The Rev. Thomas Okano will be taking over as bishop of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii.

Bishop Chikai Yosemori retires as of Feb. 28. His aloha banquet is planned for 6 p.m., March 1, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Okano is currently director of the Buddhist Study Center, a part of the Honpa Hongwanji Mission near the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.

He officially takes over March 1.

Okano's investiture is planned for 4 p.m., May 3. For additional information, call 522-9200.

SIMULCAST SET FOR DALAI LAMA VISIT

The April 25 outdoor event at the Maui Cultural Center for the visit of the Dalai Lama has reached capacity, so organizers are planning to set up a live video simulcast for the overflow.

His free talk on April 24 is general admission with open seating in the amphitheater, and no tickets will be issued in advance.

However, the April 25 event requires tickets, even for the simulcast.

Information: MACC, www.MauiArts.org or (808) 242-7469.

OHA TO FUND HAWAIIAN BIBLE

In February, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs will provide $191,849 to fund the Baibala Hemolele, or Hawaiian Bible.

The money will go to creating an audio recording of the project and to conduct workshops demonstrating how to use the Web site, www.baibala.org, which contains digital images of every page of the 1837-1839 Palapala Hemolele, the 1868 Baibala Hemolele and the 1994 Baibala Hemolele as well as a searchable computer text of the 1994 version. Diacritical marks are being added.

Information: 841-3373.

JESUITS SCHEDULE MEET-AND-GREET

A Jesuit meet-and-greet is being planned for April 22 at the Japanese Cultural Center.

Anyone who has a Jesuit connection — attended a Jesuit high school or college, for example — is invited to learn more about the Newman Center at the University of Hawai'i's Manoa campus.

Information: Soane Uiagalelei, www.newmanhawaii.org or 988-6222.

'MATTERS OF HEART' SERIES SCHEDULED

A three part-series, "Matters of the Heart," will be put on by the Counseling & Spiritual Care Center beginning this month.

The workshop, to be held in different locations, costs $10. Locations include Temple Emanu-El, Honpa Hongwanji, Our Lady of Sorrows, Central Union Church and Unity Diamond Head.

Information: 545-2740 or www.cscch.org.

HENRY OBOOKIAH DRAMA TOMORROW

Waiokeola Congregational Church's drama ministry will present "Remembering Henry Obookiah," an original drama of how Christianity came to the Hawaiian Islands, at the 9 a.m. service tomorrow.

The United Church of Christ church is located at 4705 Kilauea Ave. The drama was written by local playwright Timothy Lee Adams, a member of the congregation. On Shrove Tuesday, the church will celebrate Mardi Gras with a 6 p.m. pancake supper with Frivolous Follies entertainment at 7 p.m.

Information: the Rev. Dr. Christopher Eng, 737-0541, ext 3.