Coming Events

Advertiser Staff

BEST BETS

• An "idiosyncratic tour of language in the digital age" is promised in a March 17 luncheon speech, "Working with Words in the Age of E-mail," to members of the Public Relations Society of America, Hawai'i chapter. Speaking will be Constance Hale, editor and author of "Sin and Syntax" and "Wired Style." The meeting is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. (registration) at the Sheraton-Waikiki Hotel. Reservations by March 15. Fee; nonmembers and students welcome. Information: Lou Torraca, 254-3286.

Hale also will speak in a free presentation, "Sin and Syntax: Writing for the 21st Century," sponsored by the Pacific New Media, University of Hawai'i Outreach College, 7 p.m., UH-Manoa campus, Krauss Hall, Room 12 (Yukiyoshi Room). 956-8244.

• RPM Success Group Inc. — which promotes mentoring between businesswomen active in their communities and women wishing to become so — will bring its "AMAZING WOMEN, AMAZING WORLD" event to Waikiki on Saturday, with an emphasis on business. All women are invited, including high-school and college students, women in the military and other protection services, and stay-at-home moms. The event begins with registration/networking from 10 to 10:30 a.m., and luncheon from noon to 1:30 p.m., in the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel, Grand Salon/Terrace rooms. Sponsors include Small Business Hawaii, Hawaii Woman Magazine and the hotel. The celebration will include promotion of the Kapi'olani Health Sex Abuse Treatment Center. Fee. Reduced payment by today; higher price at the door, space permitting. Proceeds go toward charities that help women. 237-1008.

TOMORROW

With developers and contractors racing to keep pace with private-sector demand for homes, a multibillion-dollar surge in renovations and military housing — and what many feel is the leading edge of a building boom that will perhaps be the largest in the state's history — members of the Building Industry Association-Hawaii will meet tomorrow for a dinner panel discussion, billed as a "snapshot" of the industry as seen by their colleagues. Taking part in the discussion — 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the Ala Moana Hotel's Garden Lanai Room — will be representatives of some local developers, who will outline current projects, including A&B Properties Inc., Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii Inc., Gentry Homes Ltd., Haseko Construction Inc., Schuler Homes and Stanford Carr Development LLC. Free for members; guests welcome. Reservations: Tracy Jefferson, 847-4666, Ext. 201.

• The impact of the restoration of historic Hawai'i Theatre on the renovation of downtown Honolulu will be discussed at tomorrow's meeting of the LIONS CLUB OF HONOLULU. Speaking will be Sarah Richards, president of the Hawai'i Theatre Center. The meeting is planned for noon to 1 p.m. at Laniakea YWCA, Room 130. Fee; guests welcome. Reservations: Jan Rumi, 441-2891.

• The Hawai'i Women's Business Center will host an all-day workshop, "State and Federal Tax Procedures Workshop," on the "what, when and where" of filing business taxes — including general excise and use taxes. The workshop will also inform the small-business owner about business expense deductions. It is scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow at the Small Business Resource Center, Chinatown Gateway Plaza, Suite A. Advance registration and fee required; discount to center members. 522-8136.

• The MINORITY BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CENTER OF HONOLULU offers free weekly orientation sessions to minority business owners and prospective entrepreneurs. The sessions, 9 to 10:30 a.m. Tuesdays in the center's offices at Executive Center, 1088 Bishop St., Suite 2506, offer advice on business startups, marketing plans, loans, employee handbooks and access to capital. Free. Reservations: 521-6221.

• A free "COMPUTER BOOT CAMP" is offered 3 to 4 p.m. Tuesdays to small-business owners who want to use computer technology to improve and expand business operations and management. The program is sponsored by the Small Business Resource Center, in partnership with the Small Business Administration, the city Office of Economic Development, Hawai'i Small Business Development Center Network, Hawai'i Women's Business Center and SCORE. The program is open to center clients who attend a center orientation, offered 9 a.m. Tuesdays and 2 p.m. Thursdays at 1041 Nu'uanu Ave., Suite A. Attendees have access to training videos and resource materials. Workshops and free counseling are also offered. Appointments: 522-8130.

WEDNESDAY

• "LISTENING TO YOUR BUSINESS," a daylong workshop for proactive entrepreneurs, based on the FastTrac business development programs, will be presented by Hawai'i Women's Business Center, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday at the Small Business Resource Center, Chinatown Gateway Plaza, Suite A. Advance registration required; discount for center members. Information/registration: 522-8131 or www.HWBC.org.

THURSDAY

• ALA MOANA TOASTMASTERS no-host luncheon meetings, with opportunities to improve public and impromptu speaking abilities, noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays, The Wisteria restaurant. Guests welcome. 226-7686.

• The HONOLULU BUSINESS NETWORK, a networking organization for small-business owners and professionals, meets 12:01 to 1:15 p.m. Thursdays at Sansei Seafood Restaurant, Restaurant Row. Information: Tracy Nakashima, 525-6028.

SUNDAY

• Women's empowerment organization SISTER 2 SISTER will host a networking power lunch Sunday, featuring three speakers who will share how they have found ways to balance their personal lives and careers. Speaking will be MaryAnne Howland, owner and founder of the award-winning marketing solutions firm Ibis Communications; Patricia Jones-Blessman, chief executive officer of The ISIS Ltd., and clinician administrator of mental-health programs; and KGMB-TV investigative reporter Jacqueline McLean. The meeting is scheduled from noon to 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Luana Hills Country Club. 599-2998.

UPCOMING

• Joseph Calcara, realty officer with the U.S. Navy Facilities Engineering Command — who oversees asset management for a $35 billion military plant account for the Pacific and Indian ocean areas and Southeast Asia — will give an update on Navy real-estate projects in Hawai'i, in a speech to the local chapter of The Appraisal Institute. The meeting is set for 11:30 a.m. March 16 at The Plaza Club, Pioneer Plaza. Also to be addressed will be appraisal opportunities and challenges of the new ventures. Reservations by noon Friday: Barbie, 845-4994.

Business meetings of general interest are listed each Monday in the "Coming Events" column. Submit notices at least two weeks in advance. By fax: 525-6763. By mail: Coming Events, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802. By e-mail: business@honoluluadvertiser.com.