What's Up!

Local favorite Greek delights You can expect baklava, gyros, moussaka, spanakopita and other authentic Greek yummies at the 22nd annual Greek Festival, noon-9 p.m. Aug. 24-25 at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park. There's also Greek music, deli items, T-shirts, cookbooks and more. Admission is $3 general, free for kids 11 and younger. 521-7220.

Lewers Street from Kalakaua Avenue to Helumoa Road will be closed to vehicular traffic 6-10 p.m., as the Lewers Street Festival takes over with a round of firecrackers, Chinese lion dance, entertainment from two stages and food and drink. Brickwood Galuteria will be "street master," prevailing over the musical scene which includes Ho'okena, Maunalua, Hema Pa'a, Ellsworth Simeona and Roy Sakuma's Super Keiki. For keiki, there will be storytelling, balloons, face-painting and more. There is a $1 per hour parking fee (maximum, $5) at designated hotels, including the Ohana East, Ohana Maile Sky Court and the King Kalakaua Plaza. Admission is free.

• 6-10 p.m. Aug. 23 / Lewers Street between Kalakaua Avenue and Helumoa Road / 921-6941

REUNION CONCERTS: Aug. 23-24

Cecilio and Kapono will hold yet another series of statewide reunion concerts starting with a two-night stand Aug. 23-24 at Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace, with future gigs on Maui, the Big Island and Kaua'i. The O'ahu shows begin with Ike Pono at 6 p.m., followed by Reign at 7:45 p.m. and C&K at 9 p.m.; on Aug. 23, Jook Joint has the midnight slot; on Aug. 24, Guy Cruz plays at midnight. The reunion was prompted by a C&K gig at Diego Garcia, a base in the Indian Ocean, where military crews from four branches refuel to and from Afghanistan. Tickets: $15 advance at Kapono's (limited to 1,000 per night), $20 at the door if available. C&K also perform at 8:30 p.m. Sept. 28 at the Hilton Waikoloa Village ($45, includes two drinks) and 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center ($10, $28, $35).

• From 6 p.m. Aug. 23-24 / Kapono's, Aloha Tower Marketplace / 536-2161 (Big Island: 808-886-1234; Maui: 808-242-7469)

ORCHID SHOW: Aug. 24-25

Orchids will bloom aplenty at the Kaimuki Orchid Society Show at Kilauea Recreation Center. A variety of orchids will be on view and for sale, with talks and tips about orchid care and culture. Free.

• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 24, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Aug. 25 / Kilauea Recreation Center / 247-3345

STAGE: Aug. 29

Edward Sakamoto's "Aloha Las Vegas," an island-based drama about a family faced with the prospect of moving to Las Vegas, broke box office records when it was originally staged by Kumu Kahua in 1992. And it returns, as the theater group's season opener, replete with the same conflicts: sunny beach livelihood or arid desert lifestyle? The play repeats at 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, through Sept. 29. Tickets: $5-$16.

• 8 p.m. Aug. 29 / Kumu Kahua Theatre, 46 Merchant St. / 536-4441

CONCERT: Aug. 30

Here's a combo worth tuning in to: Kalapana, The Mana'o Company, and Andy Bumatai share the limelight in an end-of-summer evening at the Sheraton Waikiki. It should be a homecoming of sorts, since all acts have a show biz past and an active presence. Kalapana, now showcasing Malani Bilyeu, D.J. Pratt and Gaylord Holomalia, is carrying the torch since the death of founding member Mackey Feary. The Mana'o Company reunited, tweaking its membership, two years ago, and earned a lion's share of Na Hoku Hanohano Awards earlier this year. Bumatai is back to doing stand-up comedy after playing the role of a businessman for the past few years. So: expect to hear "Songbird," "Spread a Little Aloha" and local-style comedy. Tickets: $25, $35, $45.

• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 /Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel / 922-4422 (Sheraton; ask for Dining Desk), 526-4400 (Ticket Plus)

FUNDRAISER: Aug. 31

Drum roll, please. Jammarek performs in a Traditional West African Drum and Dance Party and Fundraiser at Anna Bannana's, 2440 S. Beretania St. A wizard who travels with a different drum, taiko specialist Kenny Endo, also performs. Tickets: $8, part of which will go to the West African School in Daka, Senega.

• 9 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Aug. 31 / Anna Bannana's / 259-6326

CONCERT: Sept. 1

Ancient tradition and modern methods meet in the stylings of Prasanna, who performs South Indian classical music on the electric guitar. Prasanna is a magnum cum laude in western classical composition and jazz improv from the Berklee College of Music in Boston. His latest releases include "Peaceful," released last fall in the United States, and "Aka Moon Guitars," released in Belgium in April. He will be accompanied by Lakshman Mahadevan on the mridangam (Indian drum) in his Honolulu concert. Donation: $15 general, $10 students.

