West Oahu Highlights – 12/25/13

Send West Oahu items to cchang@midweek.com or fax them to 585-6324 by Dec. 25 to be considered for the Jan. 1 edition.

* PHONE TRAINING Verizon Wireless has a free hands-on training workshop at 9:45 a.m. Dec. 22 at its Kapolei Commons store. Go to vzwworkshops.com.

* NUTCRACKER Hawaii Ballet Theatre presents its 33rd annual Nutcracker production at Leeward Community College Theatre at 4 p.m. Dec. 22, featuring solo performances by former Broadway dancer Christine Yasunaga and a host of local talent. A free “Sugarplum Tea with Santa” follows the matinee. Call 456-8100 for tickets.

* SCHOOL DATES Public schools close Dec. 23 for winter break and reopen to students Jan. 7, following a teachers work-day Jan. 6.

* PARK SIGNUPS City parks offer online registration for their spring programs until Dec. 24 at honoluluparks.com. Walk-in registration is Jan. 8, 9 and 10.

* SOCIAL SECURITY Financial consultant Nelson Secretario explains strategies for boosting benefits and increasing retirement income from Social Security at 1 p.m. Dec. 28 at Aiea Library. Call 483-7333.

* BLOOD DRIVES Hawaii Blood Bank has donor drives from 7 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Dec. 29 at Ewa Beach Elementary, 7:30 a.m.-noon Dec. 30 at Kapolei Shopping Center, and 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Jan. 4 at Pearlridge Center. Call 848-4770.

* PET PARTY Ewa Petco marks its first anniversary from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 4-5 with a Customer Appreciation Weekend of activities for pets and owners, free workshops and a choice of adoptable pets from Hawaiian Humane Society and OSPCA. The store is located at 91-1065 Keaunui Drive. Call 683-1551.

* MANANA DANCE The Pearl City chapter of Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association registers new students at 7 p.m. Jan. 7 and 14 for classes in cha cha and tango. Classes meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday starting Jan. 7 at Manana Elementary School for a nominal fee. Call 456-2129.

* WAIMALU DANCE The Pearlridge chapter of Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association registers new students from 7 to 8 p.m. Jan. 7 and 14 at Waimalu Elementary School for classes in cha cha and tango. Classes meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. each Tuesday, Jan. 7-Feb. 25, at Waimalu for a nominal fee. Call 836-4579 or 488-3935.

* NEIGHBORS Ewa Neighborhood Board meets at 7 p.m. Jan. 9 at Ewa Beach Library, and Aiea meets at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 13 at Aiea Library. Call 768-3710.

* GABBARD HOUR State Sen. Mike Gabbard hosts a Listen Story hour at 9 a.m. Jan. 11 at Pray Eat Love Cafe, 533 Manawai St. #304. Call 586-6830.

Ongoing

* ‘WAR’S END’ Kapolei High students partner with Kapolei Library to present “Images at War’s End” now through Feb. 22 at the library, featuring photos and memorabilia from the USS Missouri. Call 693-7050.

* HABITAT HELP Habitat for Humanity Leeward Oahu seeks volunteers to help with its mission of self-built housing for low-income families in Kapolei, Ewa Beach and Waianae. Call Toni Anduha at 696-7882.

* SPRING FOOTBALL Hawaii Islanders seeks players 8 to 14 years old for 2014 Spring Tackle Football for boys, as well as coaches and team parents, for the Pearl City, Aiea and Moanalua areas. Call or text 352-5294.

* YOUTH RUGBY USO Athletics seeks players and coaches for the upcoming youth rugby season (U19 to U10), with practice and games beginning in January in West Oahu. Call Ray at 275-6134.

* SOCCER SIGNUPS Leeward Region 269 AYSO is registering boys and girls age 4 to 18 (from Makakilo to Makaha) for spring soccer, with the season starting in January. Fee is $70. Visit leewardayso269.com.

* WELLNESS Shizendo ki method founder Hideo Kimura conducts Ki Wellness classes at 6 p.m. Mondays and Fridays, and Aikido for Seniors at 7:30 p.m. Mondays and Fridays at Aiea Soto Mission. Free trials are allowed. The mission is located at 99-045 Kauhale St. Call 671-1422.

