The Buzz

Don't feel like staying home to celebrate the season? Many restaurants around town are offering special buffets and menus as Christmas approaches. Add top-notch island entertainment, and it becomes an event, such as these:

• The Makaha Sons with Chinky Mahoe and Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula, will perform at a dinner buffet/show Sunday at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel. Rodney Villanueva will be the host. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 general, $20 for kids 5-10; $350 for a table of 10. 944-6372.
• Singer/pianist Jay Larrin and comic Frank DeLima team up for a 6-9:30 p.m. Christmas Eve show at the Hibiscus Ballroom, Ala Moana Hotel. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 for adults, $35 for children under 12; includes dinner buffet. 955-4811.

Oh, snow!

Yes, Virginia, it does "snow" in Honolulu — when "Slava's Snowshow" is in town, that is. The acclaimed clown/mime/"snow" winter extravaganza continues — alas, without creator Slava Polunin, who's in Paris working on new projects — at the Hawai'i Theatre. It repeats at 7:30 p.m. today through Monday and Thursday through Dec. 29, with 1:30 p.m. matinees Saturday, Wednesday and Dec. 29-30. Tickets are $40 and $55, with discounts ($20 off $55 tickets, $15 off $40 tickets) for students, military and seniors 62 and older. 528-0506 (Hawai'i Theatre) or 526-4400 (Ticket Plus). Also: "Slava's Snowshow" heads for Maui, too: Jan. 3-4, 7:30 p.m. Castle Theater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center. (808) 242-7469.

Look to the stars

"Star of Bethlehem: The Magi's Story" is the first full public show to be offered at Windward Community College's new Imaginarium, the $4 million high-tech planetarium. The show will offer possible astronomical explanations for the star that, in the Christian tradition, led the Three Wise Men to the birthplace of Jesus. It's patterned after a show atronomy professor Joe Ciotti used at the Bishop Museum's planetarium. "The Magi's Story" continues at 7 and 8 p.m. today and 10 and 11 a.m. Saturday. Tickets are $5 general, $4 for University of Hawai'i students, faculty and staff and military, $3 children 12 and younger; available in advance at WCC's Office of Continuing Education in the Hale Kuhina building until 4 p.m. daily, or at the Imaginarium box office half an hour before each show. Seating is limited. 235-7433.

Regal touch

'Iolani Palace gets a head start on celebrating the birthday of Queen Kapi'olani, wife of Merrie Monarch King David Kalakaua, with 15-minute tours of the first floor Thursday and Dec. 28. The queen's actual birthday is Dec. 31. The palace will be decorated with bouquets of roses in the State Dining Room and Throne Room; the piano in the Blue Room will be played; and hundreds of lanterns will be strung across the driveways. Musical groups will perform at the steps for the waiting visitors. Tours begin at 6 p.m., continuing every 10 minutes until 8:30 p.m.; first-come, first-served. A $2 donation — for the musicians — is suggested; free for kids 5-12 (no kids under 5, please). 522-0822.

Joining in song

"Sleigh Ride," "The First Noel," "Away in a Manger," "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen" and many other holiday favorites will fill the Honolulu Tabernacle, 1560 Beretania St., as 250 voices celebrate the season in "A Glorious Christmas Concert." The free community event brings together the Honolulu Stake Tabernacle Concert Choir, Youth Choir, Children Choir and Concert Orchestra at 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. No children under age 6, please. 396-3362.

Holiday at the zoo

It's the season of sharing, and even our animal pals at the Honolulu Zoo are about to celebrate the holidays with gifts at the annual "Christmas with the Animals," 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Saturday at the zoo. Zoo keepers are preparing gifts such as ... er ... deer-shaped, meat-filled pi–atas for the tigers and wrapped surprises for the chimpanzees. Members of the public can bring unwrapped gifts, too, such as old stuffed animals, plastic toys and soccer balls. Admission to the zoo is $6 general, $4 kama'aina, $1 for kids 6-12 and free for keiki 5 and younger. 971-7174.

Happy endings

Honolulu just can't seem to get enough of "Annie," the feel-good musical about a little orphan girl who finds happiness; the show has been extended three times. Above are Paige Finch as Annie and Josh Harris as Daddy Warbucks. The show repeats at 8 p.m. today at Diamond Head Theatre, and at 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $10-$40, with discounts for students, seniors and military. 733-0274.

Shimabukuro at Chai's Island Bistro

'Ukulele specialist Jake Shimabukuro has a solo gig at Chai's Island Bistro Aloha Tower Marketplace at 7 p.m. Thursdays (585-0011). He joins his Colon colleagues 9 p.m.-midnight Wednesdays at Kapono's (537-9611); and 8:30-11:30 p.m. Saturday at Kincaid's Fish, Chop & Steak House (591-2005).