The Hawaii Kotohira Jinsha-Dazaifu Tenmangu, the Shinto shrine at 1239 Olomea St., is holding a blessing festival for those heading back to school. The special blessing honors students of all ages so they may enjoy learning, take delight in new discoveries and persevere in their studies. Educators also are welcome.

The festival takes place Aug. 6 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's best to park on Olomea Street or in the shrine parking lot.

Information: 841-4755; kotohira@gte.net or www.e-shrine.org.

CHRISTIAN SINGLES CONFERENCE SET

John Ortberg will be speaking at the Living Up the Single Life Hawaii Christian Singles Conference later this month at First Presbyterian Church of Honolulu, 1822 Ke'eaumoku St.

The conference will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. next Saturday, and will feature workshops on online dating, sex and the single, divorce recovery and single parenting.

Besides Ortberg, who is author of "The Life You've Always Wanted," "If You Want to Walk on Water You've Got to Get Out of the Boat" and "Everybody's Normal Till You Get to Know Them," speakers will include Nancy Ortberg of Willow Creek Community Church; First Presbyterian's pastor Dan Chun; and Fernando Castillo.

Cost: $79 ($99 at the door), and includes snack and lunch.

Register: www.himonline.org; information: 988-9777.

DONATION DRIVE WILL AID HOMELESS

River of Life Mission is planning to hold its second annual Christmas in July donation drive at more than 30 busy intersections throughout the island on July 25.

From 6 a.m. to 7 p.m., net-carrying volunteers wearing T-shirts and red hats will be seeking donations from drivers for the homeless mission.

Information: Davi Teves, 524-7656, ext. 222.

WITNESSES KICK OFF THEIR CONVENTION

The district convention of the Hawai'i Jehovah's Witnesses is under way at the Mililani Assembly Hall, 239 Pali'i St., through Aug. 13.

This weekend's public programs, to be given in English, begin at 9:30 a.m. for morning sessions, 2 p.m. today and 1:40 p.m. tomorrow. Programs, which run Fridays through Sundays most weekends, will be in English and Chinese next weekend, followed by subsequent weekend programs in Ilocano, Samoan and Japanese.

For more information: 441-0463; www.jw-media.org.

CALVARY CHAPEL CONFERENCE NEAR

Calvary Chapel is holding a pastor, church leader and church worker conference Aug. 21 to 23 at its Komo Mai campus.

Among the speakers are two California pastors, Chuck Smith, pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa (Calif.), and Greg Laurie of Harvest Christian Fellowship of Riverside (Calif.), as well as Bill Stonebraker, pastor of Calvary in Honolulu.

Early registration (by Aug. 4) for the entire conference is $50; it's $30 for a day.

Information: 524-0844 or www.calvarychapel.com/honolulu.