WEDNESDAY

STARTING A BUSINESS IN MAUI COUNTY. Small-business advocate Anna Ribucan will offer useful information and basic requirements for starting a business in Maui County, 12 to 1:30 p.m. at Maui County Business Resource Center. Free. Reservations: 873-8247.

BUILDING YOUR DREAM HOME. Seminar by Graham Builders on how to select a builder, what to know about residential design, setting a budget, estimating financing and scheduling, 6 to 8 p.m. at Honolulu Country Club; free. Register: 593-2808, www.grahambuilders.com.

FORUM ON CLIMATE CHANGE IN HAWAI'I with a focus on Hawaiian ecology, all day from 8 a.m. at East-West Center, Hawai'i Imin International Conference Center, Keoni Auditorium; speakers from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Climate Diagnostics Center, University of Hawai'i Departments of Geography and Geophysics, SOEST and International Pacific Research Center, Carnegie Institute Department of Global Ecology and Conservation International; free, lunch provided for speakers and Hawaii Conservation Alliance members only; public welcome. Information: silvam@hawaii.edu or 586-0061.

WINNERS CIRCLE TOASTMASTERS meets 7:30 to 8:45 a.m. every Wednesday, Unity Church, 3608 Diamond Head Circle. 833-7538.

THURSDAY

WILL TURMOIL IN THE PUBLIC MARKETS HIT THE VENTURE CAPITAL WORLD? Hawaii Venture Capital Association luncheon meeting 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Plaza Club, 20th floor; featured speaker, Elliot Parks, CEO of Hawaii Biotech and former venture capitalist with Ventana Capital, speaking on current cash flow within venture capital firms and the impact of the current financial climate; fee: $29 for HVCA, Hawaii Angels, DualUse Council, Bytemarks and HSTC members, others $39, students $25; aloha attire required by Plaza Club. Register: www.hvca.org or call Gail at 262-7329.

HONG KONG: YOUR PARTNER FOR SOURCING. Hong Kong Business Association of Hawaii virtual meeting and business matching workshop 5 to 7:30 p.m. at Honolulu Foreign Trade Zone 9, 521 Ala Moana, Room 202; learn how to enter the China market using Hong Kong as a platform; suited for small businesses and those who just want to trade with China; $20 fee includes food and refreshments; limited seating. Information: jbush@chaneybrooks.com or 544-9526.

A WILL OR A TRUST? Professional Women's Network luncheon meeting at a private home; featured speaker, Joy Miyasaki; fee: members $33, nonmembers $43, parking free. Reservations: 533-4800, reservations@pwnhawaii.org, www.pwnhawaii.org.

YBC LEADERSHIP SERIES featuring Allen Doane, chairman and CEO of Alexander & Baldwin Inc., 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at The Plaza Club, 900 Fort St., 20th floor; fee: YBC members $25, nonmembers $40 thereafter. Information: Dara Young, 383-0256, darayoung@hawaii.rr.com.

NUUANU TOASTMASTERS meeting 6 to 7 p.m., second and fourth Thursdays monthly, Susannah Wesley Community Center, 1117 Ka'ili St.; free parking; improve your public speaking skills; guests welcome. 525-8909.

PARADISE TOASTMASTERS meeting 5 to 6 p.m., second and fourth Thursdays monthly, Tripler Army Medical Center, Managed Care conference room. 487-8703.

SATURDAY

PEARL HARBOR NAVAL SHIPYARD ANNUAL JOB FAIR 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Honolulu Community College, 874 Dillingham Blvd. A chance to apprentice with journeymen; requirements: U.S. citizen, age 18 and older with high school diploma or GED, able to pass physical exam and security clearance; ASSET Test given. Information: 474-9216.

UPCOMING

HONOLULU SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OPEN HOUSE. Check out the new location of the Honolulu Small Business Development Center at its open house 4 to 6 p.m. April 1 at 1833 Kalakaua Ave., Suite 400; light refreshments, park at Eaton Square, 444 Hobron Lane or the Pacific Business News Building; free. RSVP: jon.park@hawaii-sbdc.org or Eleanore.LeClair@hawaii-sbdc.org.

PATENTS, TRADEMARKS AND COPYRIGHTS. Seminar series focusing on building a branded product, protecting your creation and licensing and royalties, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. April 3 at Honolulu Design Center, Cupola Theatre, $50 fee; Legal Aspects of the Music Business, 8:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.; $50 fee; sponsored by Honolulu Small Business Development Center. Register: e-mail jon.park@hawaii-sbdc.org, 945-1430.

CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF PRIVATE LANDS. Workshop sponsored by Department of Land and Natural Resources, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 3 at Maui Arts and Cultural Center, Alexa Higashi Meeting Room, One Cameron Way; topics: how to restore private land to native forest, how to improve native wildlife habitat and how to address problems of invasive species on private land. Register by March 20: Charmian.C.Dang@hawaii.gov or 808-587-4155.

TECHNOLOGY AND INTERNET EXPO AND CONFERENCE. Expo 12 to 6 p.m. April 11 at Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall; topics: green technology, cyber security, e-Biz and medical technology; special presentations 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.; exhibits by a wide range of companies; opportunities to network with experts; $3 fee. Conference to feature speakers from such firms as Microsoft and IBM, the e-Biz awards luncheon and an after-conference networking mixer with pupu and entertainment from 4:30 to 6 p.m; $95 fee, Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii members $75. Registration: 237-3673, www.technologynewsbytes.com

Business meetings of general interest are listed in the "Coming Events" column throughout the week. Submit notices at least two weeks in advance: Alan Yonan, Business Section, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802; fax to 525-6763; or e-mail comingevents@honoluluadvertiser.com. For e-mailed releases, please include information in the body of the message, not in an attachment.