Luncheon-style show heralds HOT season

To celebrate its new year-round Grand Opera season, Hawaii Opera Theatre will host "A Special Sunday Brunch" from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at the Halekulani Hotel, featuring a champagne reception, lunch, fashion show by designer Anne Namba and preview appearance by principal guest artists for the season-opening opera, "Die Fledermaus."

Namba will show garments festive enough to be worn to the season opener or to "Comedie et Tragedie," HOT’s annual fundraising Opera Ball, which takes place Nov. 10. Namba, known for Asian-inspired collections, has designed costumes for HOT productions such as "Madame Butterfly" as well as for opera companies in Europe and elsewhere.

Tickets for the brunch are $100; premium tickets are $150. To reserve a seat, call Tracy Jefferson, 596-7372, ext. 200, or email t_jefferson@hawaiiopera.org. Reservations also may be made online at www.hawaiiopera.org.

"Die Fledermaus," running Oct. 12, 14 and 16, is the first of three operas to be presented this season. The others are "Dialogues of the Carmelites" (Feb. 15, 17 and 19) and "Tosca" (April 26, 28 and 30). Season tickets are $88 to $333; single tickets start at $29.

YWCA clothing sale will aid working women

The YWCA of Oahu is hosting a benefit clothing sale from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Sept. 27 in the Laniakea YWCA lobby at 1040 Richards St.

Admission is free to the sale of new and used women’s clothing and accessories, with funds going to Dress for Success, which helps support economically disadvantaged women re-entering the workforce.

Polynesia pageant kicks off Hawaii Fashion Week

Tickets are on sale for the Mr. and Miss Polynesia Pageant taking place from 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday at the Hale Koa Hotel Luau Garden.

Tickets are $45 to $75 for the show, which will feature contestants from across the Pacific competing in costume and talent competitions.

The event is the first of Hawaii Fashion Week and will be hosted by Kea Ho, who recently signed to star in a Bravo TV reality show.

Children under age 12 will not be admitted.

Call Soni 888-9640 or visit www.mrandmisspolynesia.com.

Other highlights of Hawaii Fashion Week are:

» Red Carpet at Royal Hawaiian Center: A red-carpet competition featuring local designers from 7 to 9 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Royal Grove.

» Hard Rock’s Tahitian Fashion Fete: A show of work by Tahiti designers and music by Anuhea from 4 to 6 p.m. Sept 29 at Hard Rock Cafe in Waikiki.

Designer hats to top off scholarship benefit

Tickets are on sale for "La Mode Classique," a luncheon fashion show featuring designs by Jeanie Chun, including a "Chapeaux Couture" segment of designer hats.

The event will take place Sept. 29 at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, with lunch starting at 11:30 a.m., followed by the show. A country store and silent auction will start at 9 a.m. Funds raised will help support the Chinese Women’s Club of Hono­lulu’s scholarship and welfare programs.

Tickets are $65, available by calling Violet Tam at 737-9046.