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Local favorite Dedicated to a Hawai'i musical legend The a cappella ensemble Kawaiolaonapukanileo will pay tribute to Helen Desha Beamer, matriarch of the Beamer musical clan (great-grandmother to Keola and Kapono Beamer), in a concert 4 p.m. Jan. 5 at Orvis Auditorium at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa.Guest performers include Mahi Beamer, Aaron Sala and Gay Beamer. Tickets are $10 general, $8 students and seniors. 536-2335.

You've seen Vin Diesel try to prove his super-fly super-spy mettle against a backdrop of their music in "XXX." Now make a date to check out hardcore punk metal foursome Hatebreed live and in all their brooding glory Dec. 21 at Pipeline Cafe. May we suggest a mix-tape of Motorhead, Danzig and Napalm Death for the drive to Kaka'ako? Tickets: $15.

• 7 p.m. Dec. 21 / Pipeline Cafe/ 526-4400

CONCERT: Dec. 22

The Makaha Sons, Louis "Moon" Kauakahi, Jerome Koko and John Koko — have invited Keali'i Reichel to their musical Christmas feast, Dec. 22 at the Pacific Ballroom of the Renaissance 'Ilikai Hotel.

Also aboard: Chinky Mahoe and Halau Hula O' Kawaili'ula and emcee Rodney Villanueva. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.; the evening includes a holiday buffet dinner. Tickets; $100 (platinum circle, includes special seating and personal gifts from The Makaha Sons); regular tickets, $48 general, $24 children 5-10.

• 5:30 p.m. Dec. 22 / Pacific Ballroom, Renaissance 'Ilikai Hotel / 944-6372

DANCE: Dec. 26-29

It's Broadway's longest-running tango show in history, a sultry, sexy — hot! hot! hot! — Argentine-style production with new choreography and costumes, created and directed by Latin dance master Luis Bravo. It's "Forever Tango," right, and it's heading for the Hawai'i Theatre stage for six performances Dec. 26-29. Tickets: $22.50, $32.50, $42.50 for opening night and the Dec. 28-29 matinees, $37.50, $47.50, $55 all other shows; $5 discounts for students and seniors.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26-27, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 28-29 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CHRISTMAS: Dec. 27-28

Kwanzaa, which literally means "first fruits" in Swahili, will be celebrated Dec. 27 and 28 at the Academy Art Center. It's an African-American and Pan-African festival, celebrating the first harvest of Africa, and will include entertainment, hands-on activities and films (in the Doris Duke at the Academy). Among the activities will be quilting workshops, 10 a.m.-noon each day ($4 adults, $2 kids); a free cooking demonstration noon-1 p.m. Dec. 27; a children's book fair noon-2 p.m. Dec. 28; a free "Black H'attitude" hat-making workshop 1-3 p.m. Dec. 27; and films at the Doris Duke theater at the Academy of Arts.

• Dec. 27-28 / Academy Art Center / 532-8741

CONCERT: Dec. 28-29

It's become a tradition with the Honolulu Symphony and Chorus: The new year is hailed with concerts devoted to Beethoven's Ninth Symphony, with vocalists Mary Chesnut, Milagro Vargas, Laurence Paxton and Leslie "Buz" Tennent. Maestro Samuel Wong conducts the orchestra; Karen Kennedy directs the chorus. Tickets: $27-$72, at the box office and Ticket Plus outlets.

• 8 p.m. Dec. 28, 4 p.m. Dec. 29 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

FESTIVAL: Dec. 28

Kadomatsu, the bamboo-with-pine arrangement that heralds the Japanese New Year, will be celebrated in a Temari-sponsored Kadomatsu Festival Dec. 28 at Ward Warehouse Amphitheater. Those who pre-ordered the door or counter arrangements, which are symbolic for protecting one's home (or, business, as the tradition has evolved in the community), may pick up their pre-paid orders this day. Events include a create-a-kadomatsu contest, taiko drummers, Asian and Pacific dancers, and more. The festival is free; for specific costs on kadomatsu orders and classes, call 735-1860.

