Boy Scouts from O'ahu's Kamehameha District will display their skills at the Boy Scouts of America Expo to be held at the Pearlridge Center, Uptown Center Stage on April 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The expo will feature pinewood derby races, cooking demonstrations, fire building, rope bridge display and pioneering activities.

The event is free and open to the public.

WORKSHOP FOCUS ON GIFTED YOUTH

The Hawai'i Gifted Association will host a workshop to support parents of gifted and talented children.

"The Social and Emotional Development of Gifted and Talented Youth" is on April 24 at 6 p.m. at the American Association of University Women at 1802 Ke'eaumoku St.

Educators and other professionals who work with gifted youth are also invited to attend.

The workshop is free but donations are appreciated. Call Janet Shores at 721-8944 or e-mail gifted@hawaiianshoresdev.com to reserve a spot.

SCHOOL COLLECTING HI-5 CONTAINERS

Benjamin Parker Elementary School is holding a recycling fundraiser on the first Saturday of every month to help with field trips, classroom supplies and books.

The next two fundraisers are scheduled for April 1 and May 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the parking lot of the school. They will collect any HI-5 containers including aluminum, plastic and glass.

Benjamin Parker Elementary School is on the corner of Kamehameha Highway and Waikalua Road across from the Kane'ohe police and fire station.

TWO GUARD GRADS TO GET SCHOLARSHIPS

The Hawai'i National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe program will award two $2,000 scholarships from a $1 million gift from Global Philanthropy at Merrill Lynch at its June 18 graduation.

The scholarships may be used for tech school or college, said Rick Campbell, deputy director of the local Youth ChalleNGe program, which will graduate 91 students.

Global Philanthropy donated $1 million to the National Guard Youth Foundation, which runs the ChalleNGe program, on Feb. 28 at the foundation's ChalleNGe Championship dinner in Washington, D.C.

CASH, CONCERT FOR WINNING SCHOOLS

More than 30 public and private schools on O'ahu, Maui and Kaua'i are vying for cash awards and a private Jack Johnson concert in the HI-5 recycling "Cash for Cans Challenge," which ends at the end of March.

Reynolds Recycling, which has paid more than $1.5 million to schools in the "Cash for Cans Challenge" in 24 years, is partnering with Kokua Hawaii Foundation, created by recording artist Johnson and his wife; Ball Corporation, which produces 320 million 12-ounce aluminum cans annually at its Campbell Industrial Park plant; Castle & Cooke Hawaii; and Horizon on this year's challenge.

Each school can earn $6,000 by filling a 40-foot trailer with aluminum HI-5 containers, said Jill Tokuda, Reynolds Recycling's director of community relations and government affairs.

In addition, the top recycling school on O'ahu, Maui and Kaua'i will each win a private mini-concert featuring Johnson and $1,000.

The second highest recycling school on each island will receive $500.

Anyone wishing to contribute items to individual schools can call Tokuda at 841-4036 to find out what schools in their community are participating in this year's challenge.

THEMES SOUGHT FOR STATE QUARTER

The Hawai'i Commemorative Quarter Advisory Commission is accepting themes and narrative submissions for Hawai'i's Commemorative Quarter through April. The last day to submit ideas will be April 30.

Ideas may be submitted in the form of a narrative describing key symbols that should be depicted on the quarter along with an explanation of why the symbols are emblematic of Hawai'i.

The U.S. Mint will use recommended narratives submitted by the governor and the commission to create Hawai'i's design.

Appropriate designs could include state landmarks, landscapes, historically significant buildings, symbols of state resources or industries, state flowers and trees, state icons or outlines of the state.

Submit ideas at www.hawaii.gov/gov/commemorativequarter or by fax at 586-2370. Ideas may also be mailed to Hawaii Commemorative Quarter Commission, P.O. Box 2359, Honolulu, HI 96804.