* FITNESS Shake that Fitness 808 offers dance fitness classes at 6:15 p.m. each Tuesday, Thursday and Friday at United Visayan Hall, 94-833 Awanei St. in Waipahu. Call Susan at 671-3943.

* FITNESS Fit Wiz Hawaii offers classes in Pilates, yoga, Tabata and TRX Beach Boot Camps (suspension training) in Kapolei and Ewa Beach for ages 12 and older, with the first class free. Visit fitwizhawaii.com.

* YOGA Free classes in Holistic Energy Yoga meet at 10:30 a.m. Wednesdays at Waiau District Park. Call 381-4376.

* HIDEAWAY BAND 11th Hour performs original and cover rock music from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. every third Saturday at the Hideaway, 1 Coral Sea Road in Kalaeloa. Free admission for ages 21 and older with military ID. Call 347-1323.

* VEGGIE COOKS Down to Earth offers free vegetarian cooking classes at 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays at its Kapolei store, and at 5:30 p.m. on the first and third Monday at its Pearlridge store. Call 947-3249.

* STRIDERS The Leeward Stroller Strides group meets at 8:45 a.m. Tuesdays and Thursday at Central Oahu Regional Park, offering a fitness walk for moms and tots in strollers. Fee is $60 a month. A Kapolei group meets at 8:45 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Call 398-6275.

* ROLLER DERBY A-loha City Rollers is recruiting new players and referees for league play in the West Oahu area. All men and women ages 18-50 are welcome to learn and compete in this fun team sport. Call 454-3847 or visit 808derby.com.

* MASTERS SWIM Veterans Memorial Aquatic Center runs a U.S. Masters swimming program, meeting at 7 p.m. each Monday and Wednesday at Central Oahu Regional Park. Call Ruthie Heuton at 677-8510.

* SLACK KEY Yameen Fong conducts beginner slack-key guitar classes from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays at Ewa Beach Community Park on North Road. The course consists of four sessions, and students should bring their own guitars. Call 685-6035 evenings or visit fongsmusic.homestead.com.

* EWA CERT The Ewa Beach Emergency Preparedness Committee is working to organize Community Emergency Preparedness Teams (CERT) to train residents in how to respond to a disaster. To request training or offer help, call chairman Donald Harlor at 682-0111.

* BRIDGE PLAYERS Bridge players are invited to join in games with residents in the Makaha area. Call Flo at 695-8106.

* KEIKI COUNCIL The Central District South Community Children’s Council meets at 6 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of the month in Moanalua High School Room G104; and the Leeward council meets at 6:30 p.m. on the first Wednesday at the State of Hawaii building, 601 Kamokila Blvd. in Kapolei All parents of children with special needs are welcome. Call 586-5363.

* COMIC JAMS Pearl-ridge Center hosts Comic Jam Hawaii from 1 to 4 p.m. Sundays Uptown, second level by Hot Unique Images, welcoming professional and amateur artists. Call 488-0981.

* ROTARY P.M. The Rotary Club of Kapolei Sunset meets at 5:30 p.m. Mondays at Roy’s Ko Olina, second floor, for a program and light dinner. Cost is $20. RSVP to txtutu@yahoo.com.

* ROTARY A.M. Kapolei Rotary Club meets at 7:30 a.m. Thursdays in the faculty lounge at Kapolei High School. Call 722-1489 or email info@lime-lighthawaii.com.

* STORIES Kapolei Library has a free children’s storytime at 10 a.m. each Monday and Thursday for ages 3 to 5. Call 693-7050.

* MCC MARKET The Momilani Farmers Market at Momilani Community Center food vendors plus a new family activity from 3 to 7 p.m. Fridays at 715 Hoomoana St. Call Kasey at 341-0568.

* MAKEKE KAPOLEI Kapolei High has a farmers’ and green market, Makeke Kapolei, from 3 to 6:30 p.m. each Thursday in the school parking lot, with local produce, prepared foods, plants, arts and crafts, demonstrations and cultural presentations. Co-sponsors are Malama Learning Center and Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. Call 697-3599.