pearl restaurant serves a new spring-semester menu from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. each Wednesday, Thursday and Friday through April 25 at LCC. (It is closed March 21, 26-28 and April 18.) Student menus will be featured April 16-17. Call 455-0475.

* CANCER SUPPORT Group Hopena Paekukui of Waipahu shows off the Spiderman-themed gift basket he recently got from his daddy, Darwin Nazarino. Photo from Darwin Nazarino. Hui Malama Kako’o meets from 5:30 to 7 p.m. every Thursday (except holidays) in the Physicians Dining Room on the first floor of Kapiolani Medical Center at Pali Momi in Aiea. Call 485-4548.

* KEIKI STORYTIMES Kapolei Library runs free storytime sessions and activities for children 3 and older from 10 to 10:45 a.m. Mondays and Thursdays through April 24, except during holidays or when special events are scheduled. Call 693-7050.

* WAIPAHU MARKET The Waipahu Festival Marketplace is open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at 94-340 Waipahu Depot Road, offering fresh fish, produce, crafts, refreshments and island-made products. Call 677-6939.

* POLYNESIAN DANCE Na Malama Polynesian Dance Studio in Ewa Beach has open enrollment on Saturdays in hula, Maori, Tahitian and Samoan dancing. Drummers and musicians are welcome. Call 271-9403.

* BALLROOM DANCE Aiea Ballroom Dance Association-Hi holds on-going classes open to all ages at 7:30 p.m. every Thursday in the Aiea Intermediate School cafeteria. Beginners encouraged to attend; no partners required. Next registration date is March 13. Call 953-8003.

* BELLY DANCE Malia in Hawaii teaches the art of Belly Dance for beginners from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. every Thursday at the Kapolei Yoga and Dance studio, 338 Kamokila Blvd. Suite #201. All ages and fitness levels welcome. Cost is $50 for four classes; register at first class. Call 234-1006.

* TAEKWONDO Tropic Lightning Taekwondo has Olympics-style martial arts classes for all ages Monday through Saturday at Westgate Shopping Center in Waipahu. For rates and times, call 677-2225.

* TAX HELP Qualified residents can get free tax help from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment each Friday at the Waipahu Community Association office, 94-340 Waipahu Depot Road. Call 677-6939, ext. 25.

* CHESS LESSONS Pearlridge Downtown Center Court hosts free chess classes from 6 to 8 p.m. every Tuesday this month. Call 488-0981.

* FIT MOMS Strollerstrides offers a fitness program for mothers who can get in shape, accompanied by their young children. Classes are 8:30-9:45 a.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at Central Oahu Regional Park and 8:45-10 a.m. Monday and Wednesday at Kapolei Regional Park. Call 358-7335.

* YOGA Yoga4Ewa studio in Ewa Beach offers a variety of yoga classes Monday through Saturday. Visit www.yoga4ewa.com or call 689-1020.

* BOOKS Borders Waikele hosts three monthly reading groups: Bestsellers at 7 p.m. on the second Wednesday; Romance Readers Anonymous at 6:30 p.m. on the second Thursday; and International Women’s Writing Guild at 7 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday. Call 676-6699.

* BABY BOOT CAMP Baby Boot Camp offers a fitness program where moms can bring their babies along and get back into pre-pregnancy shape. Classes are Tuesday and Thursday at Kapolei Community Park, Wednesday at Kapolei Regional Park, and Monday and Friday at Geiger Park in Ewa. Visit www.babybootcamp.com or call 689-6668.

* LATIN DANCE Panama Hatties in Aiea goes Caribbean with Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Cha-Cha-Cha, Cumbia, Reggaeton and more at 10 p.m. Fridays and a Mexican Dance Party at 10 p.m. Saturdays. The band Son Caribe plays from 8 p.m. every Sunday, following a free dance lesson. Cover is $5. Call 485-8226.

* COUNTRY DANCE Panama Hatties in Aiea hosts a Country Top 40 Mega Hits Dance Party with the Anthony Ryan Band at 7 p.m. Tuesdays. No cover charge. Call 485-8226.

* DANCE PARTY The Lily Koi Lounge in Aiea presents Cream, a dance party by James Coles (for ages 18 and up), at 9 p.m. Wednesdays (no cover charge) and Saturdays ($5 cover goes to Musical Youth of Hawaii). Call 479-3008.

* HALAU ENROLLMENT Halau Kawailaniakea offers adult kane and wahine classes in ancient and modern hula for all levels at 7 p.m. Thursdays at Makakilo Recreation Center (92-1140 Makakilo Dr.). The first class is free. Call 672-4848.

* NIGHTCLUB Chez Sports Bar and Grill offers karaoke, live music, dancing and more daily from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. for those age 21 and older. Cover is $5-$10. Call 488-2439.