President retiring from Hawaii Theatre
Hawaii Theatre Center President Sarah M. Richards is retiring after 24 years of service that included overseeing restoration of the historic downtown venue.
She plans to remain the center’s president until the board of directors picks a replacement, according to an announcement.
During Richards’ term, the center received the 2005 Outstanding Historic Theatre of America award from the national League of Historic American Theatres, the 2006 National Preservation Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the 2006 Torch Award for Business Ethics by the Better Business Bureau of Hawaii. The latter award was the first award given to a nonprofit organization.
"I am honored to have been part of this important community treasure for the past 25 years, and I’m proud of what our organization has accomplished in that time, transforming what could have become a parking lot into an award-winning performance venue," Richards said in the announcement.
Richards was the first staff member of the newly formed Hawaii Theatre Center in 1989.
Before that, she served as director of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts for nine years and dean of Chaminade University for 10 years.
She also serves on the boards for Hawaii Opera Theatre and the Hawaii Association of Non-Profit Associations.
Gallop to good luck with feng shui tips
Learn your fortune for the upcoming year of the horse while improving the fortunes of the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific at an event featuring feng shui expert Peter Lung.
The annual Feng Shui Outlook will run from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday at the hospital, 226 N. Kuakini St. Tickets are $68. For tickets and more information, call 739-8288, email info@ wofsusa.com or visit www.wofsusa.com.
For the past nine years, Lung and his World of Feng Shui USA have donated a total of more than $65,000 raised by the event to the REHAB Foundation.
Lung was born and educated in Hong Kong and immigrated to the United States more than 25 years ago.
He specializes in traditional feng shui methods and incorporates paht chee (personal fortune charts based on time and date of birth) to offer suggestions for avoiding or reducing "inconveniences" during "bad periods," according to an event announcement.
Toast new year at Secret Beer Garden
Amid bustling crowd and noise of this weekend’s Chinese New Year festivities (think fireworks, lion dances and a parade) will be a quiet spot where folks can take respite: the "Secret Beer Garden: 2014 Year of the Horse!" at the Mendonca Building, 1126 Smith St. The garden, open 4 to 10 p.m. today and Saturday in the Chinatown Courtyard, will feature the new Chinese Down-Tempo Lounge. Other events, all free, include:
» 64th Annual Narcissus Festival, choy cheng (lion dances) and Chinatown open house (5 to 9 p.m. today)
» Chinatown New Year celebration (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. today and Saturday, Chinatown Cultural Plaza)
» Night in Chinatown street festival (10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Hotel and Smith streets)
» Night in Chinatown parade (3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Hotel Street)
On Jan. 31 and Feb. 1, the United Chinese Coalition’s Chinese New Year Festival will be held 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the cultural plaza.
Deadline coming up to join Swamp Romp
If running, crawling and swimming through mud, obstacle courses, sandy beaches and tunnels sounds like a good way to start the day, then don’t miss the Feb. 5 deadline to sign up for the 20th annual Swamp Romp to be held at 7 a.m. Feb. 8.
The event is open to the public (costumes optional) and will take place at Boondocker Field at Marine Corps Base Hawaii in Kaneohe. It is sponsored by the Marine Corps Community Services’ Semper Fit program.
Register at www.mccshawaii.com/swampromp. Fees are $140 per team and $40 for individuals. Sign up before Jan. 31 to avoid late fees of $15 per team or $10 per individual. Registration won’t be accepted on race day.
Mandatory packet and timing chip pickup will be at 3 to 6 p.m. Feb. 7 at the Swamp Romp Health, Fitness & Wellness Expo at the Semper Fit Center at the Kaneohe base. For more information, call 254-7590.
SPECIAL SCREENINGS
The Royal Ballet Series 2014 Cinema Season: ‘Giselle’
Principal guest artist Carlos Acosta and principal dancer Natalia Osipova star as Count Albrecht and Giselle in this haunting tale of betrayal and enduring love. At 7 p.m. Monday at Dole Cannery 18 and Makalapua Stadium 10 ($15)
Spotlight Asia! ‘Anohana: The Flower We Saw That Day’
Based on the anime series about five childhood friends who drifted apart after the death of their friend Meiko "Menma" Honma. The friends reunite after Honma appears before one of them saying she must be granted one last wish to pass on to the afterlife. At 2 p.m. Saturday at Ward Stadium ($15)
For complete movie listings, see today’s TGIF.
