SPECIAL EVENTS

Holiday Book Drive, bring gently used children's books to Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center, through Jan. 1 for distribution to the children's literacy program, Read to Me International. 949-7307.

Wartime Diaries Revealed, Samuel Hideo Yamashita discusses and signs "Leaves From an Autumn of Emergencies: Selections from the Wartime Diaries of Ordinary Japanese," 1-2:30 p.m. today, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i; free. 945-7633.

Aloha Shorts, weekly radio show with readings of short stories from local authors, 5 p.m. Mondays, on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 with host Cedric Yamanaka. www.hawaiipublicradio.org/alohashorts.htm.

Talk Story Radio, weekly radio show with local storytellers telling local stories, 5:30 p.m. Mondays, on Hawaii Public Radio station KIPO 89.3 with host Jeff Gere. www.talkstoryradio.com.

Poetry Slam Workshop for Teens, ongoing Youth Speaks Hawai'i workshops in written and spoken word for students ages 13-19, working with members of the HawaiiSlam team, 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesdays, The ARTS at Marks Garage; free. 387-9664.

Searider Story Night, students of Wai'anae High School perform skits and read aloud to children, 6 p.m. Thursday, Wai'anae High School library; for Wai'anae students from preschool through 3rd grade and their parents; free, refreshments to follow.

"On Conjuring the Ghost of Walter Kupau," lecture by Lori Aquino, noon-1:15 p.m. Thursday, UH-Manoa's Henke Hall, Room 325; part of the Brown Bag Biography series; free. 956-3774.

BOOK SIGNINGS

Douglas Simonson and Pat Sasaki sign "Pidgin to the Max, 25th Anniversary Edition," noon today, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Lopaka Kapanui signs "Haunted Hawaiian Nights," noon-2 p.m. today, Sam's Club, Ke'eaumoku. 945-9841.

Ellie Crow signs her children's books, 1 p.m. today, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Rich Budnick discusses and signs his book, "Hawai'i's Forgotten History 1900-1999," 2 p.m. today, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699. Also, 4 p.m. today, Borders, Pearlridge. 487-1818.

Brother Noland Conjugacion performs and signs his book "The Lessons of Aloha," 2:30 p.m. today, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Alexandra Siy and Dennis Kunkel sign "Mosquito Bite," 12:30 p.m. Bestsellers, Bishop Square. 528-2378.

Georgia Ka'apuni McMillen launches and signs "School for Hawaiian Girls," 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Nancy Bannick, Scott Cheever and David Cheever sign "A Close Call: Saving Honolulu's Chinatown," 12:30 p.m. Friday, Bestsellers, Bishop Square. 528-2378.

Kirk Lee Aeder signs "Big Island Days," 6-8 p.m. Friday, Borders, Kona, Big Island. (808) 331-1668.

Gail Watson Omura and Susan Brooks sign "Have You Ever Seen a Swan Smile?" 7 p.m. Friday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Margaret Steele signs "Wuz da Nite Befo'," 11 a.m. Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Adam Palmer signs his book of photographs, "North Shore," noon Saturday, Barnes & Noble, Ala Moana Center. 949-7307.

Frances Britten signs "How to Buy & Sell Your Home in Hawai'i," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Sam's Club, Ke'eaumoku. 945-9841.

Tokie Ching signs "A Hawai'i Japanese New Year," noon-2 p.m. Saturday, Costco, Iwilei. 526-6100.

Kaui Philpotts, co-editor of "Hawai'i: A Sense of Place," signs her work, noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

Brother Noland Conjugacion signs his book "The Lessons of Aloha," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Borders Express, Kahala Mall stage. 737-9550.

Jeff Langcaon signs "Grandpa's Magic Banyan Tree," noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Sam's Club, Pearl City. 456-7788.

Heather Titus signs "Passion and Beauty," 4 p.m. Saturday, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Dorothea Buckingham signs "Poisoned Palms," 2-3 p.m. Saturday, Native Books/Na Mea Hawai'i, Ward Warehouse. 596-8885.

FOR WRITERS

Hawai'i Pacific University accepts entries for its 18th annual Hawai'i High School Writing Competition. Open to high school juniors and seniors with cash prizes for winning works and an invitation to the awards banquet in March. The theme for the composition is a political, economic or social development that has impacted Hawaiian history and its relevance to life in the Islands today. Essays judged on originality, analysis, vocabulary and syntax and ability to defend the thesis. Mail entries, with a completed awards nomination form, to The Office of Scholarships and Honors Program, Hawai'i Pacific University, 1164 Bishop St., Ste. 210A, Honolulu, HI 96813. Forms available from local high school counselors and English teachers or downloaded from www.hpu.edu (type "high school competition" in the search box.) Postmark deadline is Dec. 15. 544-1419.

The Hawai'i Review, the University of Hawai'i student-run literary and fine arts journal, calls for submissions of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction from current graduate and undergraduate students for the Spring 2006 issue. Guidelines: 956-3030, hireview@hawaii.edu. Deadline is Dec. 31.

The Hawai'i Literary Arts Council is accepting nominations for the 2005 Cades Awards for Literature for cash prizes in two categories: first, an established author with a large body of work relating to Hawai'i and second, a new artist with substantial potential for achievement. Nominees can be poets, playwrights, novelists, essayists or other literary artist. Send nomination with supporting materials to Hawai'i Literary Arts Council, P.O. Box 11213, Honolulu, HI 96828. Deadline for nominations is Feb. 15.

FOR KEIKI

Toddler Storytime, for ages 2-3, 10 a.m. Mondays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Tiny Tales for Tiny Tots, stories, fingerplays, songs and a craft to take home, for 4 and younger, 9-9:45 a.m. and 10:30-11:15 a.m. Tuesdays, Kalihi-Palama Public Library. 832-3466.

Keiki Storytime, 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays and 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Waikele. 676-6699.

Preschool Craft & Storytime, 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Barnes & Noble, Kahala Mall. 737-3323.

Preschool Storytime, for ages 3-4, 10 a.m. Thursdays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Saturday Storytimes, 10 a.m. Saturdays, Kapolei Public Library. 693-7050.

Keiki Storytime, 11 a.m. Saturdays, Borders, Ward Centre. 591-8995.

Send announcements, with contact name and phone number, to: Lit Beat, Island Life, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; islandlife@honoluluadvertiser.com, with "Lit Beat" in the subject line; or fax 525-8055.