Sustainability is an environmental buzzword these days, and one that's especially relevant to island life (did someone say curbside recycling?). Barry Raleigh, executive director of the nonprofit Center for a Sustainable Future, speaks from noon to 1 p.m. tomorrow (East-West Center, Burns Hall, Room 3121) about the future of wind power, solar energy and biomass fuels. Free. 944-7784.

ALAMOANACENTER.COM

LISTEN TO 'CHRISTMAS GIFT OF ALOHA'

Perhaps you've read the book, checked out the play or seen the TV commercials of Lisa Matsumoto's "The Christmas Gift of Aloha" — a children's story about Merry, a newly trained Christmas elf who falls from Santa's sleigh to find himself in Hawai'i. Want more?

Visit Ala Moana Center's Web site to sample tracks from "The Christmas Gift of Aloha" soundtrack CD, including such songs as "Christmas in Paradise" and "Da Bes' Hawaiian Kine Toys." You can download a screensaver or an MP3 of "A Menehune Christmas." The site also includes "The Christmas Gift of Aloha" musical and parade schedule. Go to alamoanacenter.com/holiday.htm.

FINAL WORD

In politics "you find that there are certain things that films can do, and there are certain things that public policy can do. One is an artistic expression, one is a kind of emotional desire to help people directly. ...right now I'm on this double track."

Rob Reiner | director, on his crusade for early-childhood education, in Entertainment Weekly