THE LEFT LANE
Getting the most out of the Year of the Monkey

Advertiser Staff and News Services

The lunar new year begins today, and Chinatown is a good place to find everything from cards to fortune papers offering Chinese new year greetings. But "Rocky Sung's Guide to Chinese Astrology and Feng Shui," an annual bestseller at Dragon Gate Bookstore in Chinatown, isn't on the shelves this year because it's not being translated into English for 2004, says store manager Emily Ng.

Instead, she's recommending "Larry Sang's Chinese Astrology & Feng Shui Guide 2004" (American Feng Shui Institute, $14.75) for those seeking guidance on the Year of the Monkey.

Kiss and tell us: Your love story wanted

Whether you want to share how you met, how you beat the odds, how your spouse proposed or what's going to make your wedding unique, we'd love to hear the details.

Your letter may be used in an upcoming relationships story. Send your love story, along with your name and daytime phone number, to relationships writer Tanya Bricking Leach, The Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, e-mail tbricking@honoluluadvertiser.com or fax 525-8055.

Two scoops nice, with her Hula Girl Swirl

HOWLETT

Howlett, among 15 nationwide finalists out of nearly 16,000 entrants, described her cool creation as "creamy vanilla ice cream flowing with chunky Hawaiian macadamia nuts and hip-shaking chocolate and caramel swirls."

Howlett joined the other finalists last month on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Dreyer's Ice Cream Factory in Houston. Howlett also won a year's supply of ice cream and a U.S. savings bond. The grand prize winner was Kalli Mc-Clure, 13, of Kansas, with her entry We're Not in Kansas Any'Smore.