The Buzz

Rare Hawaiian bottles will be among the wares in the 29th annual Bottle and Collectibles Show and Sale, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, at the McKinley High School cafeteria. The Hawai'i Historical Bottle Collectors Club presents the event, which also includes coins, pogs, books, military items and more. Tickets: $2. 841-5979.

The queen's songbook

"Na Mele O Hawai'i," an evening of song, chant, hula and dramatic readings, showcases the beloved classics of Queen Lili'uokalani, pictured here, 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Honolulu Academy of Arts theater. Moe Keale will be special guest performer, doing some of his tunes as well as the ali'i's. Lili'uokalani wrote such lingering favorites as "Aloha 'Oe," "The Queen's Prayer" and "Ku'u Pua I Paoakalani." Tickets: $15. 532-8768.

On the fringe

The Maui Fringe Festival, a two-weekend event starting today at '?ao Theatre in Wailuku, is an experiment in a simple idea: Provide all artists, whether they are emerging or established, with the chance to produce their plays regardless of the content, form or style, then make the event affordable and accessible for the community. Eight plays — by Harold Pinter, Bert Williams, Marilynn Hirashima, Kathryn Eagar, D.B. Gilles and Brad Boesen — will be staged in rotation today through Sunday. The top three entries will receive prizes and a spotlight run next Friday, June 30 and July 1. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 5 p.m. Sundays. Tickets: $10. (808) 242-6969.

Extra, extra...

Extra Stout (pictured), a local punk rock band, will be joined by Kite Festival, Deep 13 and The Reviled at a CD launch party and tour-support fund-raiser, from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Club Four 78. The group heads for San Francisco, Sacramento and Chico, Calif., in late July, then tours Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Los Angeles before returning home in August. Admission: $5. 255-7040.

From the heart

Composer-performer James McCarthy showcases his original and contemporary tunes in a sing-out themed "Songs From the Heart," at 7:30 p.m. today at the Honolulu Academy of Arts theater. The fare will range from emotional ballads to hysterical parodies, tunes he deems "soulful music for the whole body — the heart, the head, the toes and the funny bone." Tickets: $15 adults, $12 academy members, $5 children under 12. 532-8768, 739-6624.

Japanese strings

A shamisen variety show, from noon to 5 p.m. Sunday at Mamiya Theater, St. Louis Center for the Arts, will feature the Kitagawa Nobuyuki Kai from Virginia. Performers also will include Yasunobu Kitagawa and Masako Aizawa in their own shamisen specialties, with dancers from the Hanayagi School and Katsuyuji Kineya (also known as Bando Mieharu) and Yukie Matsudai augmenting the program. Donations accepted at the door.

Amy alone

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom's first solo CD, since parting company with Willie K, will be excerpted when she takes the stage at Borders Ward Centre, at 8 p.m. today. "Pu'uhonua" marks a new journey for the Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning artist, who not only co-produced the disc and wrote some of the music, but released it on her own record label. Free. 591-8995.

"Fun in the Sun — It's Electric!" is the theme of Family Sunday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at Bishop Museum's Great Lawn. Music-makers will be eclectic — Kapena, Blaine Kia and halau, Ells & Soul Patrol; plus "The Robot Zoo" exhibit, with animal robots, will be on view. Admission: $3 for residents and military with ID, $10 for a family of four (two adults, two children 4-12), free for keiki under 4; nonresidents, $14.95. 848-4160.

By the sea

The Brothers Cazimero will launch the summer beachfront series, Ke Kani O Ke Kai 2001, at 7 p.m. Thursday at the Waikiki Aquarium. Doors open at 6 p.m., with the aquarium available for visits. Tickets: $18 adults, $13 aquarium members, free for keiki 12 and under. 923-9741.