What's Up!

Local favorite For the boys May 5 is Boys Day (the fifth day of the fifth month), a time to fly carp banners (koinobori) to proclaim the vigor of your household sons. Festivities are slated 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, but scan your neighborhood for those flying fish.

Hurry, hurry, hurry; the circus is coming to town. Well, sort of. In center ring, Kennedy Theatre director Peggy Hunt and her denizens of "Eco-Circus" will present an Earth Day celebration that enlightens keiki about the world's endangered species, via an array of circus acts. Fantasy animals abound: jump-roping kangaroos, stilt-walking gorillas and more. With masks, colorful costumes and choreographed movements, this is entertaining and educational, thanks to the script of Karen Yamamoto Hackler. Bring your own peanuts. Tickets: $10 general, $9 seniors, military, faculty; $7 youths, non-UH students; $5 UH students.

7:30 p.m. April 26-27, May 4; 2 p.m. May 5 / Kennedy Theatre / 956-7655, 526-4400

MUSIC: April 26-27

Duke Ellington, known the world over for such classics as "Mood Indigo" and "Sophisticated Lady," will be remembered in a two-day Duke Ellington tribute.

"The Duke Ellington Revue," on April 26, is a night-time wonderment, with Honolulu Hale transformed into a 1940-ish nightclub, complete with big-band, swing dancers, smooth vocalists. An array of talent is involved, including the Royal Hawaiian Band (joined by Tennyson Stevens on keyboards). Haul out your dance duds and let yourself go!

A "Duke Ellington Jazz Festival," an all-day happening April 28 on the Civic Center grounds, assembles Hawai'i jazz greats, chirping or tooting out some of the Duke's biggies as well as other hits from the jazz era. Look (and listen) for Abe Weinstein's Jazz Band, Azure McCall, the Hawai'i Pacific University Band, the Moonlight Jazz Trio, Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii, and the U.S. Pacific Fleet Jazz Band. Think hot blues. There will also be food and drinks at both activities, crafts and X-treme games at the daytime blast. Free.

6:30 p.m. April 26 / Honolulu Hale / 523-4674

10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. April 27 / Civic Center, Honolulu Hale / 523-4674

MUSIC: April 27

"Kalakoa Jam," flavored with a host of popular music makers old and new, shapes up as a kanikipila best-bet. Kalakoa, derived from "calico" but meaning all-kine-colors nowadays, deftly describes the lineup: the Makaha Sons, Ho'okena, Ledward Ka'apana, Kahala Moon, right, hula stylist Nani Dudoit, and the halau of Manu Boyd and Vicky Takamine Holt. Oh, yes, and magic fingers himself, Jake Shimabukuro. KINE's Randy Hudnell emcees. Tickets: $20 general, $15 students and UH faculty, $10 keiki 12 and under.

5:30 p.m. April 27 / Andrews Outdoor Theatre, University of Hawai'i-Manoa / 956-6878

MUSIC: April 27

It's an Island rhythm rouser, dubbed the 7th Annual Jammin Hawaiians concert, corralling such Jawaiian giants as Fiji, right, Sean Na'auao, Ho'aikane, Ten Feet and Ho'onua. The event will double as a tribute to Dennis Pavao. Bring your bento, your goza mats, and go with the musical flow. Tickets: $10 lawn seating, $16.50 second terraces, $18.50 first terraces, $25 pool.

5 p.m. (doors open at 2 p.m.) April 27 / Waikiki Shell / 526-4400

LEI DAY: May 1

It's not too early to reserve tickets to the Brothers Cazimero's 25th annual May Day concert. That adds up to a lot of pikake lei for Robert and 'ilima lei for Roland — and this year's falls on a Hump Day, an ideal reason to take a mid-week break to buy a lei, make a lei, wear a lei. Expect the customary guest stars and reflection about how this idea to stage a pageant to commemorate the spirit of Lei Day suddenly reached a milestone moment. Tickets: $25 reserved, $15 grass seats.

7:30 p.m. May 1 / Waikiki Shell / 526-4400

CINCO DE MAYO: May 1-5, May 4

Ole! Cinco de Mayo is a five-day celebration at Compadres Bar & Grill. The tequila will flow, with margaritas and Corona beer the drinks of choice, and bueno Mexican fare.

Also, Rolando Sanchez & Salsa Hawaii bring their sizzling Latin sounds to a Cinco de Mayo Celebration at South Seas Village, joined by Los Amigos and Ballet Folkorico de Hawaii. Don a serape or a sombrero, and join in the fun. So what if it's a day before Cinco de Mayo? $10 cover.

Lunch and dinner hours, May 1-5 / Compadres Bar & Grill / 591-8307

9:30 p.m. May 4 / South Seas Village, Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive / 342-0911, 941-5205

TALENT CONTEST: May 4

"Star Quest," a high school talent contest, is an off-shoot of the defunct Brown Bags to Stardom competition. It assembles 45 high school acts — singers, dancers and other performers — from Kaua'i to the Big Island and all islands in-between. Schools have been holding individual contests to send a finalist to this event, which will be televised on Oceanic Cable 16. Tickets: $20, main floor and risers; $15, mid-level; $10, upper-level.

