Hawai'i briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

WINDWARD

Business forum in Waimanalo

The Waimanalo Chamber of Commerce will host a free informal discussion Jan. 8 about starting and staying in business.

The discussion will be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the meeting room at Olomana Golf Links.

Representatives from private and quasi-private agencies that provide financing and/or support services to small businesses and community organizations will attend.

The session is open to the public. Registration starts at 4:30 p.m.

To reserve a space, call Shannon Wood at 263-6001 by noon Jan. 6.

EAST HONOLULU

Soccer star giving reading

Clint Mathis, a midfielder and forward for the U.S. National Soccer Team and the New York/New Jersey Metro Stars, will give a children's reading this weekend in Hawai'i Kai.

Mathis will read aloud from his favorite childhood book "The Giving Tree," by Shel Silverstein at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i Kai Public Library.

Mathis scored the only U.S. goal against South Korea in the 2002 World Cup games and was the scoring leader in Major League Soccer in 2000.

The library is at 249 Lunalilo Home Road. The event is free.

For more information, call 397-5833.

NORTH SHORE

Wahiawa group to discuss farms

The Wahiawa Community & Business Association's 68th annual dinner will focus on "A Country Marketplace" theme featuring three rural enterprises:

North Shore Farms, North Shore Cattle Company and Peterson's Upland Farm.

Wahiawa resident and author Howard Oda will talk about his new book.

The dinner will begin at 7 p.m. Jan. 16 at the Leilehua Golf Course Clubhouse. No-host cocktails at 6:30 p.m.

Tickets are $22 each. For reservations call 622-4032.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Workers find body in Kona

Big Island maintenance workers discovered the body of a man in bushes yesterday morning, police said.

The body was found at about 5:45 a.m. in the Kailua, Kona industrial area.

Police said a preliminary investigation turned up no signs of foul play, but an autopsy was ordered to determine the cause of death.

No positive identification had been made on the man, whose body was decomposed, police said.

HONOLULU

City Lights gala rebroadcast

If you missed the opening night festivities of Honolulu City Lights, it's not too late to see them.

'Olelo will replay its coverage of opening night at 9 a.m. (Channel 52), noon (Channel 55) and 6:30 p.m. (Channel 56) today, Christmas Day.