THE LEFT LANE
Treasures en route

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Ticket sales begin Monday for what may be the most anticipated visual arts event of the season: the Honolulu Academy of Arts' "Japan & Paris: Impressionism, Postimpressionism, and the Modern Era," opening April 8. The 53-piece exhibit shows how French art affected Japan in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Hawai'i's first major exhibition of impressionist art is expected to draw sellout crowds.

Tickets ($15, $10 ages 6-17) are available by phone: 532-8719, after Monday, hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, Sunday 1 to 5 p.m.

To give and give up

To give, as well as give up, for the season of abstinence and penitence, the Roman Catholic community operates its annual Operation Rice Bowl, an international relief effort. Along with giving up meats and treats, Christians drop a few coins into a cardboard box each day to donate.

More than 15,000 U.S. churches, schools and groups are participating. About 75 percent of contributions go to global efforts; the rest is used for local hunger relief. For information, contact your local parish or Catholic Relief

Services, www.catholicrelief.org.

Piano to the Pagoda

Pianist Ron Miyashiro may have left a seven-year gig at La Mariana, but his songs remain the same. The much-loved lounge pianist — whose get-up-and-sing, hula- and play-along shows at La Mancha, the Tahitian Lanai and La Mariana have been a favorite for more than 40 years — relocated to the Pagoda Hotel in January.

"La Mariana was good to us and was a great place. But it was hard sometimes for my friends and the tourists in Waikiki to come to Sand Island," said Miyashiro, who is blind.

He assures fans that nothing else has changed. Anyone is still welcome to come hula, play an instrument, or just show out vocally on traditional Hawaiian and Broadway tunes.

Miyashiro plays at the LaSalle Lounge, above the Pagoda Floating Restaurant, Fridays and Saturdays from 8 to 11 p.m. Call 941-6611.