6-9:30 p.m. May 4 / Stan Sheriff Center, University of Hawai'i / 526-4400

OCEAN FESTIVAL: May 5

There will be oceans of fun — but no beach — at the Fourth Annual Ocean Festival, which promotes ocean conservation, ecological awareness and more. Themed "E Malama I Ke Kai," the event is a project of the Hawaiian immersion school, Punana Leo O Kawa'iahao. Besides keiki hands-on activities and games, there will be three stages of music, with Keali'i Reichel, himself a supporter of immersion schools, headlining. Tickets: $10 for a family of four; $7.50 per person.

9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 5 / Great Lawn, Bishop Museum / 521-9699

ROCK: May 10

The Aquabats, who possibly could be the last word in rock, soar into town with Pimpbot as guest artists. Headed by M.C. Bat Commander and hailing from Southern Cal, The Aquabats make fun of everyone and everything, including themselves. Discover why they've been described as having the silliness of The Monkees and the power of Godzilla, with the intelligence of Captain Kangaroo. Caution: Swim at your own risk. Tickets: $17.50.

7:30 p.m. May 10 / World Cafe / 526-4400

MOTHER'S DAY: May 12

Mom's the word and you'll have options galore to wine and dine her. Na Leo, right, a trio of moms themselves, celebrates Mother's Day (joined by Andy Bumatai and Corey Oliveros) with a noon buffet show (doors open at 9:30 a.m.; $49) and a dinner show (from 6:30 p.m.; $58) at the Sheraton Waikiki.

Frank DeLima also shares his comedy with moms at the Ala Moana Hotel, with a brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. ($34 general, $16 children 12 and under) and dinner buffet from 5 p.m. ($36 general, $18 children).

Or you could go cruising aboard the Star of Honolulu, departing at 10 a.m. from Aloha Tower Marketplace ($37.60 general, $18.78 children; discounts for kama'aina and military).

9:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. May 12 / Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel / 922-4422

10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. May 12 / Hibiscus Ballroom, Ala Moana Hotel / 955-4811

10 a.m. May 12 / Star of Honolulu at Aloha Tower Marketplace / 983-STAR

STAGE: May 16-June 16

Lee Cataluna's "Super Secret Squad," a Kumu Kahua-commissioned comedy, focuses on a group of local dudes who want to right some wrongs in a society imposed by clueless bureaucrats. In typical Cataluna fashion, there's pidgin dialect and easy-to-like characters who take matters in their own hands with outrageous consequences. Tickets: $5-$15.

8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, May 16-June 16 / Kumu Kahua / 536-4441

COMING UP:

• Spring New Products Show, April 26-28, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
• "2 Funny 'Haole' Guys," Matt Kazam and Mike Siegel, April 27, World Cafe
• "Barney Beach Party," April 27-28, Waikiki Beach, near the Kapahulu pier
• Hawaii State Ballet, May 4-5, Mamiya Theatre
• Ho'okena, May 17, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Sea Marks," a play by Gardner McKay, May 20, 21, Manoa Valley Theatre
• Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, May 21, Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki
• "Destiny," Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, May 31, June 1, 2, Hawa'i Theatre
• Kamehameha Day parade, June 8, downtown to Kapi'olani Park
• "Wildest Show in Town" series begins June 5, Honolulu Zoo
• Filipino Fiesta and Parade, Kapi'olani Park, June 15
• Ka Leo Hano, June 30, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 18-19 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, July 20-21 at Outrigger Wailea Resort, Maui

BUZZING ABOUT:

• X marks the spot: Robert Trebor (Salmoneus on both "Xena: Warrior Princess" and "Hercules") appears at the Xenafest, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. May 5 at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Campus Center. You may recall him in "Out of Darkness" with Martin Sheen.
• 'Tis the reason: Ho'okena, the savvy Hawaiian fivesome that's put on two stellar Christmas concerts at the Hawai'i Theatre, wants to pin down a date for 2002 so fans can make appropriate plans, but can't get the "go" signal from the theater management.
• Hedwig in Honolulu: "Hedwig and the Angry Inch," John Cameron Mitchell's raunchy and raucous off-Broadway sensation that evolved into a vivid film, is bound for Wave Waikiki May 17-18, Pink Cadillac May 24-25 and the Honolulu Academy of Arts theater May 31-June 1. Local rocker Otto will be in the title role — with local bands Black Square, The Sticklers and 86 List — with the show tweaked to reflect Hawai'i. Stay tuned for details.
• Reigning men: Reign, the harmony-laden ensemble that performed with Kapono Beamer and Robi Kahakalau at an earlier Honolulu Symphony pops concert, has earned a hana hou. Next season they join the bill when Lou Rawls headlines Sept. 27-28 at Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Submit information for

The Great Index to Fun (TGIF) four-week guide at least 10 working days before the event. This planner appears weekly, featuring major events only; others are listed in the weekend and daily calendars.

Write: TGIF, The Honolulu Advertiser, P.O. Box 3110, Honolulu, HI 96802, or fax 525-8055.

Schedule is subject to change.