The fair is a big community event, drawing keiki and their parents from all over the island (most activities are aimed for those in the fifth grade and younger). It's a fund-raiser for financial aid and classroom expenses of the school, too.

Get into the joyous spirit of the season with:

• Pony rides around the school field.

• The 12 Games of Christmas, a dozen games for kids.

• The 34th Street Craft Fair, where holiday shoppers might just find those special gifts.

• Elves' Balloon Creations, balloon art for keiki.

• North Pole Country Store, filled with jams, jellies, marinades, chutney, pesto, produce, herbs, flowers, toys, gift items and other delights.

• Nana Kringle's Bake Shop, for homemade baked goods from the school 'ohana.

Other attractions include model-car races, face-painting, hair and nail art, craft activities for the youngsters and entertainment.

Parking is free, and there's a shuttle at nearby Roosevelt High School, too.

CRAFT, GIFT FAIRS THIS WEEKEND

These girls get into the spirit of the holidays by donning reindeer antlers. Photo by E.Y. Yanagi

The Lanakila Gift Fair offers a variety of handmade Christmas ornaments. Deborah Booker • The Honolulu Advertiser

• Harris United Methodist Church's Bazaar, featuring baked goods, arts and crafts, white elephant, silent auction and country store, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. today.

• Mayor's Annual Cultural Festival and Craft Fair, with a classic-car display, Christmas ornament contest, produce and plants, 9 a.m.-1 p.m. today, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall (canned goods for Hawaii Foodbank requested).

• 15th Annual Holiday Craft Fair, offering keiki games, rides and food, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. today, Noelani School, Manoa. Yes, this school suffered damage from last month's flood, but the craft fair goes on.

• Season's Best 'Aiea Craft and Gift Fair, and silent and live auctions, 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. today, 'Aiea Elementary School.

• 31st Annual Lanakila Gift Fair, with items handmade in Hawai'i, baked goods and country store, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. today, 1809 Bachelot St., Liliha.

• Pre-Holiday Boutique at St. John Vianney Church, Kailua, offering gifts, ornaments and baked goods, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. today and 7 a.m.-1 p.m. tomorrow.

• Diamond Head Arts and Crafts Fair, featuring handcrafted items, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. tomorrow, Kapi'olani Community College.

Do tell: Brothers Cazimero taking Ala Moana stage

Roland and Robert Cazimero bring aloha to Ala Moana Center tonight in a free show at 6. Ala Moana Center photo

UH-Manoa's research stars shine

This is the event techies have been waiting for: The University of Hawai'i Department of Physics and Astronomy's open house is today on the Manoa campus. The public is invited.

About 200 students, mostly from public and private high schools, and college students from Leeward Community College and Brigham Young University-Hawai'i are expected to participate. Nine sites in Watanabe Hall and one in the Krauss Annex will spotlight research at UH.

An overview begins at 8:30 a.m. at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics Auditorium. The 10 sites will be open from 9 to 11 a.m. for group visits, and until 12:30 p.m. for informal visits.

The open house is free. See www.phys.hawaii.edu.

Kupuna sharing their knowledge of traditional skills

Francis Sinenci thatches a trad-itional hale with palm fronds at Kepaniwai Park Heritage Gardens. Advertiser library photo • Sept. 22, 2004

The cultural center operates a small museum containing hundreds of artifacts, books, photos and other items. The center includes an ancient chief's village, the historic courthouse and a gift shop.

The ho'olaule'a theme is "The Lei of Our Kupuna." During the year, the center has been videotaping oral histories from the area's elders for the "Kupuna Tell Me a Story" project.

Master hale builder Francis Sinenci will dedicate the rebuilt Hale Mua (men's eating house) at noon. The original structure built by Sinenci eight years ago burned in a July fire.

He used the rebuilding project to train two apprentices in Maui Community College's certified hale builder program. They are Prescott Guillermo of Hana and Ulani Combou of Waihe'e. Guillermo's 13-year-old son Kainoa helped with the construction.

The ho'olaule'a, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., also will feature food booths, games, entertainment, a fish and farmers market, a silent auction, lei and flower arranging contests, and book-signings by Kenneth Okana, author of "Hana, Days of My Youth."

Admission is free. (808) 248-8622.

Reggae to rock Aloha Tower

O-Shen

The Roots Fest Block Party is also a CD-release party for O-Shen's latest, titled "Rising Sun."

Doors open at 6 p.m. and the concert ends at 2 a.m. It's for those 21 and older. Admission is $10.

Candy Cane Train is bringing you know who ...

The Candy Cane Train, pulls in to Ala Moana Centerstage today, bringing Santa and holiday fun. Photo courtesy Ala Moana

The train is inspired by "The Christmas Gift of Aloha," the children's book written by Lisa Matsumoto and illustrated by Michael Furuya; that book is the central theme of the shopping center's holiday festivities.

The 30-foot train rolls at 10 a.m. today and tomorrow, Nov. 20-21 and Nov. 26-Jan. 1. It's for kids 12 and younger. A ticket to ride is $6; get them at the train depot on the mall level at Center Court.

Sunset to feature 'Stepford Wives'

Last week's Sunset on the Beach events got wiped off the schedule because of the rain. It's back on this weekend, with the usual entertainment, food booths and movies on that 30-foot screen.

Tonight's film is "The Stepford Wives," the dark comedy (and remake of the 1975 film) starring Nicole Kidman, Bette Midler, Matthew Broderick and Christopher Walken. Tomorrow's feature is the special-effects-laden disaster flick, "The Day After Tomorrow," starring Dennis Quaid and Jake Gyllenhaal.

Sunset on the Beach begins at 4 p.m. each day at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki. Free admission.

Hawaiian music on tap tonight

Tonight's "Cool Palaka Nights" concert will feature, among others, the Keiki Palaka Band

Three generations of performers — including the Keiki Palaka Band, George Kuo and Martin Pahinui, and Eddie Kamae and Bill Kaiwa, among others — will offer a night of Hawaiian music.