The Buzz

Brunch on the Beach returns to Kalakaua Avenue Sunday with more food, more entertainment and a special coupon book that ought to draw more kama'aina back to Waikiki.

First, the brunch details: It takes place 10 a.m.-1 p.m. between Ka'iulani and Lili'uokalani avenues, with artificial grass, tables and large blue umbrellas to accommodate brunchers. Admission is free, but you need to purchase scrip, beginning at 9:30 a.m. (or use leftover ones from previous brunches), to sample food, a la Taste of Honolulu, that includes:

• Made-to-order omelets; pancakes with bananas (Sheraton Hotels)
• Cheeseburgers; Spanish omelets (Hyatt Regency)
• Grilled Big Island pork ribs or chicken with rice and macaroni salad; caesar salad (Duke's Waikiki)
• Honey garlic spare ribs, pepper salt calamari, beef broccoli, fried rice, chow mein (Seafood Village)
• Chili dog with rice and mac salad (Lobster & Crab House)
• Crispy noodles with chicken, sprouts and tamarind sauce; Panang chicken curry on jasmine rice (Keoni by Keo's)
• Grilled Hawaiian walu (a deep-water fish) with smoked Kahuku corn and basil sauce, cracked-pepper salsa and butter and creamed whipped potatoes (Sunset Terrace Restaurant & Bar)
• Kalua pork quesadilla with lomi salmon; jumbo shrimp lumpia with Asian slaw and sweet chili-peanut sauce (Hau Tree Lanai)
• Shave ice and other desserts like crazy
• An array of coffee, bubble drinks and other nonalcoholic beverages.

Entertainment includes strolling musicians from 9:30 a.m., the Royal Hawaiian Band at 10:30 a.m. and the multi-award winning trio Na Leo Pilimehana from 11:45 a.m.

On to the coupon book. For $25 ($5 of which will go toward the September 11th Hawaii Community Foundation/Aloha United Way fund), you get:

• $20 in brunch scrip, good through June
• Discounts at 18 restaurants, a $100 value
• Special kama'aina hotel rates at the Sheraton Waikiki, Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Sheraton Princess Ka'iulani, Pacific Beach, three Outrigger hotels and 11 Ohana hotels.

Worried about parking in Waikiki? The Sheraton Princess Ka'iulani hotel will offer four hours of parking for $2; it's $1 for five hours at Ohana Reef Towers, Ohana Waikiki Village, Outrigger East, King Kalakaua Plaza, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the Waikiki Trade Center.

So go already!

523-CITY (2489). Next up: The Brothers Cazimero will headline the Nov. 11 Brunch on the Beach.

With Elan

Elan, a singer/songwriter/producer at age 25, will bring his roots and reggae sounds to World Cafe this weekend. The Los Angeles native has toured as lead vocalist with the legendary Wailers and contributed the song "Dreams Come True" on the "Sex and the City" soundtrack. Doors open at 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at World Cafe, 1130 Nimitz Highway Cover charge: $7 for those 21 and older; $15 for those under 21. 599-4450.

Soap suds

"Port Charles" star Jon Lindstrom will appear at Ala Moana Centerstage Saturday as part of "A Little Bit of Luxury," which will also include free makeovers and massages, giveaways and a performance by Hawai'i's own Na Leo Pilimehana. Lindstrom, who plays Dr. Kevin Collins on the daytime drama that's a spinoff of "General Hospital," will sign autographs 1:15-2:15 p.m. The free event, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., celebrates Oceanic Cable's expanded basic lineup of programming, which includes the 24-hour SoapNet (channel 67; channel 543 on digital). "Port Charles" can be seen on SoapNet at 1:30 a.m. and 1:30 and 5:30 p.m. weekdays and 9:30 a.m.-noon Saturdays. 955-9517.

What's new

More than 400 booths of new products and foods will take over the Blaisdell Arena and Exhibition Hall beginning Thursday. The 37th annual Food and New Products Show will include food samples, demonstrations, 2002-model automobiles, electronic gear, crafts, home-improvement items, a plant and garden sale, gadgets of all kinds and entertainment. Other features include The Lunch Wagon Challenge (won by Simply Ono last year) and cooking demonstrations. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Thursday and Oct. 19, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Oct. 20 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 21. Admission is $4 general, $3 seniors and children 7-12, free for kids 6 and younger with a paying adult. The Advertiser is a sponsor. 945-3594, 591-2211.

