The Buzz

Three on a musical journey

The Peabody Trio, perhaps the world's best-known trio, brings its lush sound and stellar repertoire to the Honolulu Chamber Music Series. Winner of the Naumberg Chamber Music Award in 1989, the trio has since toured intensely, playing concert halls on the Mainland and in France, Israel and Japan. Members are Violaine Melacon, violinist, left; Natasha Brofsky, cellist; and Seth Knopp, pianist. They'll whisk through classical and contemporary works, from Haydn to Shulamit to Brahms. The Peabody takes its name from the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore, where the musicians also teach. The concert begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Tickets are $24 general, $15 students and UH faculty and staff, available at the UH Campus Center ticket office. 956-6878, 956-8246.

Mid-Pacific Institute's boat won the high-school division at last year's regatta.

One paddle, two paddle

Oh, what to do with those many milk cartons that you just can't bear to throw away! We're not suggesting you try this yourself, but 36 teams of enterprising students will race their two-person boats made of milk cartons, wood and lots of tape in the sixth annual Meadow Gold Milk Carton Regatta, from 9 a.m. Saturday at Ala Moana Beach Park, near Magic Island. The teams will compete for prizes in two divisions — middle school and high school; teachers will also race their students' boats, hoping to win an ice cream party for his or her class. Spectators can watch from the shore for free. 543-3589.

It's party time in Kailua

Celebrate the camaraderie on the windward side of the island at the "I Love Kailua Town Party," featuring entertainment, restaurant offerings at "A Taste of Kailua," a plant sale, arts and crafts, health screenings and prizes. A benefit for The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, it takes place 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday in downtown Kailua, behind First Hawaiian Bank. Admission is $3 general, free for kids 12 and younger. 262-9479.

'The Mikado' begins Thursday

Cathy Foy stars as Katisha in the Hawaii Chamber Orchestra Society's presentation of the comic opera "The Mikado." Steve Wagenseller, Dennis Proulx, Stephanie Conching, Guy Merola, Charles Degala, Tricia Marciel and Kevin Loo also are included in the Gilbert and Sullivan classic, which is directed by Lina Doo and features a full chorus. The shows begin at 7:30 p.m. Thursday and April 19 at Unity Church of Hawaii, 3608 Diamond Head Circle. Tickets are $15 general, with discounts for seniors and military; $5 students; free for kids under 12. Park at Waikiki Elementary School. 734-0397.

From left, Kasey Galariada is a servant, Allysa Taylor is Princess Alexis and Kalei Scoggins is Isabel in "The Princess and the Iso Peanut," premiering Sunday.

"The Princess and the Iso Peanut," the pidgin musical comedy by Lisa Matsumoto, takes the stage beginning Sunday at Ke'elikolani Theatre at Kamehameha Schools. The drama club production is directed by Patrick Fujioka, a veteran of Matsumoto's hit pidgin shows; music is by Roslyn Catracchia. Performances are at 2 p.m. Sunday and April 21 and 28, and at 7 p.m. April 19 and 26. Tickets are $5. 842-8496.

An alcohol-free zone for teens

Who says you have to have booze around to have a good time? It just isn't so, and the inaugural "808 Teen Zone" dance party for teenagers — those 12 to 18 years old — is out to prove the point. The party will include the latest music, exhibits from substance-abuse prevention agencies, special guests, prizes, a fashion show and other surprises. It takes place 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i Convention Center, third floor. Admission is $5; parking at the convention center is another $3. 532-6752. It's a Project PAU (Preventing Alcohol Use Among Youths) endeavor, in cooperation with Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

Planning to get married?

If you're gonna spend all that money, you might as well do the research. Luckily for all of the engaged-to-be-married out there, the World Class Wedding Exposition, offering fashion shows, a wide range of exhibitors and prizes, is happening this weekend at the Hawai'i Convention Center. Hours are 6-10 p.m. today and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday. Admission is $6. 943-1067.

A celebration of diversity

Hawaii Pacific University celebrates its diverse student population with the 18th annual Intercultural Day, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. today on Fort Street Mall. Among the activities will be cultural exhibits, a colorful parade featuring students in traditional costumes (10:30 a.m.) and dance and music performances (1-4 p.m.). The HPU International Chorale will make its debut at 1 p.m. with a Cameroon processional song. Admission is free. 544-0265.

Happy 75th

The Honolulu Academy of Arts throws itself a big birthday party and honors Anna Rice Cooke, the museum's founder and benefactor, in a free open house event noon-5 p.m. Sunday. Among the activities will be a noon cake-cutting ceremony by Cooke's descendants; performances by the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Hawaiian Band and Maile Beamer Loo's hula halau; keiki art activities; and a 2 p.m. screening of the Elvis Presley classic "Blue Hawaii." 532-8700.

For the Brunch bunch and Sunset fans, too

Brunch on the Beach returns to the sun and surf of Waikiki with top-notch entertainment, big blue umbrellas and tables and chairs on artificial grass, and all kinds of food, including:

• Kona crab hash benedict on brioche with lobster sauce (chef Göran Streng of the Hawaii Prince Hotel)
• Scrambled eggs benedict with kalua pig on taro hash cakes (Steven Ariel of Alan Wong's Pineapple Room)
• Seafood crepes with sauce Nantua and basil oil (Rodman Machado, The Pearl restaurant of Leeward Community College)
• Dr. Bob's Famous Boiled Peanuts (D.K. Kodama, Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar)
• Many other delights such as spring fruit bread pudding with raspberry sauce; a kabob plate; pankoed seafood-stuffed jumbo shrimp with sweet chili tartar sauce and cole slaw ... oooh, stop us before we eat again!

Let's not forget the entertainment, which includes headliner Henry Kapono; Hawaiian Paradise and Gordon Freitas on the stroll; the Royal Hawaiian Band Glee Club; and the trio Believe.

The Brunch takes place 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Sunday on Kalakaua Avenue near Kuhio, with scrip sales beginning at 9 a.m. Admission is free.

Special parking rates are available at the Waikiki Trade Center, the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani, Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Ohana Reef Towers, Ohana Waikiki Hobron, Ohana Maile Sky Court, Ohana Waikiki Village, Outrigger East, King Kalakaua Plaza, Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center.

And don't forget the Sunset on the Beach events, 4-9 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Queen's Surf. As usual, food and snacks will be available for purchase, and there's entertainment and prizes. The films, to be shown at 7 p.m. on a 30-foot screen, are the animated "Atlantis: The Lost Empire" Saturday and "Jurassic Park III" Sunday. In conjunction with Ocean Sciences Week, a short film about marine resources also will be screened. Admission is free.

523-2489, 923-1094 for both events.