SATURDAY SCOOPS
Trends make for one hot remodeled kitchen

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Maple cabinets? Check.

Double ovens? Love 'em.

Elegant range hoods? Yep, and open shelving.

"People are upgrading, and are kind of leaning more toward a different kind of look than traditional," says remodeler George Dahl of Cook-Dahl Inc. in Sweden, N.Y.

Then again, the newest kitchens look warm and natural, not out-there modern — even though they're packed with state-of-the-art gadgets.

We offer specific trends to gauge if your kitchen needs a makeover or remodel.

• The kitchen as multipurpose room, with space for cooking, eating, socializing, paying bills, doing homework, washing clothes, surfing the Web or watching movies. That means more open areas, with peninsulas and work islands that flow into surrounding areas.
• Lighter wood. Although oak is timeless, inexpensive and takes abuse, somewhat costlier maple — an abundant hardwood — is the new blonde bombshell.
• Wood, slate or other natural-surface flooring. They are durable and keep with the warm, modern look.
• Stainless steel and built-in appliances offer a more custom look.
• Cutting-edge appliances, especially for cooking: Double-wall ovens offer flexibility when it comes to large family gatherings or entertaining; combination conventional-convection ovens cook faster and more evenly; over-the range microwaves with an exhaust fan and light at the bottom save increasingly scarce counter space; and electric or gas cooktops outfitted with out-of-sight downdrafts or elegant range hoods serve as a focal point for the entire room.
• Solid-surface countertops such as Silestone, Corian or granite in black and green. People are willing to invest in these more expensive countertops that imitate natural materials because they're more durable and timeless, says Dahl.
• Backsplashes in slate, porcelain or glass tile add style to an ordinary space.
• Mucho storage. Countertops are getting cluttered, giving rise to hideaway shelves, walk-in pantries and rollout trash cans and dish drawers.
• Decorative, colorful, stylish lighting. Home Depot says pendants, chandeliers and ambient under-the-counter cabinet lighting are popular.
• Open shelving, or shelves with glass fronts. "It's a place to show off some of their finer dinnerware or wineglasses," Dahl says.
• User-friendly faucets, including extra-high models that allow larger pots to be filled, single-handle control levers that can be operated with the elbow if your hands are full, and pullout sprayers that can reach into the corners of the sink.
• Color on the walls and in the decor, especially muted or greens and blues with mustard accents.

Island faves Cecilio (Rodriguez) and (Henry) Kapono bring back the musical memories on Maui this weekend. The last of two concerts begins at 7:30 tonight at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Tickets are $10, $18, $28, $35, half-price for kids 12 and younger.

Ala Moana festival shows fancy fashions

Among the highlights: Sephora will hold seminars at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. today and tomorrow with treatment and supplement specialist Jeanne Chomko, who works with dermatologist and best-selling author Nicholas Perricone. The $35 registration fee can be redeemed for Perricone products. Register: 944-9797.

Christian Dior will also unveil at 3 p.m. today its spring/summer 2004 collection straight from Paris — the first showing of the collection in the United States. And Hermes has on display a $75,300 Birkin bag donned with diamonds (right).

The festival runs through tomorrow. Details: 955-9517.

Waikiki's got everything from 'The Hulk' to hula halau

• Sunset on the Beach offers the movies "The Hulk" today and "Insomnia" tomorrow at Queen's Surf Beach. It all begins at 4 p.m. with food booths and entertainment; the films hit the 30-foot screen at 7:10 p.m. There's a craft fair, too, 9 a.m.-9 p.m. each day. Admission is free.
• The 12th annual World Invitational Hula Festival concludes today at the Waikiiki Shell. Halau from California, Mexico, Japan and Hawai'i compete in several categories in this hula love-fest. Hawaiian arts and crafts and food also are part of the event. Gates open at 5 p.m., performances begin at 6 p.m. Tickets are $5-$25, available at the Shell box office, Blaisdell box office, Ticketmaster outlets. www.worldhula.com.

Harbor Festival celebrates city's maritime history

Head for the water today for the fourth annual Honolulu Harbor Festival, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Aloha Tower Marketplace and the Hawai'i Maritime Center.

It's your yearly chance to learn all about the maritime industry, past and present, and have some fun, too. Attractions include the tugboat hula, harbor tours, a canoe race, entertainment, a photo exhibit, kids' activities and food booths.

Admission is free.

Peggy and Barney help parents who want their children to learn better manners

Peggy Post, who writes a regular manners column for Parents magazine, and HIT Entertainment, producer of "Barney & Friends," have developed a public information campaign on teaching children good manners.

Some of the tips for parents include:

• Be a good role model. Be polite, use good table manners, and write thank-you notes in front of your children.
• Make thank-you notes together. Fold paper to make a card, and have your child decorate the front.
• Read a book. As you read to your child, point out examples of good manners or sharing in the book.
• Use puppet "friends." Use puppets made from socks or paper sacks to help your child practice good manners.
• Welcome a new friend. When a new family moves into your neighborhood, your child can help make and deliver cookies to them.
• Have a tea party. Pretend to have a tea party with your child and a teddy bear. Decorate and set the table to practice table manners in a fun setting.

On the Net: www.barney.com.

Kids in the kitchen get culinary

Your budding chefs might enjoy the Web site www.ciakids.com (Culinary Institute of America Kids).

Youngsters can learn the basics of kitchen safety, cooking terms, nutrition and beginning a culinary career. Pop-ups demonstrate techniques such as skinning an onion and identifying equipment such as chef's knives. The recipes are geared toward things kids enjoy, such as salsa.

There's a teacher tie-in. The CIA suggests putting reluctant math students in the kitchen, where necessity comes into play. For instance, maybe they can figure out how many pies Johnny would have if Betsy dropped two on the sidewalk and the dog ate one.

808 Skate shop rolls out new digs

Wondering what happened to 808 Skate in Kailua? The skateboard shop skated a few streets over to 354 Hahani St. (across from Daiei and the $1 movie theater), and is throwing a party to celebrate.

The shop, now inside Hawaiian Island Creations, is holding a grand reopening from 1 to 7 p.m. today, with guests including team riders from Enjoi doing a skate demo on the half-pipe, Sean Payne's "Game of Skate" and Osiris video premiere "Subject to Change" in the theater across the street. The event features giveaways and team autograph signing. 263-0808.

Film festival wrapping up its Honolulu run

Check out the schedule at www.hiff.org. Hint: "Long Life, Happiness and Prosperity" is a heart-tugging winner (pictured). Its show time is 1:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Doris Duke.

The festival is also in full swing on the Neighbor Islands. Those schedules also are posted at www.hiff.org.