The Honolulu chapter of the National Writers Association has a manuscript critique 7 p.m. Jan. 6 at Manoa Gardens, 2790 Kahaloa Drive. Call Robert at 845-9585.

Full-length and short plays will be judged in two divisions - those about Hawaii and those by Hawaii writers, and will be considered for development by Kumu Kahua Theatre. Information from from Kumu Kahua, 46 Merchant St., telephone 536-4222, and the department, 1770 East-West Road, telephone 956-2588.

Thomas B. Allen, $18.95, 340 pages, Lyons & Burford

Updated guide to sharks includes famous attacks, attitudes toward sharks in varied times and countries, descriptions of shark species and their relatives and companions, commercial shark fishing, folklore and recipes. Several Hawaii incidents and traditions are featured.

"Japanese Americans: The Formation and Transformations of an Ethnic Group"

Paul R. Spickard, $28.95 cloth, $16.95 paper, 185 pages, Twayne Publishers

Ethnic study of Japanese immigrants traces their and their descendants' efforts to establish themselves within the United States. Spickard, a professor of history at Brigham Young University, focuses on three forces at work with ethnicity - shared interests, shared institutions and shared culture.

"Paradise Family Guides: Maui and Lana'i"

Christie Stilson and Dona Early, $15, 426 pages, Prima Publishing

Updated guide to Maui county combines anecdotes, descriptions of places to see and the editors' "Best Bets" with reviews of hotels and other residences, eateries and activities. General information includes weather descriptions, a calendar of annual events and tips for families with young children, couples planning to wed and the physically impaired.

The food section carries the weight of Early's opinion (she's the dining columnist for the Lahaina News), with some reviews almost a page long.

"Paradise Family Guides: Kaua'i"

Dona Early and Christie Stilson, $14.95, 293 pages, Prima Publishing

Updated guide to the island, as comprehensive in scope as the Maui book.

2. The Musubi Man Sandi Takayama and Pat Hall, Bess Press

3. Native Animals of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press

4. Gecko Hide and Seek Gil McBarnet, Ruwanga Trading (10)

5. Aloha Bear and the Meaning of Aloha Dick Adair, Island Heritage (1)

6. Tales of Tutu Nene and Nele Gale Bates, Island Heritage

7. Beautiful Birds of Hawaii Patrick Ching, Bess Press

8. Three Whales Who Won the Heart of the World Suzanne Kita, Island Heritage (3)

9. The Legend of the Laughing Gecko Bruce Hale, Geckostufs (8)

10. (tied) Keiki's First Books (series) Wren and Maile, Bess Press

10 (tied). Adventures of Aloha Bear and Maui the Whale Mark A. Wagenman, Island Heritage (4)

2. Viewbook (series) Douglas Peebles, Hawaiian Resources (2)

3. Islands of Hawaii Ray Helbig, Hawaiian Service

4. Hawaii The Big Island Glen Grant, Peter French and Greg Vaughn, Mutual Publishing

5. From the Skies of Paradise (series) Glen Grant, Chris Cook, Tom Stevens and Douglas Peebles, Mutual Publishing (3)

6. Maui's Hana Highway Angela Kay Kepler, Mutual Publishing

7. Maui on My Mind Rita Ariyoshi, Mutual Publishing

8. Kauai, The Garden Island Allan Seiden, Island Heritage (7)

9. Hawaii Blossoms Dorothy and Bob Hargreaves, Island Heritage (6)

10. The Essential Guide to Maui Island Heritage (4)

2. Hawaii's Story by Hawaii's Queen Lydia Liliuokalani, Mutual Publishing (3)

3. Myths and Legends of Hawaii W.D. Westervelt, Mutual Publishing (8)

4. The Betrayal of Liliuokalani Helena G. Allen, Mutual Publishing (10)

5. Mark Twain in Hawaii Mark Twain, Mutual Publishing

6. (tied) Horror in Paradise edited by A. Grove Day and Bacil Kirtley, Mutual Publishing

6. (tied) Stories of Hawaii Jack London, Mutual Publishing (9)

2. Hawaiian Journey Joseph Mullins, Mutual Publishing (1)

3. Obake - Ghost Stories in Hawaii Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing (6)

4. Honolulu Mysteries Glen Grant, Mutual Publishing

5. Hawaiian Names English Names Eileen Root, Press Pacifica (3)

6. Pele - Goddess of Hawaiian Volcanoes Herb Kane, Kane Press (7)

2. Birth by Fire: A Guide to Hawaii's Volcanoes Bob Krauss, Island Heritage

3. Exotic Tropicals of Hawaii Angela Kay Kepler and Jacob R. Mau, Mutual Publishing (8)

4. Hawaii's Fishes: A Guide for Snorkelers, Divers and Aquarists John Hoover, Mutual Publishing (4)

5. Hawaii's Birds Hawaii Audubon Society, Hawaiian Service

6. Tropical Trees of Hawaii Dorothy & Bob Hargreaves, Island Heritage

7. Surfer's Guide to Hawaii Greg Ambrose, Bess Press

8. Atlas of Hawaii O.A. Bushnell, Gavan Daws and Andrew Berger, Island Heritage (7)

9. Learn Hawaiian at Home Kahikahealani Wight, Bess Press

These are best-selling books in Hawaii during the period noted. Figures are courtesy of the Hawaii Book Publishers Association and Book-lines distributors, and reflect sales by Hawaii-based publishers. A star () denotes a title that has been on the market at least five years or more; a number in parenthesis indicates a title's previous ranking.