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Dec. 28 / Ward Warehouse amphitheater / 735-1860

COMEDY: Dec. 29

Wayne Brady, who impersonates the famous and also sings quite a tune, returns to Hawai'i during the holiday season, playing Dec. 29 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawai'i Ballroom, and Dec. 30 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theatre. O'ahu tickets: $35, $45 (Golden Circle); Maui tickets, $35, $40, $45.

• 7 p.m. Dec. 29, Sheraton Waikiki's Hawaii Ballroom; 7 p.m. Dec. 30, MACC's Castle Theatre / 526-4400 (Ticket Plus), (808) 242-7469 (Maui)

CONCERT: Dec. 31

Original Beach Boy Mike Love will lead a reincarnated Beach Boys in a New Year's Eve concert at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom. The Boys' hits include "Surfin' USA," "Surfer Girl," "Fun, Fun, Fun," "California Girls" and other timeless surf/pop classics. Doors open at 9 p.m., with pre-show entertainment until 10:15 p.m.; the Beach Boys take over at 10:45 p.m. Tickets: $85, $100, $130 and $160, available at the Hilton ticket desk in the hotel lobby.

• Doors open at 9 p.m. Dec. 31 / Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom / 947-7877

WRESTLING: Jan. 2, 3

World Wrestling Entertainment returns with a vengeance, or at least big bodies and drama in tow, for matches Jan. 2 and 3 at the Blaisdell Arena. The last time WWE came to town was in June, with local boy The Rock leading a sold-out show. This time the lineup includes Triple H, right, Ric Flair, Shawn Michaels, Chris Jericho and many others. Tickets: $25, $45, $75 and $90, at the box office and at Ticket Plus outlets. The Jan. 3 show was just added; tickets for that one go on sale from 9 a.m. Dec. 14.

(Note: For wrestling fans who want instant gratification, there's an event happening today that's much closer to home. Island X-treme Wrestling Federation presents "Yuletide Beatings" at 7 p.m. at the Waikiki Shell. Tickets are $12. 591-2211, 526-4400, www.ixwf.com.)

• 7:30 p.m. Jan. 2-3/ Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400

COMING UP:

• Rough Cut video festival, Dec. 22-24, The Art House at Restaurant Row
• "Together Again," starring Tim Conway and Harvey Korman, Jan. 3, Maui Arts & Cultural Center; Jan. 4, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "Visiting Mr. Green," Jan. 8-26, Manoa Valley Theatre
• "A Little Bit Like You," Jan. 8-Feb. 9, Kumu Kahua Theatre
• Lionel Richie, Jan. 11, Blaisdell Arena
• Irish pianist John O'Conor, Jan. 12, Doris Duke at the Academy
• "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," Jan. 23-Feb. 16, Diamond Head Theatre
• "Darkweed," Jan. 29-Feb. 2, Earle Ernst Lab Theatre
• "Eugene Onegin" opera, Jan. 31, Feb. 2, 4, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "The Magic Flute" opera, Feb. 14, 16, 18, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "Godspell," Feb. 27-March 15, Richardson Theatre
• "La Bohéme" opera, Feb. 28, March 2, 4, 6, Blaisdell Concert Hall

BUZZING ABOUT:

• "Cookin'" ahead: The Seoul group's performances on Maui last week and Honolulu this week mean that Hawai'i is lucky to get the jump on this remarkable touring show — even before New York. The South Korean company likely will play Broadway in 2003, because its 2001 debut was canceled after the terrorism of Sept. 11 that year.
• Looking ahead: For the first time since he launched his Christmas show, Jim Nabors has been signed for the upcoming season; which means "A Merry Christmas with Friends & Nabors" is a go for 2003.
• Booking ahead: Diamond Head Theatre, which opened Rodgers and Hammerstein's "The Sound of Music" last week, hears the sound of success by adding yet another (and unprecedented third) extension; this one at 3 p.m. Dec. 28.
• Write on: Henry Kapono is writing original music, which he will perform live, for Honolulu Theatre for Youth's "The Last Paving Stone" production, playing in March at Leeward Community College Theatre.

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.