Conference focuses on cancer survivors

Cancer survivors and their caregivers will find support and information at the "Journey Together 2012" Cancer Survivorship Conference from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 23 at the Mid-Pacific Conference Center at Hilton Hawaiian Village.

The keynote speaker is psychologist Carolyn Gotay, a professor and Canadian Cancer Society chair in cancer primary prevention at the University of British Columbia. Gotay was formerly at the University of Hawaii and was named "Professor of Survivorship" by Komen for the Cure.

State Sen. Roz Baker of Maui, a cancer survivor, will moderate the conference, which is sponsored by the UH Cancer Center, American Cancer Society and the Queen’s Medical Center.

Registration is at 8 a.m. The $25 fee includes continental breakfast, lunch and parking. Scholarships for travel from the neighbor islands are available. Register online at goo.gl/WF5zK.

JCCH upgrades exhibit, outreach

As part of a yearlong 25th anniversary celebration, the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i recently unveiled improvements to a permanent exhibit that chronicles the history and legacy of Japanese-Americans from the first immigrants to present day.

"Okage Sama De: I am what I am because of you" is located in the center’s community gallery. The exhibit was upgraded with new artifacts, new and refurbished wall murals and displays, and a new video featuring oral testimonies about the Japanese-American experience in the islands.

According to JCCH President and Executive Director Carole Hayashino, the center also has digitized some of its historical archives, making them more accessible to the public, and expanded its historical and cultural educational outreach to schools.

The center is located at 2454 S. Beretania St. in Moiliili. Call 945-7633 or visit www.jcch.com.

Get oral history tips from local experts

A daylong workshop at Bishop Museum June 23 will provide tips and techniques for documenting important events and treasured stories as told by generations of women.

"How to Capture Women’s Stories Through Oral History" will feature Warren Nishimoto of the Center for Oral History at the University of Hawaii and Maria "Kaimi" Orr, an expert in ethnographic research who has conducted hundreds of oral history interviews. The event is being presented by Distinctive Women in Hawaiian History and Bishop Museum.

Participants will learn how to conduct, record, transcribe and edit oral histories, along with gender-specific strategies for bringing out the life experiences of women at home and in the community.

The workshop will be from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum’s Atherton Halau. The cost is $25 if registering by June 21 ($20 for members of Bishop Museum or Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives), and $30 for same-day signups.

To register, visit www.distinctivewomenhawaii.org.

Learn to play guitar at 1-day workshop

"Learn to Play Guitar in a Day!" in a workshop with Marlene Hutchinson from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday. There is a $99 fee for the class, which will be at the University of Hawaii Campus Center.

Students will learn basic chords, simple strumming and picking patterns, tuning techniques, guitar care, music theory, tablature and more. Bring your own acoustic guitar. The workshop fee includes an instructional book and Snark electronic tuner. Register online at www.marlenesmusic.com.

Help local charity and eat well, too

Ahi poke, ginger-crusted mahimahi, island shrimp curry and short rib stew will be on the menu when Sam Choy’s Breakfast, Lunch & Crab on Nimitz Highway in Iwilei hosts a benefit for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii from 6 to 9 p.m. June 25.

Other dishes prepared by chef Aure lio Garcia will include prime rib, macadamia nut chicken, mini laulau, salmon tofu salad, thai curry salad and desserts such as Ann’s mini Oreo cheesecake and mini haupia profiterole.

Tahiti Rey and Jason Alan, Mailani and Dr. Trey, and Lehua Kalima and Shawn Pimental will provide entertainment, with radio personality Makani Tabura as emcee.

Tickets are $100 per person ($60 tax-deductible); call 973-5683, ext. 240. Donations may be sent directly to the nonprofit agency at RMHC-Hawaii, P.O. Box 61777, Honolulu, HI 96839-1777.

Winners named in script contest

Students from 44 public schools tried their hand at writing a creative commercial script encouraging their peers to prepare for college and careers in the inaugural "Take Charge of Your Future Commercial Script Writing Challenge."

The contest, sponsored by GEAR UP Hawai’i, Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Clear Channel Hawaii, drew entries from 145 students who submitted scripts for a 30-second commercial for television and radio. GEAR UP Hawai’i is a program under Hawai’i P-20 Partnerships for Education, whose mission is to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education.

Kauai High sophomore Leilani Pasol was named grand-prize winner. Her script will be professionally produced into a commercial to be aired statewide.

Other results:

» Sixth-eighth grade: first, Kellyn Murakoshi, Ewa Makai Middle School; second, Kevin Zheng, Aiea Intermediate; third, Camren Shardelman, Kealakehe Intermediate

» Ninth-10th grade: first, Pasol; second, Christopher Bouillon, Mililani High; Justin Doi, Kauai High

» 11th-12th grade: first, Shonn Hira naga, Wai akea High; second, Kristan Jerald Daenos, Wai pahu High; third, Lei Ann Manera, Kauai High

First-place winners in each category will receive an Apple iPad, while second- and third-place students will receive Dr. Dre High Performance Headphones and an iPod Shuffle, respectively.

Waikiki fundraiser to assist Kupu

The Honolulu Professionals Foundation has selected Kupu as the beneficiary of its July 6 fundraiser at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa.

Kupu provides community service and environmental stewardship opportunities to youths through the Hawaii Youth Conservation Corps, Urban Corps, and Rewarding Internships for Sustainable Employment Program. For more information about Kupu, visit www.kupuhawaii.org.

The fundraising event includes heavy pupu, cocktails, a silent auction, raffle and performances by Kupaoa, Mango Season and the Kapa kahi Band. To purchase $90 tickets or reserve VIP tables, visit www.Honoluluprofessionals.org. To donate items for the silent auction and raffle, call 544-8307 or email info@honoluluprofessionals.org.