Aloha Grammy

Go to honolulupulse.com to follow along with Hawaii’s Grammy nominees and other island music stars as they prepare for Sunday’s 53rd annual Grammy Awards in Los Angeles. In our Aloha Grammy web special, you can follow Twitter posts from Bruno Mars, Cyril Pahinui, Amy Hanaiali’i, Jeff Peterson, Tia Carrere, Daniel Ho, Sonny Lim, Dennis Kamakahi and others. You’ll also find blog posts from some of the nominees, reviews of the nominated Hawaiian albums, photos and other features, with updates throughout the day.

Rare opals on display at Ala Moana Center

Roman lore held opal as a symbol of hope and optimism and believed it would enhance relationships, making it one more option for Valentine’s Day gift giving.

Opal Fields will be presenting a show of rare black opals from Lightning Ridge and Queensland, Australia, as well as light opals from South Australia during store hours Saturday and Sunday.

Opal Fields is at Ala Moana Center. Call 949-3982.

Anteprima/Wirebag features jewelry gift

In celebration of Valentine’s Day, Anteprima/Wirebag is offering a gift of a pink, wire-knit heart necklace (pictured above, $60 value) with in-store purchases of $500 or more beginning tomorrow, while supplies last.

Anteprima/Wirebag has two locations, at Royal Hawaiian Center (924-0808) Building B, Level 1, and Ala Moana Center’s (983-3886) mall-level Nordstrom wing.

Drawing has gift set for Valentine’s prize

Lanikai Home is offering the opportunity to win a $500 Valentine gift set in a drawing taking place Saturday.

The set features everything you need for a romantic evening: 1,500-thread count sheets, bamboo bath towels, Govino wine glasses, a carafe of wine, scented candles and a selection of Paradise Chocolates.

Enter at the store at 171-D Hamakua Drive. The winner will receive the gift set on Valentine’s Day. Call 261-5681.

Kailua antique shop holding vintage sale

Kailua’s Antiques and Treasures boutique is celebrating the opening of its neighboring sister store, Dreamer, with Valentine’s Day deals on designer and vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories.

The boutique is at 315 Uluniu St., across from Cinnamon’s restaurant. Call 263-1177.

WHAT’S IN STORE

Apartm3nt hosts romantic fundraiser

For those in search of a Valentine’s Day gift, Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Honolulu will be host a benefit fundraiser, "Carnival of Love," from 5 to 9 p.m. tomorrow at Apartm3nt in Century Center, presented by Robert Palma Designs.

To commemorate the event, the jeweler has designed a Big Brothers Big Sisters pendant made of 10K white gold that will be available for $165. All pendant sale proceeds will be donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu.

The $30 ticket price includes light pupu and drinks. There will also be a silent auction and jewelry sales.

Tickets are on sale at www.bigshonolulu.org, or call 988-0224 for more information.

Royal merchants to offer special discounts

Merchants and restaurants at Royal Hawaiian Center have teamed up to offer an array of Valentine’s Day discounts and specials beginning tomorrow and valid through Monday, except where noted.

They include:

» Acid Dolls: Up to 70 percent on apparel and accessories.

» Honolulu Cookie Co.: Choose from a selection of heart-shaped boxes filled with cookies.

» Jams World: If true love is represented by matching outfits, purchase a "Bouquet" collection dress or pants outfit and receive 50 percent off the matching men’s shirt. Or buy a dress, print top, pants or men’s shirt and receive 50 percent off one piece of Oceana Trading Co. jewelry.

» Laki Hawaiian Design: Receive 25 percent off silver pendant and earring sets and 10 percent off heart-design jewelry beginning today.

» Panya: Pick up a red velvet cake ($35 to $45), heart-shaped cookies ($3.50 to $4.50) and red velvet cupcakes (starting from 99 cents).

» Wolfgang’s Steakhouse by Wolfgang Zwiener: Special menu for two, $99.95. Also, receive a Wolfgang teddy bear per couple, while supplies last. Call 922-3600.

For more offers, visit www.RoyalHawaiianCenter.com.

HCC bangs out V-day gift that lasts

One of the most unique Valentine’s Day offerings comes out of Honolulu Community College’s sheet metal department, where students are hammering out sheet metal roses — one flower destined to last forever.

Department Chairman Danny Aiu said that at $4 per rose they were so popular last year that students could not keep up with demand.

The roses will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday at the campus, Building 17.

In case they run out, though, you’d better have a Plan B.

Call 845-9237 for more information.

Fighting Eel brings in Ki-ele’s bangles

New at Fighting Eel for Valentine’s Day are Ki-ele’s new "Lucky 7-Day bangles," available in 14K gold-fill ($246) and sterling silver ($216).

The bangles are handmade and hammered by Ki-ele designer Marylea Conrad and sold as a set.

They were originally created as a custom order for Fighting Eel designer Lan Chung, but she’s received so many requests for them they’re now readily available for purchase at the store.

Fighting Eel is at 1133 Bethel St. Call 524-1472.

Comedian Griffin has April shows

Tickets will go on sale Saturday for two April shows with comedian Kathy Griffin in Honolulu and on Maui.

Griffin made her name with the Emmy award-winning reality show "Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List" on cable network Bravo. Her 2010 autobiography, "Official Book Club Selection: A Memoir According to Kathy Griffin," was a best-seller.

Tickets for the April 8 show at the Waikiki Shell are priced at $30 for general lawn seating and $45, $55 and $65 for reserved seats. They will go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Blaisdell Center box office, all Ticketmaster outlets, Walmart and the Sports Gear Warehouse in Windward Mall; charge by phone at 800-745-3000 or buy online at www.ticketmaster.com.

Tickets for Griffin’s April 10 appearance at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center’s Castle Theatre will be available to MACC members only starting at 9 a.m. Saturday, with tickets sold to the general public starting Feb. 19. Prices are $36, $46, $56 and $66; call 242-7469 or visit www.mauiarts.org.

Palama gives Korean soaps to library

Fans of Korean soap operas can borrow DVDs of the latest series from the Pearl City Public Library, thanks to a donation from Palama Supermarkets in partnership with the Korean Library Foundation.

The donation includes copies of 20 highly requested shows, such as "Brilliant Legacy," "Celebrity Sweetheart," "City Hall," "Hwangjini," "I Love You," "Inside the White Tower," "My Destiny," "Oasis" and "Boys Over Flowers."

Palama Supermarkets is one of the largest Korean-owned business in Hawaii, with three locations on Oahu. The nonprofit Korean Library Foundation, founded by Sook Ki and Eugene Moon in 1997, donates Korean books and other material to enhance the Hawaii State Public Library System’s Korean-language collection.

The Pearl City Public Library is located at 1138 Waimano Home Road, next to the police station.

Workshops teach Hawaiian culture

Na mea kaua (weapons) and makau (fishhooks) will be the focus of Waimea Valley’s 2011 "Na Mea Ho’ohana" Hawaiian Implement Workshops.

The Sunday workshops will be led by kumu Umi Kai, a practitioner in making Hawaiian implements from wood, ivory, stone, shell and cordage. They are being offered for free with the support of Hi’ipaka LLC in Waimea Valley. The classes, to be held from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., are limited to five students per workshop. A fee will be charged for material kits. Students must apply in writing and bring their own tools.

The schedule: Feb. 20, leiomano, eight teeth ($45) and pahoa au ($15); March 20, leiomano, 14 to 16 teeth ($75); July 17, makau ($15); Aug. 14, newa ($25); Sept. 18, kaula ($15).

Waimea Valley is located at 59-864 Kamehameha Highway, across from Waimea Bay.