• 7 p.m. Sept. 1 / University of Hawai'i-Manoa Campus Center Ballroom / 623-3670, 395-1181

CONCERT: Sept. 7

The Kahauanu Lake Singers, recalling the taut Hawaiian harmonies of the Kahauanu Lake Trio of yesteryear, will perform in "E Ho'omau 'Ia (To Perpetuate)," a Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame concert at the

Kawaiaha'o Church sanctuary, 957 Punchbowl St. The group, comprised of Vernamae Perkins, Luana and Walter Kawai'ae'a and "Atai" Akina, will feature songs from a just-out Hula Records CD, "Na Mele 'Auhau (Songs of Tribute)." Also on the bill: Emma Veary, Randy Hongo, Kilinahe and guest kumu hula and dancers. Tickets: $15.

• 5:30 p.m. Sept. 7 / Kawaiaha'o Church Sanctuary/ 735-2866 (Harry's Music)

STAGE: Sept. 7

So you think you've had a bad day? Then you haven't met 6-year-old Alexander, the central character in the Honolulu Theatre for Youth's production of Judith Viorst's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day," premiering at Leeward Community College. See, he's got gum in his hair, no dessert with his lunch, a best friend who no longer is. What's a kid to do? Find out in this tuneful caper, with Clara Dalzell playing Alexander. Tickets: $12 general, $5 youths 18 and under and seniors over 60.

• 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Sept. 7, 14, 21 and Oct. 6 / Leeward Community College Theatre / 839-9885

CONCERTS: Sept. 13-14

Two top Christian acts — FFH (Far From Home) and ApologetiX — and local artists Reign and Tiffany Thurston and the Halau of New Hope offer a pair concerts and fellowship. FFH recently was nominated for a Dove Award for pop/contemporary album of the year for its "Have I Ever Told You" release. ApologetiX is a pop/rock ensemble that specializes in religious parodies of popular hits. Tickets: $15, $25 and $35, available at the Hawai'i Theatre box office, Showers of Blessings, Agape Shoppe, Logos Bookstore and The Giving Tree.

• 7:30 p.m. Sept. 13-14 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

COMING UP:

• "A Closer Walk with Patsy Cline," Sept. 4-22, Manoa Valley Theatre
• The Commodores, Yvonne Elliman, The Makaha Sons in concert, Sept. 7, Waikiki Shell
• "Oklahoma!" Sept. 5-21, Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter
• Aloha Festivals floral parade, Sept. 14, from Ala Moana Beach Park to corner of Kalakaua and Kapahulu avenues
• 29th Annual Bed Race, Sept. 14; parade on Kalakaua Avenue, followed by bed races
• Ho'okipa 2002, Kapi'olani Community College Culinary Arts and Hospitality Program benefit, Sept. 27, Monarch Room, Royal Hawaiian Hotel
• Lou Rawls, with the Symphony Pops, Sept. 27-28, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Journey, Oct. 10, Blaisdell Arena; Oct. 12, Maui Arts & Cultural Center
• Hawai'i International Film Festival's Fall Film Festival, Nov. 1-10 on O'ahu, Nov. 8-10 on the Neighbor Islands
• B.B. King, Nov. 8, Blaisdell Arena; also, Nov. 7 on Kaua'i; Nov. 9 on Maui; Nov. 10 on the Big Island

BUZZING ABOUT:

Water boy: Fiji, the award-winning island singer-composer-entertainer also known as George Brooks Veikoso, plays a professional football player who overcomes his fear of water by taking surfing lessons in the filmed-in-Hawai'i feature "Blue Crush," opening today.

Sweet dreamer: Zenia Zambano will portray the country singer of "Crazy," "Walkin' After Midnight" and "Sweet Dreams" fame in Manoa Valley Theatre's "A Closer Walk With Patsy Cline," premiering Sept. 4.

Windy City girls: When "Chicago," the Tony Award winner, opens Sept. 27 at Diamond Head Theatre, lead femmes will be Tricia Marciel as Roxie Hart and Katie Leiva as Velma Kelly.

Film loops: With the Hawai'i International Film Festival nearing (Nov. 1-10 on O'ahu), it's time to consider joining the HIFF 'Ohana; memberships range from $35 (student) to $1,000 (gold), with some extra perks if you sign up in August. Call 528-3456 or visit www.hiff.org

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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.