THE LEFT LANE
Fergie goes Hawaiian

The March 15 appearance at Macy's is set for noon; space is limited and reservations are required, 945-6427. There will also be advance sales of $199 special-edition plates or other Wedgewood items to be autographed by the duchess.

Fergie has made clear through her publicist that Certain Topics will be off-limits during her appearances. But besides Wedgewood, she's delighted to talk about parenting, her lifestyle preferences, health and fitness, her charity work and her art (photography and painting).

Despite Ron Jacob's checkered radio career — the outspoken deejay has been in and out of a number of formats and stations over the years — he is arguably one of radio's brains, a pioneer of Top 40 formats. Hawai'i remembers him as one of the original "Poi Boys" of K-POI Radio. Los Angeles folks know him as the original program director of KHJ Radio, a trend setter in Top 40 programming and personality radio during the '60s.

Now comes "KHJ: Inside Boss Radio" (Zapoleon Publishing, $93), Jacobs' reflection on those glory days of radio, in which he names names, reminisces about the highs and lows of stardom, and even recalls his salad days, growing up in the Islands. If you weren't there, he puts you in the saddle. To order, check zapoleon.com/khj.

Tracing your roots

Want to chart your family tree, research a Japanese family crest, translate documents or find out how to trace your roots on the Internet? The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Hiroshima Heritage Study Group will offer a genealogy workshop, "Tracing Our Roots," from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on March 16.

The workshop, including a session on Hawai'i's immigration history and vital records, is $40 for center members, $50 for others. Register by tomorrow: 945-7633.

Tickets for Keali'i Reichel's performances with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra Pops have become hot enough to prompt the adding of a third performance, a matinee, to his April play dates at Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Maui resident Reichel is an award-winning performer, kumu hula and Hawaiiana scholar.

A 2 p.m. show has been added on April 13, joining Reichel's shows at 7:30 p.m. April 12 (some seats remain) and April 13 (sold out). Tickets, $55, $40, $30, $25 and $15, are available at the Blaisdell box office, or charge by phone: 792-2000 or 526-4400.