What's Up!

May film premieres May 3: "Deuces Wild," "Hollywood Ending," "Spider-Man" May 10: "The New Guy," "Unfaithful" May 16: "Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones" (left) May 17: "About a Boy," "The Salton Sea," May 24: "Enough," "Insomnia," "Spirit: Stallion of the Cimarron" May 31: "The Sum of All Fears," "Undercover Brother"

"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

MUSIC: May 10

Yo, The Aquabats are flying (swimming?) into town, with Pimpbot as guest artists, and you can expect the unexpected. M.C. Bat Commander and his crew are known for the absurd, where nothing is impossible and everything is potential laugh material. Silly? Perhaps. Wild? Definitely. The 'Bats are said to convey the nonsense of The Monkees and the wit of Captain Kangaroo. Hey, nobody's perfect. Tickets: $17.50.

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

MUSIC & DANCE: May 11

Te Vaka, a 10-piece New Zealand band that canceled an earlier-scheduled Island appearance because of the events of Sept. 11, will arrive belatedly, unveiling a show of songs and dances reflecting its South Seas cultural influences. So you can soak up the sounds and styles of Maori, Samoan, Tokelauan and Tuvaluan nations, with the performers in colorful costumes and musicians playing, among other things, drums that date back to earlier generations. Te Vaka ("the canoe" in Tokelau) has been touring the world for the past five years; Hawai'i is lucky to roll out the welcome mat. Tickets: $20 general, $15 in advance.

8 p.m. May 11 / World Cafe / 537-4666

7:30 p.m. May 10 / Maui Arts & Cultural Center

(808) 242-SHOW

MUSIC & DANCE: May 11

Harken back to the era of cellophane and/or grass hula skirts, of beach boy harmonies, of a gentler and, yes, more innocent time ... of pre-statehood, territorial Hawai'i. It all comes back in "An Evening in Old Hawai'i," a fund-raising dinner staged by KCAA Pre-Schools of Hawai'i, which radio host Harry B. Soria Jr. will convene with an array of nostalgic music-makers: the Royal Hawaiian Band, Pa'ahana, Rayburn "Chan" Abenes, I. Mihana and dancers from Halau Kamamolikolehua, Na Pua Waiho'olu and Na Pua Pilialoha. In addition to the music and dancing, there will be a dinner and a silent auction laden with estate jewelry, art objects, dining certificates, travel packages and more. Tickets: $100.

6 p.m. May 11 / Monarch Room, Royal Hawaiian Hotel / 941-9414, ext. 16

MOTHER'S DAY: May 12

OK, you want to salute your mom on May 12 but you don't want to cook. You can't expect her to be in the kitchen, so why not plan — now, before it's too late, and forget the excuses — an outing that combines a buffet with music and/or comedy, noontime or evening. The early birds get the best tables; leis and corsages, of course, are extra. Here's a growing list of options, so start dialing:

• Na Leo, with Andy Bumatai and Cory Oliveros, Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki; noon buffet show (doors open at 9:30 a.m., $49), dinner show (doors open 5:30 p.m., dinner from 6:30 p.m., $58). 922-4422
• The Makaha Sons, Mel Cabang, Rodney Villanueva, Kamele, Pacific Ballroom, Renaissance Ilikai Hotel; brunch buffet (doors open at 10 a.m., $35 general, $17.50 children 5 to 10). 944-6372
• Star of Honolulu cruise, departing 10 a.m. from Aloha Tower Marketplace ($37.60 general, $18.78 children; discounts for kama'aina and military). 983-STAR
• Frank DeLima & Na Kolohe, Hibiscus Ballroom, Ala Moana Hotel; brunch buffet (10:30 a.m., $34 general, $16 children 12 and under), and dinner buffet (from 5 p.m., $36 general, $18 children). 955-4811
• Augie T. & Lanai, Koa'uka, Grand Ballroom, Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel; brunch buffet (doors open at 10:30 a.m., buffet 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., show from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; $39.95 general, $19.98 youths 6 to 15). 921-5523

STAGE: May 15-25

"Fully Committed" is crackling with good laughs, slice-of-life vignettes, and soulful truths. It's Becky Mode's off-Broadway bon-bon, about a reservationist stuck in the bowels of a popular restaurant just before the Christmas holidays, when requests for tables are as scarce as hen's teeth. Two actors will alternate in the role here — Andrew Meader, 26, and Greg Howell, 52. Reserve early, or the message you'll get is "fully committed." Tickets: $15, show only; $50, pre-curtain dinner at Indigo at 6:30 p.m., followed by dessert after the 90-minute performance.

8 p.m. May 15-25 / The ARTS at Marks Garage / 521-9699

CONCERT: May 17

Ho'okena, the contemporary and traditional Hawaiian music fivesome, seems to be everywhere lately (with Keali'i Reichel and the Honolulu Symphony earlier this month, in a Secretary's Day show last Wednesday at the Hawaii Prince Hotel), so it's no surprise that its Hana Hou slot in the Hawai'i Theatre's Hawaiiana series is around the corner again. Expect lush harmonies, luscious hula and lavish production concepts. Yes, dancer Nani Dudoit will also grace the stage, and there should be surprises. Tickets: $30.

