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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, May 3, 2003

SATURDAY SCOOPS
Talk the bubble talk on 'Free Comic Book Day'

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Do you believe in mutants?

Would you like to spend a day with Archie and the gang in Riverdale?

If you answered yes and/or yes, today might be the perfect day for a comic book adventure. That's because several stores and public libraries on O'ahu are participating in Free Comic Book Day, a promotion by the industry to support child literacy and to spread the medium to a wider audience.

"Comic books are great way to get kids started in reading," said Hillary Chang, a librarian at the Waikiki-Kapahulu Public Library. "Comics don't get enough recognition as stepping stones to other literature."

This giveaway also helps some retailers reach new readers. "When we first opened, we asked ourselves, 'What kind of store do we want to be?' " said Brett Joubert, manager at The Last Sanctuary, a comic book and games store on Kapi'olani Boulevard. "We wanted this to be a place where people have fun. Comic Book Day fits in with what we want to do here. It's good that it's about literacy and promoting comic books."

Although free for customers, retailers do pay a fee for each comic given out. "A lot of people think we are just giving away old books, but they don't realize these comics are specially made for this promotion," said Duane Chang of Collector Maniacs on Wai'alae Avenue.

Grab them while you can

Supplies are limited at each location, and not all titles will be available.

Among the comic books to be distributed

  • "Archie"
  • "Batman Adventures"
  • "Transformers Armada"
  • "Frank Miller's RoboCop"
  • "X-Men Unlimited"

Participating retailers

  • Collector Maniacs
  • Gecko Books & Comics (Wai'alae Avenue and Kailua)
  • The Last Sanctuary
  • Other Realms at Ward Warehouse
  • Ryan's Sportsworld Inc. in 'Aina Haina

Participating libraries

These public libraries are participating. A valid library card must be presented to receive a comic book.

  • McCully-Moili'ili
  • Mililani
  • Salt Lake-Moanalua
  • Waikiki-Kapahulu

On the Web: www.freecomicbookday.com

— Ken Rickard, Advertiser staff writer


'Sunset' traveling to Kapolei for food, films, flags, more

"Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" has won praise for its computer-generated character, Gollum.
Spend the day in Kapolei. That's not the slogan of this weekend's "Sunset on the Plains" (the city's traveling "Sunset on the Beach" event that visits O'ahu communities), but it might as well be.

The Kapolei Fairgrounds, at Farrington Highway and Fort Barrette Road, will host the festival of activities for the whole family, including entertainment, craft booths, a marketplace, kids' inflatables, skateboard demonstrations and clinics, martial arts demonstrations, and even a watermelon-eating contest and other games.

Oh, and then there are the movies — the filmed-in-Hawai'i "Blue Crush" at 7:30 tonight and "The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers" at 7 tomorrow night — on that famous 30-foot screen.

The weekend event will take on a patriotic flavor, too. Tonight, a "Proud to Be an American" flag ceremony begins at 7, with DisGuyz singing "Our Nation" and the "Star-Spangled Banner"; Kim Char Meredith singing "Hawai'i Pono'i"; and the crowd joining in on "God Bless America." More than 20,000 flags will be distributed to the audience.

Tomorrow's "Welcome Home Heroes Concert" at 6 p.m. features the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Stuart Chafetz, performing patriotic and Hawaiian music. The program ends with Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" and Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever," followed by a fireworks display.

"Sunset on the Plains" begins at 10 a.m. each day. Admission is free. 523-2489.


Getting wrapped up in Mother's Day

Heads up, everybody! Mother's Day is May 11. That means you'd better start looking around for that perfect gift for your mom, grandma, auntie, cousin and other mother figures.

If she's into pottery, there's the Windward Potters' Spring Sale, 8:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. today at the Kailua Elementary School cafeteria, 315 Ku'ulei Road next to the public library.

Hey, if you're on the windward side anyway, try the Lanikai Spring Craft Fair, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. today at the park and community center in lovely Lanikai. There's food and music, too.

Then there's the Mother's Day Crafts and Food Expo, continuing at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, featuring 250 artisans around the Islands. Hours are 10 a.m.-9 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. tomorrow. Admission is $3 general, $1 for kids 6-12.


Space is the theme at WCC festival and Hilo event

Space ... the last frontier. And these are the continuing voyages of knowledge, taking place on O'ahu and the Big Island this weekend:

Space Day and HealthFest, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. today at Windward Community College, includes free planetarium shows, exhibits and demonstrations, tours, sunspot viewing, mini-rocket launches, food and music.

Stargazing at the Imaginarium, WCC's multimedia planetarium, begins at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. "The Search for Life in the Universe," narrated by famed Trekker Leonard Nimoy, is at noon and 2 p.m. Free tickets will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

The HealthFest offers lomilomi massages, chiropractic demonstrations and blood-pressure checks. Health-care organizations will provide staffers to answer your questions. 235-7321, 235-7433.

Astro Day 2K3 — 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today at the Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo — hopes to spread the word about astronomy and the Mauna Kea observatories. Attractions include student science projects from around the island, Mauna Kea exhibits, demonstrations, telescopes for heavenly viewing, guest speakers and entertainment. And cultural groups will discuss the significance of Mauna Kea in Hawaiian tradition.

It's free. www.astroday.net, (808) 969-9101.


Project targets kids of deployed soldiers

In a salute to military families, a special Kids Workshop at the Home Depot store in Iwilei will be devoted to the children of deployed soldiers. The free workshop, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. today, will help kids create patriotic picture frames to send to their parents overseas. It's part of a nationwide Home Depot effort to support the troops. 521-7355, www.projecthomefront.org.


Show doubles up with laughter extra

Ready to laugh it up? The "Make Me Laugh!" promoters have added another comedy show tonight at the South Seas Village at the Hawaiian Hut. Doors open at 10:45 p.m., the show begins at 11:15 p.m. (the first show begins at 9 p.m., doors opening at 8:15 p.m.).

Among the performers are Mel Cabang, Bo Irvine, Da Braddahs (Tony Silva and James Roache), Bula'ia and Jaz Kaner.

Tickets are $20 general, $15 in advance, available at Tower Video Ke'eaumoku, Tower Records at Pearl Kai and Kahala Mall, Hungry Ear and Harry's Music Store. Phone 735-0292, ext. 206.


Technology, fun rolled into one

Calling all techies and wannabes!

The second annual Technology Fun Fair plugs in 11 a.m.-3 p.m. today at the Windward Mall. There'll be exhibits, a robotics demonstration, info on job opportunities at tech firms and — how they've made their folks proud! — young techies from O'ahu schools showcasing their projects.


Longboarders to compete off Waikiki

When in Waikiki, do as the ... tourists and locals do: Watch the surf. And the surfers. This weekend, almost 200 surfers will compete at the Hawaiian South Shore Open at Queen's Surf Beach. Surfers in 13 divisions for men and women will vie for ratings points in the first of five events in the Hawaiian Longboard Federation Steinlager Series. Hours are 8 a.m.-5 p.m. today and tomorrow. For more, see www.hlfhawaii.com. And don't forget the sunscreen.