Postal historian will give a talk at Iolani Palace

Stamp collector and postal history expert Fred Gregory will discuss the early days of mail delivery in Hawaii on Thursday in the Kana’ina Building on the grounds of Iolani Palace.

Gregory, a consultant to the American Philatelic Society and the Philatelic Foundation, is the creator and editor of www.hawaiianstamps.com, a website dedicated to pre-territorial Hawaiian postal history. He has written several articles about Hawaiian stamps and authored "Hawaiian Foreign Mail to 1870," an award-winning series of books.

His free talk is titled "Windows on History: Letters and Stamps Under the Kamehamehas." Gregory will discuss the establishment of the local postal service in 1850 under Kamehameha III, when portraits of royalty adorned isle stamps.

The presentation is sponsored by the Hawaiian Historical Society. Parking is available on palace grounds. Refreshments will be served at 7 p.m., and the talk will begin at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call 537-6271.

Stamps and coins up for sale during the 50th Coin Show

Collectors can seek out rare coins and stamps at the three-day 50th Coin Show at the Hawai’i Convention Center starting Friday.

The event, sponsored by the Hawaii State Numismatic Association and Honolulu Coin Club, will feature more than 65 coin and stamp dealers from Hawaii and the mainland who will be selling and buying coins, currency, postcards and other collectibles. There will be exhibits and hourly prize drawings, and the sponsors will be handing out free specially designed coins commemorating the 50th Coin Show, while supplies last.

The Boy Scouts of America and Patti Finner of the American Numismatic Association will conduct a coin-collecting merit badge clinic for Scouts on Saturday and Sunday. For times and more information, go to www.alohacouncilbsa.org.

The show will take place in Room 316. Admission is free. Hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Get more details by calling 486-4766 or email kendricks001@hawaii.rr.com.

Workshop will cover home-cooked meals for the family dog

Holistic veterinarian Ihor Basko of Kapaa, Kauai, will teach a workshop on cooking home-prepared dog food from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 17 at Cookspace in Ward Warehouse.

The workshop is being held in conjunction with the launch of the second edition of Basko’s book "Fresh Food & Ancient Wisdom: Preparing Healthy and Balanced Meals for Your Dogs." He will also talk about incorporating the principles of traditional Oriental medicine food therapies in pet care. Basko, past president of the Hawaii State Veterinary Medical Association and a vet for more than 40 years, believes that formulating custom home diets for dogs can help prevent serious disease.

The workshop fee of $150 includes the lecture, workbook, recipes and refreshments. The discounted fee for early registration is $125 until Nov. 3. Cookspace is in Suite 2360 on the second floor of Ward Warehouse, 1050 Ala Moana Blvd. To purchase the book or learn more, call 822-4229 or visit drbasko.com.

Hop on the train and take in history this Veterans Day

Get an unusual perspective on Hawaii’s military history on a narrated Veterans Day train ride.

The 90-minute round trip from the Ewa Train Museum station to Kahe Point will enlighten riders on World War II sites such as Marine Corps Air Station Ewa Field, Naval Air Station Barbers Point, Fort Barrette and Battery Arizona. The train leaves the station at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 11.

Seats are $12 for adults and $8 for seniors and children up to age 12 (no charge for keiki under 2). For $25, purchase one of only 14 veranda seats on the deluxe circa-1880s Dillingham parlor car.

Reservations are required, visit www.4ewa.org or email GM@4EWA.org.

Fun annual event to raise awareness of hydrocephalus

Learn more about hydrocephalus — an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in brain cavities — during the Second Annual Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation’s Hawaii Walk & Family Fun Day at Magic Island on Nov. 2.

The event, featuring entertainment, games and activities, will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with registration at 9 a.m. There is no fee to attend or participate in the walk.

The all-volunteer, nonprofit Pediatric Hydrocephalus Foundation is organizing the event to raise awareness about hydrocephalus.

It provides support to families, friends and children affected by this brain condition.

Donations are tax-deductible. Money raised from the walk will go toward research in seeking a cure and treatment options and advocacy for families affected by hydrocephalus.

To register online, visit active.com/donate/phfwalkhi2013. For more information on the foundation, check out www.HydrocephalusKids.org.