Roy Yamamoto, along with former state Judge Elwin Ahu, both leaders at New Hope Christian Fellowship O'ahu, will be keynote speakers at the 31st annual Hawai'i Prayer Breakfast. The event is set for 7 a.m. Friday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom.

Yamamoto spent years behind bars before he turned his life around. A decade ago, when facing a 20- to 40-year term in connection with a robbery charge from the mid-1990s, a judge — apparently convinced that Yamamoto had committed his life to helping others reform — sentenced him to five years of probation. He will share the story of turning his life around, and of the two state judges who played a part.

Gov. Linda Lingle and the mayors of the various counties are expected to participate, as well as other leaders of federal, state and city/county governments, top local military leaders, prison inmates and administrators, local high school student representatives, and religious leaders.

The Hawai'i Prayer Breakfast is modeled after the National Prayer Breakfast, which was initiated in 1953 by President Eisenhower. The public is invited. Tickets are $27. For reservations, call 486-8986.

FREE MEDITATION CLASS AT CHURCH OF CROSSROADS

The Venerable Zhaxi Zhuoma Rinpoche, president of the Xuanfa Institute of California, will offer a free meditation class in Honolulu next Saturday featuring a recent translation of a sutra by H.H. Dorje Chang, Buddha III titled "A Monk Expounds the Absolute Truth to a Layperson."

The class is scheduled from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Church of the Crossroads. It is free and open to the public. For more information, call 728-0062 or www.zhaxizhuoma.net.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES' NEW CAMPUS NAMED FOR CHING

Catholic Charities Hawaii's new campus on the site of the former First Presbyterian Church in upper Makīkī has been named the Clarence T.C. Ching Campus, following a $5 million donation from his namesake foundation.

The organization aims to raise a final $10 million by the end of this year for the 2.2 acre campus, which will bring seven facilities and 30 different programs — services for immigrants, homeless, women, children and the elderly — under one roof.

For a donation of $1 million, a contributor could have a program wing or annex named after them; a $250,000 donation, central campus mango tree planted in the contributor's name; and $2,500, personalized tile to be displayed at the new facility. For more information, contact Jeanette Mori, 527-4823, or visit www.catholiccharitieshawaii.org.

'GAZING SESSIONS' START TODAY AT WAIKīKī HOTEL

A Croatian man who goes by the name "Braco" will be holding a series of "gazing sessions" aimed at spiritual healing, starting today, at the Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel. During the sessions, Braco typically stands silently before a group of 50 or more people at a time.

He is scheduled to hold sessions through Tuesday in the hotel's main ballroom. Tickets for a session are $8 at the door. Participants must be at least 18 years old and may bring photos of loved ones. Pregnant women past the first trimester are advised not to attend. For daily session times, call 808-323-3400 or visit www.Braco.net.