Here are a few ideas for cheap but creative party ideas, courtesy of the Charlotte Observer in North Carolina.

A carnival party

• Supplies: Face-painting materials, prize bags that kids can decorate before games begin, child-size cardboard clown with face cut out in which children can pose and have their pictures taken.
• Activities: Tie a pair of balloons around each child's ankles and let the children try to stomp on the others. Winner is the one who lasts the longest with at least one inflated balloon. Ring toss, beanbag toss, water balloon races.
• Favor: A small stuffed animal, like the ones you can win at carnival booths.

• Supplies: Pink invitations, decorations and cake. Have guests and birthday girl wear all pink. This theme would work with any color or pattern. Make it a polka-dot or stripes party.
• Activity: Drawing on pink paper.
• Favors: Pink bows, small pink purse.

A silly sandwich party

• Supplies: Bread and then anything you can think of to go between two pieces: marshmallows, chocolate chips, peanut butter, gumdrops.
• Activities: Contests of who can make the silliest sandwich, the tallest, the tastiest.
• Favor: Coloring book or puzzle.

A crafts party

• Supplies: Gather all your leftover crafts. You can also buy small items at a craft store, such as glitter, pompoms, stickers.
• Activity: Creating collages, pictures, play jewelry.
• Favor: Have each child make a party hat to take home.

A breakfast party

• Supplies: Pancakes for kids to decorate with fruits, syrups, chocolate chips, whipped cream. Guests come dressed in pajamas.
• Activity: Egg decorating.
• Favor: Silly slippers.

Have breakfast at farmers market with chef's kalua pork hash

A few thousand people can't be wrong.

That's how many showed up to feast on the Hawai'i-grown-or- produced yummies at last week's first Saturday Farmers' Market at Kapi'olani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road.

Today's special breakfast is by chef Goran Streng, who will be cooking up kalua pork hash and poached eggs with cornbread and home-fried potatoes.

Or, on the lighter side, there's an Oriental chicken salad with hoisin dressing, featuring Nalo Farms' Asian greens.

Admission to the farmers market is free. Hours are 8 a.m.-noon each Saturday. (Note to really-early birds: Vendors won't sell to you before 8 a.m.!)

Your last chance for a bon dance

Join your neighbors and bon-dance the night away at the final festival of the season, 5-10 p.m. today at the Hawaii Okinawa Center in Waipi'o Gentry. The Autumn

Okinawa Dance Matsuri is presented by the nonprofit Hawaii United Okinawa Association, and offers live music, ethnic foods and refreshments. Admission is free. 676-5400.

MauiFest today mixes music, dance and films

On the Valley Isle, the first Maui-Fest brings music, dance and films to the Hotel Hana-Maui today as a fund-raiser for the Hana Canoe Club.

Among the performers are Brother Noland, Grammy-winning flutist Paul Horn (with Christopher Hedge and Julian Smedley), Owana Salazar, slack-key guitarist Donald Kaulia, and Jennifer Kehaulani Oyama, Miss Aloha Hula 2003.

Films include "Ki ho'alu," featuring Keola Beamer and directed by Kenneth K. Martinez Burgmaier, organizer of MauiFest; "Quattro Noza," a Sundance film festival winner; and "Fiji Firewalkers," by Maui filmmaker Tom Vendetti and narrated by Paul Horn.

Hours are 3-9 p.m. Admission is $5. Information: (808) 665-9910, www.mauifest.net.

It's all taro, all day long at Waialua festival

Let us celebrate that staple of the traditional native Hawaiian diet: taro.

The fifth annual Waialua Taro Festival, an official event of the ongoing Aloha Festivals, has food booths, poi-pounding exhibits, crafts, entertainment, giveaways and more.

Hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. today on the field next to the Waialua Community Association building, across the street from the Hale'iwa post office. Admission is free.

Channel that Emmy Awards glitz and rivalry

TV alert! The annual Emmy Awards, in which the best and brightest in television are honored (or not), hits that little (or big) screen in your living room tomorrow night.

And the burning question is, as it has been in recent years: Will the cable networks steal much of the glory once again? The HBO series "Six Feet Under" leads the way with 16 nominations; "Sex and the City" and "The Sopranos," have 13 each.

The Emmys will be delay-broadcast 8-11 p.m. on Fox (with a pre-Emmys show at 7 p.m.), from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.

Thinking of remodeling? Get tips today at Town Center

Take heed, homeowners: Before arming yourself with that paint brush or hammer, you may want to check out Remodel It Right, 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. today at the Town Center of Mililani, between Star Market and Longs Drugs.

The free event, presented by the Hawaii Remodelors Council, includes a mini expo of remodeling vendors, as well as a seminar 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. on home-design trends and how to work with an interior designer.

There will also be a panel of industry professionals to discuss the remodeling process.

Attendees will receive a free remodeling packet (while supplies last) with brochures, including tips on hiring a contractor and avoiding mistakes and misunderstandings, and a Hawaii Remodelors Council membership directory.

Details: www.bia-hawaii.com.

Serve up some Seuss-style whimsy

Honolulu Theatre for Youth's "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Gertrude McFuzz," continue this weekend at the Hawai'i Theatre.

After the show, how about a little snack along the same colorful lines? Here's a recipe for youngsters, with a bit of help from adults, from www.seussville.com/seussville/titles/greeneggs/recipes.html.

Green Eggs and Ham à la Sam-I-Am

• 1-2 tablespoons of butter or margarine
• 4 slices of ham
• 8 eggs
• 2 tablespoons of milk
• 1-2 drops of green food coloring
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 teaspoon of pepper

• What you'll need: Medium-size mixing bowl, wire whisk or eggbeater, large frying pan, spatula, aluminum foil, serving plates

1. With an adult's help, melt a teaspoon of butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add sliced ham and brown until edges are slightly crisp. Remove the ham from the pan, cover with aluminum foil, and set aside.

2. In a medium-size mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, salt and pepper. Beat with a whisk until frothy. Then add 1-2 drops of green food coloring until you reach the desired shade of green.

3. With an adult's help, heat a tablespoon of butter or margarine in a large frying pan over medium heat until the butter begins to sizzle. Then add the egg mixture.

4. Stir the egg mixture with a spatula until the eggs are firm and not too runny.