Stampede of crafts

Craft fans, this is just the beginning. With the holidays rushing upon us, fairs and festivals are gearing up to help shoppers find those special gifts for those special someones.

• The Rubber Stamp Expo, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday at the Blaisdell Center's Hawai'i Suites, will have thousands of rubber stamps, inks, paper — everything you need to create your own holiday cards, stationery, gift wrap and whatever else your creativity takes you. Admission is $2. 530-3325.
• Start that shopping ahead of time at the 27th annual Fall Crafts & Fine Art Festival, sponsored by the Pacific Handcrafters Guild, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday at Kapi'olani Park. Among the offerings will be gifts of art made of wood, gourds, fabrics, fossil stones, metals and more; demonstrations; and food booths. Admission is free. 599-2628, 254-6788.

A party downtown

The Aloha Festivals Downtown Ho'olaule'a, featuring nonstop entertainment on several stages, a keiki fun zone, food and crafts, takes place 6:30-10 p.m. today. The ho'olaule'a originally was scheduled for Sept. 14 but was postponed in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Admission is free, but the purchase of a $5 Aloha Festivals ribbon is recommended. 589-1771.

Entertainment on stage

Stage 1: Dillingham Transportation Building/Bishop Street
6:30-7 p.m.: Keahiwai
7:15-8 p.m.: FM 100 All Star Band with Norm
8:15-9 p.m.: Kapena
9:15-9:50 p.m.: Sean Na'auao & the Poi Pounders

Stage 2: Davies Pacific Center/Merchant Street
6:30-6:40 p.m.: Opening ceremony and blessing
6:40-7:15 p.m.: Paka Smith and Asia Minor
7:25-8 p.m.: S.O.G.
8-8:20 p.m.: Calvary Chapel Hula Performers
8:25-9 p.m.: Devotion
9-9:20 p.m.: Calvary Chapel Youth Group
9:25-9:55 p.m.: Native Roots

Stage 3: Financial Plaza of the Pacific/Bishop Street
6:30-6:35 p.m.: Moment of silence; and Celtic pipes, drums and bagpipes
6:35-7 p.m.: Maunalua
7:15-8 p.m.: Makaha Sons
8:15-9 p.m.: Amy Hanaiali'i
9:15-9:50 p.m.: Kalapana

Stage 4: Bishop Square
6-6:25 p.m.: Keali'ika'apunihonua Ke'ena A'o Hula
6:30-6:45 p.m.: Aloha Festivals royal court appearance
7:05-7:55 p.m.: Ko'u Mana'o
8:05-8:55 p.m.: Robi Kahakalau & Friends
9:05-9:55 p.m.: Na Leo Pilimehana

Stage 5: Executive Centre/Bishop Street
6:30-7:30 p.m.: Pacific Fleet Band "Tsunami"
7:45-8:45 p.m.: Lost in Paradise
9-9:50 p.m.: 25th Infantry Division (Light) Band

Stage 6: Verizon Hawai'i/Bishop Street
6:30-7 p.m.: Donald Kauila & Friends
7:15-8 p.m.: Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom
8:15-8:45 p.m.: Kupono Kane
9-9:45 p.m.: Jason Sadang

Where to park

These parking lots and garages offer special rates (from $2 to $5) for the Downtown Ho'olaule'a: Irwin Park on Aloha Tower Drive, Piers 5 and 6 at Aloha Tower Marketplace, Davies Pacific Center, Ali'i Place, Marin Tower, Chinatown Cultural Plaza, Harbor Court, Harbor Square, AMPCO System Parking at 1199 Bishop St., Executive Centre, APCOA at King and Bethel streets, Bishop Square, Chinatown Gateway Plaza, Hale Pauahi, Diamond Parking on South and Pohukaina streets, Diamond Parking on South and Queen streets, Pioneer Plaza, Amfac Garage, Marks Center, ProPark at 1171 Nu'uanu Ave. and Pacific Guardian Center.