Palace to celebrate queen’s birthday

Check out Iolani Palace, because it’s all dressed up for the holidays, as well as in honor of Queen Kapiolani’s birthday on New Year’s Eve. Wednesday, the palace will offer evening tours under the golden glow of antique lights.

The occasion will feature holiday flower arrangements, performances by soloists from Mae Z. Orvis Opera Studio of the Hawai‘i Opera Theatre in the Blue Room, and a harpist in the Throne Room. The other rooms and galleries of the palace are also open for viewing.

Evening touring hours are 6 to 9:30 p.m. Admission is $7 ($4 for keiki). Information: 522-0822 or www.iolanipalace.org.

View the real thing at ‘Godzilla’ festival

They don’t come any bigger than the King of the Monsters. But few in America have seen Godzilla as he originally appeared. Director Ishiro Honda’s 1954 film, in which Godzilla was a metaphor for nuclear power, was recut and poorly dubbed in the United States.

Missed it the first time around? There’s the "Oh My Godzilla!" film fest occurring at the Doris Duke Theatre this week. All showings are at 1 and 7:30 p.m.

Tuesday it’s "Godzilla vs. the Sea Monster." (A Godzilla party reception in the courtyard at 6 p.m. precedes the screening.) Wednesday, it’s "Godzilla vs. Mechagodzilla II," and Thursday and Friday it is the recently remastered version of the 1954 "Gojira," not the American "Godzilla" edition.

Admission to each film is $10 ($8 for museum members) except for the reception with screening, which is $12 ($10). Admission and information: www.honoluluacademy.org.

Isle students urged to speak in contest

Hawaii high school students are invited to compete in Poetry Out Loud, a recitation contest that is part of a national competition presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Poetry Out Loud seeks to promote reading and literature through recitation and performance, and encourages including slam poetry, spoken word and theater in the English curriculum. Organizers said the program helps students master public speaking, build confidence and learn about their literary heritage.

Schools are invited to sponsor contests with winners advancing to the statewide competition March 18 in Honolulu. The winner will receive $200 and a trip to Washington, D.C., to compete for a $20,000 prize in the national finals in May.

Lea Di Marchi from Punahou School was selected as the 2011 Hawaii Poetry Out Loud champion.

Honolulu Theatre for Youth and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts are sponsoring the contest in Hawaii. Contest materials are available at www.poetryoutloud.org. Teachers should contact HTY at 839-9885, ext. 704, or email edadmin@htyweb.org for information.

Film explores harm of excessive lights

Honolulu city lights might stir nostalgia for the famous Beamer Brothers song, but they can make gazing at the stars difficult.

"The City Dark," a documentary that explores light pollution and the disappearing night sky, will have its Hawaii premiere at 7 p.m. Jan. 4 at the University of Hawaii at Manoa’s Art Building Auditorium.

Brooklyn filmmaker Ian Cheney and UH light pollution expert Richard Wainscoat will participate in a discussion after the screening of the 84-minute film.

Besides providing stunning astrophotography, a diverse group of scientists (including UH’s astronomer Jeff Kuhn), philosophers, historians and lighting designers are interviewed in the film.

Cheney was inspired to ask, "Do we need the dark?" after moving to New York City from Maine. He explores everything from the search for killer asteroids in Hawaii to turtles hatching along the Florida coast and injured birds on Chicago streets.

The screening is free but campus parking is $6. See www.ifa.hawaii.edu/specialevents for more information.