The Left Lane
'Aloha Liberty'

"After much soul-searching ... I had a need to express my love for Hawai'i and our nation," said Reece. "What I want to say (with the composite images) is 'We are in this world together' and hopefully, share my feelings of community, strength and peace."

The hula model is Mandy; the composition is a variation of an earlier out-of-print poster.

Reece will provide signed copies of the new keepsake for an American Red Cross benefit from 9 to 11 p.m. Friday at Restaurant Pier 7. Initially, the Kim Taylor Reece Gallery, 55-866 Kamehameha Highway, at Sacred Falls in Windward O'ahu, will work with non-profit organizations to tie in the new work of art with charitable fund-raisers. The gallery also will have copies available.Suggested price is $55.

Information: 293-2000.

Taking the lead

Robert A. Okum, president of the Tournament of Roses, arrives in Honolulu today to check out the high school band that will lead the 113th Annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena, Calif., on New Year's Day — the Kamehameha Schools Marching Band.

"It's an honor just to be included in the 20 bands that will be there," school band director John Riggle said on the eve of Okum's arrival. "But we recently learned that we'll be the first high school band in the parade. How's that for pressure?"

Not that the band can't cut it. This is the third time it has accepted the invitation. The band has also performed at the Orange Bowl Parade, the Sugar Bowl halftime show, the New Year's Parade in London and, last year, it became the only U.S. high school band ever to play at the royal palace of Monaco.

Still, Riggle admits that the Rose Parade, with more than 400 million viewers worldwide, is extra special no matter how often the band is asked to play.

"Always a pleasure," he said.

Red, white and blue for the terrorist crisis. Black for mourning. Red for AIDS. Pink for cancer.

For every cause, there's a ribbon, worn in a loop and pinned to a lapel. Wearing ribbons to signify solidarity is a centuries-old tradition, including everything from black mourning bands at funerals, to tricolor bunting in the French Revolution.

But it was during the Iran hostage crisis 22 years ago that Penelope Laingen, the Maryland wife of hostage L. Bruce Laingen, borrowed the motif of the pop song "Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Old Oak Tree." Her ribbon spurred a national craze, which led to a yellow lapel ribbon signifying concern for prisoners and the missing.

Carolyn Gargaro, a New Jersey Web designer, has collected an amazing assortment online (www.interstat.net/gargaro/ribbons.html), most inspired by serious causes but silly ones, too. How about the "No More Ribbons Campaign Against Campaigns" Ribbon?