8 p.m. May 17 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CONCERT: May 17-18

Blues brother guitarist Steve Freund returns to O'ahu for a pair of concerts, at Hale'iwa Joe's ($10 at the door) and at Anna Bannana's ($15 at the door, $10 advance). His 2001 release, "I'll Be Your Mule," will likely be the focus of his shows. Last year's gig at the Academy of Arts theater was jumping, and his vocals are pretty darn good, too. His style is influenced by the likes of Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) and Freddie King. Homegrown ensemble Third Degree opens up the Honolulu show.

10 p.m. May 17 / Hale'iwa Joe's / 637-4475

9 p.m. May 18 / Anna Bannana's / 946-5190

AWARDS EVENT: May 21

Hawai'i's best in the recording world will strut their stuff in the 25th annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards evening, from 4:30 p.m. May 21 at the Hawaii Ballroom of the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Voting members of the Hawai'i Academy of Recording Arts have gone through a preliminary ballot, to yield the final lineup, still to be announced. Will Keola, Noland, Fiji, Willie, Sean, Bla and Iz — yes, that Iz — make the final cut for male vocalist? Will it be Amy, Darlene, Teresa, Jan, Azure, or Loretta for the female list? Stay tuned. No-host cocktails from 4:30 p.m., technical awards and dinner from 5:30 p.m., show and awards from 7:30 p.m. with KFVE providing live TV coverage. Tickets $95 general, $80 for HARA members.

7:30 p.m. May 21 / Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel / 235-9424

FAIR: May 24-June 16

The 50th State Fair — complete with a midway of E.K. Fernandez rides, games and food booths — opens a four-weekend run May 24 at the Aloha Stadium parking lot. It's the summery thing to do — indulge in cotton candy, ride the ferris wheel, try to get that dime to land on that glass plate. Repeats May 25-27, May 31-June 2, June 7-9, June 13-16. Hours are 6 p.m.-midnight Fridays and June 13, noon-midnight Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day. Admission: $3 general, $2 kids 4-11, free for those 3 and younger. Admission June 13: $8 for those 12 and older, $5 for 4-11, free for those 3 and younger.

May 24-June 16/ Aloha Stadium parking lot / 682-5767

STAGE: May 24-June 9

"Titanic," a Tony Award-winning musical by Maury Yeston and Peter Stone, has few hit songs but a long and colorful history. The show arrives on this shore on the 90th anniversary of the "unsinkable" boat's sinking; a flock of notables is on board, including Kanoa Goo, Cori Vas, Howard Bishop, Mary Chesnut, Linda Doo, Darren Server, Andy Montague and Doug Sheer. The challenge for its creators, Diamond Head Theatre, is to make the set tilt and suggest the Titanic going down in infamy and history. Tickets: $10-$40.

8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, May 14-June 9 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

COMING UP:

• Harmony Games, barbershop quartet singing, May 3-4, Hawai'i Theatre
• Hawaii State Ballet, May 4-5, Mamiya Theatre
• "Super Secret Squad," a play by Lee Cataluna, May 16, Kumu Kahua
• "Sea Marks," a play by Gardner McKay, May 20, 21, Manoa Valley Theatre
• "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
• Kamehameha Day parade, June 8, downtown to Kapi'olani Park
• 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
• Melissa Etheridge, July 19, Blaisdell Arena
• BayFest, Aug. 16-18, Marine Corps Base Hawaii

BUZZING ABOUT ...

Wayne's world: Wayne Brady brings his comedy and impersonation to Honolulu (7:30 p.m. May 24 at the Hawaii Ballroom of the Sheraton Waikiki) and Kahului (7:30 p.m. May 25 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center). Tickets ($35, Honolulu; $35, $40, $45, Maui) go on sale Saturday.

Surf's up: Brian Wilson will provide fun, fun, fun Dec. 6 for the Honolulu Marathon lu'au at the Waikiki Shell. Only way to see him: Sign up ($10 for the run), then pay an additional $12 a ticket (limited to two more, at $20 apiece). Run, run, run to your nearest running store for details.

That's life: When Randy Smith updates his Frank Sinatra songbook, reopening his Friday-Saturday gig May 24 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Esprit nightclub, he'll also showcase a new supporting cast. Cathy Foy and John Valentine will co-star; she's the erstwhile stage performer, he's the performer with the Brian Robertshaw serenades (he'll continue this) at the Sheraton's Hanohano Room. 922-4422.

Xena update: That Xenafest, mentioned here earlier, has been rescheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. June 9 at the Hawai'i Institute for Geophysics at the UH-Manoa campus. 735-5854, 693-8747.

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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.