(For a more complete listing of events, go to KONAWEB's Big Island Events Calendar).

February 9, 2010
KONA TOWN MEETING - MAKAEO EVENTS PAVILION, OLD AIRPORT PARK
From 6-8pm, discuss topics such as, "How is Kona's downtown area being re-vitalized?", "How is the Kona Community Development Plan being implemented?", "How does the Leeward Planning Commission work?", "What are the plans for affordable housing in Kona?", and "What are Laiopua 2020's plans for Hawaiian Homelands at Kealakehe?", with guest speakers Debbie Baker, Executive Director for the Kailua Village Business Improvement District; Fred Housel, Chairman of the Leeward Planning Commission; Ken Melrose, Chairman of the Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee; Race Randle, Development Associate for the Kamakana Villages at Keahuolu; and Bo Kahui, Executive Director for Laiopua 2020. Light refreshments will be served. Kona Town Meetings are presented by Community Enterprises, a non-partisan, non-profit organization, to provide vital information on community concerns to Kona citizens. For more information, call 331-8602, email Fred@kieleokona.com or visit www.konatownmeeting.org

February 10, 2010
LITTLE FIRE ANT FREE COMMUNITY INFO MEETING
6:30pm, Yano Hall in Capt. Cook. Cas Vanderwoude, the ant specialist from the state agriculture dept., will speak. Get the latest info and find out about an action plan to control the little fire ant infestation in Kona.

February 11, 2010
LIANE CARROLL IN CONCERT WITH THE OLLIEPHONIC HORNS - FOUR SEASONS RESORT
Double BBC jazz award winner, Liane Carroll, appears in concert with the Big Island's own Olliephonics in an evening of jazz, big band, and ballroom dance. Concert benefits the Hawaii Performing Arts Festival scholarship fund for young artists from Hawaii to attend the summer festival in Waimea. Treat yourself and your Valentine to an elegant, entertaining evening of great music and dance! Time: 6:30 PM at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai Ballroom. Cost: $45 per person/$80 per couple. Tickets available by calling 333-7378 or online at www.hawaiiperformingartsfestival.org. For more information, call (303) 221-0399 or email genette.freeman@msn.com

February 13, 2010
3rd ANNUAL HAWAII ISLAND CHINESE FILM FESTIVAL - HILO
The historic Palace Theater in downtown Hilo opens the Hilo Chinese New Year Festival with a selection of films from and about China. After blessing several downtown businesses, the Big Island Shaolin Arts lions offer a special blessing on Haili Street fronting the theater to open the film festival at 7 p.m. with thousands of firecrackers. Free! Info: (808) 933-9772, visit www.poshfestivals.com or email amooninfo@bigisland.com

February 13, 2010
MAKAHA SONS VALENTINE'S DAY CONCERT - HILO
Palace Theater at 7pm. Tickets $20 adv/$25 door, Palace Theater box office, which is open from 10am-3pm, Monday thru Friday. For credit card payments, call 934-7010 during box office hours.

February 13 ∓ 14, 2010
SOCIETY FOR KONA'S EDUCATION AND ARTS (SKEA) PRESENTS: "2010: A QUILTING ODYSSEY" - HONAUNAU
A Quilt & Fiber Arts Show and Sale, in conjunction with Aloha Quilters, SKEA Fiber Arts Club, and Quilt Passions. Select show items will be for sale, along with a vendor's mall, free demos, and prizes galore! SKEA is located in Honaunau between mm 105-106. Call 328-9392 or visit www.quiltpassions.com for more information. Time: 10:00 AM at the SKEA facility in Honaunau. Free to the public. For more information, call 328-9392 or email skea@hawaii.rr.com

February 13, 2010
CHOCOLATE GROWING AND CANDY MAKING EVENT - KEALAKEKUA
Experience chocolate growing and candy processing at this Kohala Center learning event to be held at historic Kuaiwi Farm in Kealakekua. Kuaiwi Farm has been using organic practices for 32 years, and organically certified for 10 years. One-hundred-year-old coffee trees coexist alongside macadamia nut trees, chocolate trees, banana trees, avocado trees, citrus trees, pineapple, vegetables, herbs, flowers, native plantings and more, on this well tended five acre organic paradise. Most of the crops are processed on the farm, including the chocolate candy. Space is limited. Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Cost: $25 for current Friends of The Kohala Center; $75 for new Friends. For information, call 887-6411, email info@kohalacenter.org or visit www.kohalacenter.org

February 13, 2010
"HANAU KA PO; THE BEGINNING" TRADITIONS OF HULA AND CHANT" - KAHILU THEATRE, WAIMEA
Hula Halau Na Lei O Kaholoku, under the direction of Kumu Hula Nani Lim-Yap and Leialoha Amina, presents "Hanau Ka Po; The Beginning" Traditions of Hula and Chant. This mythical hula extravaganza will begin at 7:00 pm. Tickets are $40.00 for Reserved Seating and $30.00 for General Seating. For tickets, call (808) 640-5571. Tickets are also available through Halau members.

February 14, 2010
8th ANNUAL HILO CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL
This free community festival begins at 9 a.m. at the Kress Building on Kamehameha Avenue just one short block away from Kalakaua Park in historic downtown Hilo with Lion Dancers offering traditional blessings along the street. The Lions parade up to the park to open the Festival with thousands of firecrackers at 10 a.m. Till 3 p.m., Asian arts, crafts, product and international food purveyors will man tents filled with the sounds, smells and sights celebrating the New Year. Performances, cooking & cultural demonstrations, and displays illustrate the Chinese influence on Hawaii's people and culture. (808) 933-9772, visit www.poshfestivals.com or email amooninfo@bigisland.com

February 14, 2010
"Q'UISINE OF HEARTS", AN AMERICAN CULINARY FEDERATION VALENTINE BRUNCH - HILTON WAIKOLOA
A lovely brunch, hosted by the Hilton Waikoloa Village, that annually benefits 2000 Kona-Kohala keiki through American Culinary Federation (ACF) Chef and Child nutrition awareness programs. Time is 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Water's Edge Ballroom at the Hilton Waikoloa Village. Enjoy an array of sumptuous food, wine and music. Enjoy a bruschetta buffet, omelet stations and bite-sized pastry specialties by local pastry chefs, bakers, chocolatiers and ice cream makers, all accompanied by 100 percent Kona coffee, handcrafted ales, wine and music. Bid for "sweetheart" floral arrangements, quality merchandise and fun, including private catered dinners by top Big Isle chefs, during the silent auction. Presented by the ACF Kona-Kohala Chapter Chef de Cuisine Association. Tickets are $45 for adults and $20 for children aged 5-10. For more info, call 329-2522.

February 14, 2010
PORTUGUESE DAY IN THE PARK - HILO
The public is invited to this celebration of all things Portuguese! Chamber members will be making Portuguese bean soup and baking bread in the "fourno", then distributing it free to everyone. Sweet bread, pickled onions, sausage, and malasadas will be available for sale. The Hawaii County Band will play selections of Portuguese music at 11:00 a.m. and there will be a booth to look up ancestry and history of the Portuguese in Hawaii. Fun for the whole family. Time: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Gilbert Carvalho Park, Hilo. For more information, call 808-935-0547 or email puuhina@hawaiiantel.net