Beer drinkers, get ready to hoist your mugs: The Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl Octobeerfest, from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday in the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel Ballroom, will showcase 50 beers, local food, entertainment and a silent auction.

"Octobeerfest is a celebration that showcases our community pride," said Ernest Nishizaki, Hawai'i Bowl Foundation president and Sheraton Hotels executive, in a statement.

The event, sponsored by Heineken and Paradise Beverages, continues the tradition of supporting community endeavors by donating the net proceeds to groups who make life a bit better. The business community is gathering donations for the Octobeerfest silent auction, with items like trips, hotel stays and sports memorabilia up for bid.

Tickets: $55 in advance, $70 at the door, available at the University of Hawai'i, by phone at 548-2695 or online at www.etickethawaii.com.

— Wayne Harada

PACIFIC HISTORY

PBS PROGRAMS TEACH KIDS ABOUT REGION

Did you know that the Civil War had a Pacific connection? In fact, four whaling ships were sunk in Pohnpei (now in the Federated States of Micronesia) in 1865 by Confederate raider Shenandoah; one was the Harvest, a whaling ship out of Honolulu.

"Stories to Tell," a nine-part television series aimed at seventh-graders across the state, premieres at 12:30 p.m. today on PBS Hawaii (Ch. 10). Each episode will be posted after it airs at www.teleschool.k12.hi.us.

The series looks at how whaling affected Hawai'i and Pohnpei.

A second series, "Pacific Clues," is also aimed at students; it tells the story of Pacific archaeology and premieres at 12:50 p.m. Produced and directed by Ann Marie Kirk, each program is 20 minutes long and includes interviews with archaeologists and cultural experts.

"The goal is to have students gain a broader understanding of the Pacific and how cultures found here were affected by world events," Kirk said.

— Chris Oliver