Luau

Orange Coast College is sponsoring a fund-raising luau for a student trip to the International Culinary Olympics in Frankfurt, West Germany. The luau will be held Aug. 6 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the campus quad of the community college, at 2701 Fairview Road. Tahitian professional dancers will perform, and more than 50 door prizes will be awarded. Tickets, if purchased by July 31, are $7.50 and cost $10 after that date.

JAZZ Jane Monheit The vocalist is 33 and 10 years into a career that's seen her collaborating with Michael Bublé and Terence Blanchard, as well as ensnaring two Grammy nominations. On her latest, "Home," she returns to intimately recorded standards with her longtime band, and at this set she'll perform those tracks and classics from her repertoire. Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Blvd. 8 p.m. Today-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun. 10 p.m. Thurs. & Sat. $30-$70. (323) 466-2210. EVENTS Equestfest A must-see event for equestrians and horse lovers alike, the horses of the 2011 Rose Parade will be on display three days before Pasadena makes their acquaintance.

Palikapu Dedman stalks across the slick lava rock, crouches for a moment, then pounces on his prey with one quick swipe of his stainless-steel butter knife. "You have to make it a good shot the first time," said the burly Hawaiian, explaining a tradition more than 1,000 years old, "(otherwise) there's no space between the shell and the rock to let your knife through."

When I invited a friend who grew up in Beverly Hills to dinner at the new Luau on Bedford Drive, she messaged me back that she remembered going to the original with her parents years ago. "Pupu platter, crab Rangoon, ribs -- yum!" Tiki cuisine never has been and never will be considered one of the great cuisines of the world, but somehow it never goes away.

Aston Hotels & Resorts is letting guests stay for four nights while paying for only three at 34 of its 35 hotels and resort condos in Hawaii. In addition, published room rates are discounted to varying degrees, and a luau and discount book are typically thrown in. The deal is good through June 30 and is subject to availability. Savings vary.

Tahiti Nui in Hanalei is delightful. To stop there for a cold beer on the way home from the beach and to spend some time talking to "Auntie" Louise, the owner, is everything Jerry Hulse has made it out to be. The luau, unfortunately, is something else again. We found ourselves crammed into the large room next to the bar so tightly that we had to ask the person sitting behind us at the next table to jam forward so we could get up. The food was good, but somewhat spoiled by being served on divided plastic plates.

JAZZ Jane Monheit The vocalist is 33 and 10 years into a career that's seen her collaborating with Michael Bublé and Terence Blanchard, as well as ensnaring two Grammy nominations. On her latest, "Home," she returns to intimately recorded standards with her longtime band, and at this set she'll perform those tracks and classics from her repertoire. Catalina Bar & Grill, 6725 W. Sunset Blvd. 8 p.m. Today-Sat., 7:30 p.m., Sun. 10 p.m. Thurs. & Sat. $30-$70. (323) 466-2210. EVENTS Equestfest A must-see event for equestrians and horse lovers alike, the horses of the 2011 Rose Parade will be on display three days before Pasadena makes their acquaintance.

Steve Crane, the sometime actor and restaurateur who was twice married to Lana Turner, died Wednesday at his home in northern San Diego County. Crane, who died just one day short of his 69th birthday, was the father of Cheryl Crane, whose fatal stabbing of Lana Turner's mobster-lover, Johnny Stompanato, made headlines in 1958.

Since the Hawaiian luau at Dartmouth was canceled because it was culturally insensitive (Aug. 22), on behalf of all Irish Americans I hereby request that everyone quit partying on St. Patrick's Day as some of us might find it offensive. Yeah, right. MARK McCARTIN Laguna Niguel

The city's Human Services Deparment is inviting residents 55 and over to its annual luau on May 10. The luau will be from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Backs Community Building, 201 N. Bradford Ave. Events will include a Hawaiian chicken lunch, door prizes and music. Hawaiian attire is optional but encouraged. Tickets are $3 and can be purchased through the Human Services Department or the Senior Citizens Club. Call (714) 630-3971 or (714) 993-6084 for more information.

The thatched-roof sidewalk dining terrace at the new Luau in Beverly Hills is oh so cool, I'm surprised the paparazzi-trailing crowd isn't ensconced there already, sipping the finest mai tais this side of Polynesia. Andy Hewitt, owner of Il Sole on the Sunset Strip, has brought the tiki lounge back to the 'hood, inspired by the original 1953 model known as Steve Crane's Luau. This one is understated and surprisingly chic. A flotilla of goofy blowfish lights sail across the ceiling.

WAVES crash on the wide, sandy beach. Palms sway, and the blue Pacific stretches out to forever. Squint -- really hard -- and you could be in Hawaii. OK, maybe not. But if you're jonesing for some island culture after the beach on a Sunday afternoon, keep those peepers squinting and make your way up to Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica. See the guy with the happy-hour sign bidding customers welcome at the corner of Broadway?

The Honolulu Star-Bulletin is running a series on the University of Hawaii's football opponents and of USC in its season opener, receiver Jason Ferguson said, "It's like a dream to play against teams like that." The top-ranked Trojans are probably thinking the same thing about opening against the unranked Warriors, who last season were second-to-last nationally in total defense, and who enter this season with no returning starters at the skill positions.

A year ago, a mission began to decide how low golf scores could drop before they disappeared from view. Ernie Els got the ball rolling here at last year's Mercedes Championships when he shot 31 under par and won by a mile, or eight shots, which only seemed like a mile. Soon, low scores were all the rage on the PGA Tour, but it all started at the Plantation Course, the same place where Stuart Appleby takes his shot at what Els did a year ago.

Aston Hotels & Resorts is letting guests stay for four nights while paying for only three at 34 of its 35 hotels and resort condos in Hawaii. In addition, published room rates are discounted to varying degrees, and a luau and discount book are typically thrown in. The deal is good through June 30 and is subject to availability. Savings vary.

Nearly 400 young participants in newly formed teen clubs based at local parks will be rewarded Friday night with a Hawaiian luau at Hansen Dam. The youths have attended club meetings, done community service work and participated in community fund-raisers, earning attendance at the luau featuring Hawaiian food, entertainment by the 25-member Na Kapaku group, canoe races and a limbo contest, said Rich Gonzalez, principal recreation supervisor for the city of Los Angeles.

A Hawaiian luau at Dartmouth College was canceled after students complained it was culturally insensitive. The party, sponsored by the Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity and the Delta Delta Delta sorority, was to be held last weekend. It was canceled after a student sent an e-mail message to everyone on campus, calling it an act of bigotry. Another student, Aaron Akamu of Hawaii, criticized the luau plans in the student newspaper.

The Inn at Woodbridge, a new 116-unit apartment complex for seniors, will host a Hawaiian-style luau at noon Friday to raise money for the Orange County Adult Protective Services Agency, which educates people about elder abuse and provides help for victims. Jack Light of Orange County Adult Protective Services will be the speaker. Tickets are $10. The Inn is at 3 Osborn St. Information: (714) 751-7400.

Since the Hawaiian luau at Dartmouth was canceled because it was culturally insensitive (Aug. 22), on behalf of all Irish Americans I hereby request that everyone quit partying on St. Patrick's Day as some of us might find it offensive. Yeah, right. MARK McCARTIN Laguna Niguel

A Hawaiian luau at Dartmouth College was canceled after students complained it was culturally insensitive. The party, sponsored by the Alpha Chi Alpha fraternity and the Delta Delta Delta sorority, was to be held last weekend. It was canceled after a student sent an e-mail message to everyone on campus, calling it an act of bigotry. Another student, Aaron Akamu of Hawaii, criticized the luau plans in the student newspaper.