Kalakoa!

Chinatown sets New Year bashes

Get ready for the lunar new year (which falls on Jan. 23) with a full month of festivities in Chinatown.

The following events are free:

» Friday and Jan. 7: From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the United Chinese Coalition presents a two-day Chinese New Year Festival at Chinatown Cultural Plaza. Enjoy food vendors, arts and crafts exhibits, martial arts and feng shui demonstrations, Chinese fortune readings and dance performances.

» Jan. 13: From 6 to 9 p.m., watch "Choy Cheng, Traditional Lion Dance Blessings" presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce. A traditional lion dance blessing kicks off at 6 p.m. at 8 S. King St., then makes its way along King, Maunakea, Smith and Pauahi streets and Nuuanu Avenue.

The Narcissus Queen and her court will visit Chinatown businesses and their patrons, while retail stores will light firecrackers and offer lisee (good luck money in red envelopes) to the dancing lions.

» Jan. 14: From 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy a Lunar New Year Festival street fair on Maunakea, Pauahi and Smith streets presented by the Chinatown Merchants Association. There will be four stages of entertainment with bands, dance performances and martial arts demonstrations. Also look for arts and crafts and food vendors and keiki activities.

The Night in Chinatown Parade takes place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. starting from the state Capitol, along Hotel Street and ending on River Street. Expect to see beauty queens, marching bands, cultural groups, martial artists and a 150-foot dragon.

» Jan. 13 and 14: From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., the Chinatown Open House at Chinatown Cultural Plaza will host food vendors offering an assortment of Chinese favorites including jai (vegetarian monk’s food), gin doi (Chinese doughnut), gau (New Year pudding) and jook (rice soup). Dance troupes, local musical groups and martial arts and weapons demonstrations will be offered throughout the day.

» Jan. 20 and 21: From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., enjoy another Chinese New Year Festival at Chinatown Cultural Plaza with food, exhibits and entertainment. Shop for Chinese New Year food and gifts. Visit www.chinatownhi.com for more information.

Keiki can get in on the celebration, too!

If your keiki are too young to stay up till midnight to usher in the new year, join the G-rated fun at the Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center’s New Year’s at Noon party.

Kids can decorate party hats and create noisemakers before counting down to a noon celebration with a balloon drop, apple juice, toast and kid-friendly fireworks.

The children’s museum, 111 Ohe St., will be open from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. today. Carousel rides are available for $1 from 10 to 11:30 a.m.

Admission is $10, $8 for kamaaina and military and $6 for ages 62 and older. Call 524-KIDS (5437) or visit www.discoverycenterhawaii.org for more information.

Funny phrases and touching photos make island pets seem almost human

It’s hard not to fall in love with the furry, feathered and scaly friends that grace the pages of "Hawai‘i’s Pets: Photos of Our Animal Ohana" (Mutual Publishing, $14.95).

Colorful photographs of dogs, cats, cows, goats, pigs, horses, birds, turtles and lizards, shot by pet photographer Deb McGuire, are accompanied by fun captions written by Tim McGuire.

Critters exhibit their personalities in photos set against local backdrops, while quip-filled captions bring the scenarios to life. One photograph capturing a cat wearing a lei is placed beside a dog carrying a rose in its mouth. On the page with the cat, the caption reads: "Nice gesture, but you’re not my type."

Another dog, shown joyfully running on the beach, has the caption: "Poor humans … most of them have to take a pill to be this happy."

And, two dogs posed in a lifeguard booth boast "No lifeguard on duty? We’re here! Everybody in the water!" while the facing page shows a pooch heading for the waves.

A portion of the proceeds from the book will benefit the Hawaiian Humane Society. To order, visit www.mutualpublishing.com.