The theme of Interfaith Alliance Hawaii’s 13th annual awards dinner will be “Action Now! Positive Response to Houseless Crisis.”

Serving as keynote speaker will be Hawaii News Now’s general manager, Rick Blangiardi, who has pledged to keep the issues of the homeless before the public daily in its newscasts. Blangiardi will talk about why he is collaborating with the Honolulu Star-Advertiser’s publisher, Dennis Francis, in news coverage of homeless issues.

The event, which is set for 5:30 p.m Nov. 1 at Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, will also feature a new awards program, “Sparks of Hope,” which recognizes groups and individuals who inspire, partner with or mobilize others to aid the homeless.

The winners are Feeding Hawaii Together, Mother Waldron Park; Hawaii Foodbank; Barbers Point US Vets; Family Promise; Partners in Care: Houseless Data, City and County of Honolulu Department of Housing; Housing First; Deric Valaroso, police officer; Helping Hands; Waikiki Health Center; Saint Mary’s of Moiliili; Central Union Church; the Parish of Saint Clement’s Church; Saint John the Baptist Episcopal Church; Saint Stephen’s Episcopal Church; Anne Kishi and Ginger Miller, Chaminade Hogan Entrepreneurial Program; and Kaahumanu Church, Dr. Richard Walenta.

Music at the dinner will be provided by Don Conover.

Reservations are required. To obtain reservations, email sykesr001@hawaii.rr.com or fordhamh001@ hawaii.rr.com, or leave a message at 599-8628 with name, contact information and number of attendees.

Buddhism classes, talks will be open to the public

Three Buddhism lectures or courses, sponsored by Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawaii, are open to the public this month and next for a small fee at two locations:

>> Chaplain Sherman Thompson, a member of Lahaina Hongwanji Buddhist Temple, will teach a course on how Buddhism fits into a Christian culture, 1 to 3 p.m., starting Sunday and continuing Oct. 25 and Nov. 1 and 8 at the Buddhist Study Center, 1436 University Ave.

Cost is $20 per person; tuition assistance and scholarships are available. Call 973-6555 to register.

A trustee of the Pacific Buddhist Academy, Thompson was raised in a Shin Buddhist family and ordained as a United Church of Christ minister more than 30 years ago. He is serving as a minster at Kaumakapili Church.

>> As part of the Futaba Lecture Series, Duncan Williams, an associate professor of religion at the University of Southern California, will speak from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 24 at the Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin Shin Buddhist annex temple, 1727 Pali Highway. Cost is $10 per person at the door.

Williams will draw on his upcoming book, “Camp Dharma: Buddhism and the Japanese American Incarceration During World War II,” to provide a look at Buddhism behind barbed wire and its influence on American Buddhism today. He serves as director of the USC Shinso Ito Center for Japanese Religions and Culture. Williams has also authored “The Other Side of Zen: A Social History of Soto Zen Buddhism in Tokugawa Japan” (Princeton, 2005).

>> The 2015 Nembutsu Gathering: Dharma by Doing will be held 8 a.m. to 3 p.m Nov. 7 at the Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin, 1727 Pali Highway. Organizers promise that there will be “less talking, more doing” by allotting 90 percent of the time to practice of Jodo Shinshu rituals. A series of guided experiences will allow participants to practice ringing the “kansho,” solo/lead chanting, quiet meditation and group activities that aim to inspire self-reflection and sharing.

Space is limited to 100; the registration deadline is Friday. A recommended donation is $15, including lunch. Financial support is available. To register, call 942-1154 or email communications@MoiliiliHongwanji.org.

For more information on the three events, visit hawaiibetsuin.org.