  We present observations of transient active region heating events observed
with the Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) and X-ray Telescope
(XRT) on Hinode. This initial investigation focuses on NOAA active region 10940
as observed by Hinode on February 1, 2007 between 12 and 19 UT. In these
observations we find numerous examples of transient heating events within the
active region. The high spatial resolution and broad temperature coverage of
these instruments allows us to track the evolution of coronal plasma. The
evolution of the emission observed with XRT and EIS during these events is
generally consistent with loops that have been heated and are cooling. We have
analyzed the most energetic heating event observed during this period, a small
GOES B-class flare, in some detail and present some of the spectral signatures
of the event, such as relative Doppler shifts at one of the loop footpoints and
enhanced line widths during the rise phase of the event. While the analysis of
these transient events has the potential to yield insights into the coronal
heating mechanism, these observations do not rule out the possibility that
there is a strong steady heating level in the active region. Detailed
statistical analysis will be required to address this question definitively.
