Posted on: Saturday, September 20, 2003

FAITH BRIEFS
Hawai'i Rap Fest at Waikiki Shell

Advertiser Staff

"Hawai'i Rap Fest 2003 — The Gathering," a Christian hip-hop and rap-music event, will be Sept. 27 at the Waikiki Shell.

Artists include Pigeon John from California and Moy, Boy and Lil' Jon of the Texas crew, Havikoro.

Tickets are $15 ($20 at the door) and are available via Ticketmaster. For information: 383-8983 or www.keepitrealproductions.homestead.com.

Ministries awarded grant of $50,000

Hawaiian Islands Ministries won a $50,000 grant from the Hawai'i Community Foundation.

"The Hawai'i Community Foundation grant will allow us to assess our fund-raising strengths and weaknesses, to purchase new donor management and development software, and to increase staffing in the area of development," said Mary Vinson, HIM executive director, in a statement.

HIM is an ecumenical ministry that serves about 400 churches that hosts more than 50 events for pastors and other church leaders in Hawai'i every year. Programs include the annual Honolulu Conferences, bimonthly pastors' gatherings, quarterly Straight Talk business breakfasts, and other training seminars. The annual three-day conference, at the Hawai'i Convention Center and now in its 16th year, is one of the largest of its kind in the islands.

Buddhists plan festival at park

The Hawai'i Association of International Buddhists will have its annual Harvest Moon-Dharmachakra Festival on Oct. 10 at Ala Moana Beach Park's McCoy Pavilion.

The program, which begins with a 5:30 p.m. dinner ($5) followed by a free religious and cultural program at 6:30 p.m.,will include a keynote talk by the Rev. Clarence Shinko Higa of the Liliha Shingon Mission, a Tibetan masked Lama dance, and music from China, South Korea and Japan.

For information: Jodo Mission, 949-3995.

Fund to help reverend, family

The Hawaii Conference for the United Church of Christ has established a fund for the family of the Rev. Kaleo Patterson, kahu at Ka Hana O Ke Akua Church, which lost its home and belongings in a Wai'anae fire earlier this week.

"All money received for the fund will be disbursed, on a regular basis, to Kaleo Patterson," said Donald J. Sevetson, interim conference minister.

Send checks, noted on check or by attached note, to: PATTERSON FAMILY FUND; Hawaii Conference of the United Church of Christ; 15 Craigside Place; Honolulu HI 96817.

Lecture to focus on 'Islam and the West'

Dr. Aslam Syed, a professor of history at Quaid-I-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan, and a visiting fellow at the East-West Center, will discuss "Between Two Cultures: Islam and the West," in a free lecture at 4 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.

He'll discuss trends in the evolution of Islamic culture against the backdrop of recent events, including 9-11.

For more information: 532-8700.