Posted on: Friday, December 20, 2002
The Buzz
A clash at The Garden
Hellbound Hounds — above, from left, Joel Tokunaga, Matt Bennett, Kyle Miyamoto, Nate Verdugo, Kyle Plyler — along with Haunted Pines, will hype up Honolulu at the Rock and Reggae Clash, a concert where party-goers can dig the slamming sounds while scoring some free stuff from F.A.B., Vestal, Gutted and others. All this starts 10 p.m. Saturday at The Garden, 1041 Nu'uanu Ave. Admission is $5. 537-6971.
DJ John Kelley spins at the Maze
Techno and house die-hards, heads up: Los Angeles native John Kelley returns to Honolulu to share his signature sounds at a concert 9 p.m. today at the Maze.
What can fans look forward to this time around?
"I play a lot of different types of music, but I really like beats, percussions," said Kelley from an L.A. studio. "I play a lot of tribal techno, house, breakbeat and everything in between."
Before Kelley's performance, concert-goers can expect something different as Big Vil the Warrior will pound out some beats of his own along with a fire dancer. Tricky Trevor and DJ Quiksilva will also be on hand to get the crowds going. Admission is $5, $10 or $15; for 18 and older. 921-5800.
A trio of 'Nutcracker' treats
Like clockwork, Hawai'i's various ballet troupes are ready to bring on the holiday cheer this weekend with the Sugar Plum Fairy, her Cavalier Prince and the rest of the magical characters of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker."
So who's performing when and where? This should help clear things up:
• The Hawai'i State Ballet's production, under the direction of John Landovsky, will be 7 p.m. today and Saturday, and 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Mamiya Theatre. Tickets: $22, $18 and $16 for adults, with a $2 discount for senior citizens and children 12 and under. Call 947-2755 or visit Step-N-Up at University Square. For more information: 947-2755.
• Ballet Hawai'i's version, sponsored by Starbucks, features international dancers, the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and costumes by designer Anne Namba. Performances will be 8 p.m. today, 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets: $25, $40 and $55, with a $10 discount for seniors, students and military; for discounts for groups of 20 or more, call 732-7733. Visit the Blaisdell box office or all Ticket Plus outlets, or call 526-4400.
Ballet Hawai'i is also holding a special opening night gala package, which includes VIP seating at the 8 p.m. performance today, reserved parking and a pre-show dinner on the Concert Hall lanai at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $125. Call 395-7216.
• Hawai'i Ballet Theatre's 22nd annual production, directed by Charlys Ing, will take the stage at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, and 4 p.m. Sunday at Leeward Community College Theatre. There will be a free Sugarplum Tea with Santa after each matinee, and free photos, coffee and hot chocolate during evening performances. Tickets: $22 for adults, $18 for children, seniors and military, and $10 for all students for evening shows. Details: 839-1596.
Celebrating with The Makaha Sons
Find out what an island-style Christmas sounds like at "Makaha Kalikimaka," a concert featuring The Makaha Sons and a special appearance by Keali'i Reichel, Sunday at the Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel.
Rounding out the entertainment will be Chinky Mahoe with Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula and host Rodney Villanueva.
There will also be a dinner buffet; doors open at 5 p.m. The show begins at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $48 inclusive per person, $24 for children ages 5-10. 944-6372.
Songs of the season
Candlelights and songs will transform St. Andrew's Cathedral into a holiday haven at Hawai'i Vocal Arts Ensemble's 11th annual Candlelight Christmas Concerts: "O Magnum Mysterium," 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday.
This year's selections blend Christmas carols with works from contemporary and classic composers. Among the highlights: an arrangement of "We Three Kings" by jazz great Dave Brubeck, Spanish renaissance composer Tomas Luis de Victoria's "O Magnum Mysterium," and "Jessye's Carol," written for soprano Jessye Norman. Traditional favorites including "Away in a Manger" and "White Christmas" round out the program.
Tickets are $35 for preferred seating, $17.50 general admission, $12.50 for seniors and military, and $5 for children and full-time students. 263-6341.
In the beginning
This manger scene is unlike most others.
Experience the Salvation Army's 20th annual "Live Nativity," with animals and costumed actors re-enacting the first Christmas, 7-10 p.m. Saturday-Tuesday at Wai'oli Gardens, 2950 Manoa Road.
The free 20-minute program will be repeated every half hour, performed using a taped narration of the first Christmas by Sidney Poitier and Brooke Shields, and accompanied by Christmas carols that aptly depict each scene of the dramatic presentation. 440-1830.
The lights continue at 'LUMA'
It's all about our natural attraction to light. "LUMA: Theatre of Light," inspired by lava flows on the Big Island, continues its hold on the Hawai'i Theatre stage with performances at 7:30 p.m. today, 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and 4 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $18-$46. 528-0506.
Sax man makes his debut
Saxophone virtuoso Bruce Weinberger will appear in his first Hawai'i recital as part of Temple Emanu-El's Music in the Sanctuary series, 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
Weinberger, an American currently living in Switzerland, will be joined by pianist Mark Wong, who is also the president and CEO of Commercial Data Systems in Honolulu, in a varied program that includes works by Antonio Vivaldi, Philip Glass, Paul Ben-Haim, Zdenek Lukas and Robert Schumann. Tickets: $18 general admission, $15 for temple members. 595-7521.
It's a wrap
Maybe you've been partying all season long, but we've now come to the salty, watery end with the Van's Triple Crown of Surfing Final Wrap Party, headlined by Canadian rock band Simple Plan. The band has been getting big-time exposure on MTV for the single "I'd Do Anything" from its provocatively titled CD "No Helmets, No Pads ... Just Balls," released in November. Head for the Hard Rock Cafe and its parking lot, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. today, for the party. Simple Plan takes the stage at 10 p.m., followed by The Stone Groove Family. The surf film "Amplified!" will be screened in the parking lot, too, so park your car in the convention center lot across the street for $3 and walk over. Admission to the party is $10 if you're 18-20, $5 for those 21 and older. 955-7383.
Three days of 'Sunsets'
"Sunset on the Beach" makes an unprecedented three-day appearance beginning Saturday with the sponsorship of ConAgra Foods, promoters of the Christmas Day Hawai'i Bowl.
The added Monday festivities will include University of Hawai'i and Tulane football players and the screening of the recently aired ESPN made-for-TV-movie "The Junction Boys," about legendary coach Bear Bryant.
Saturday's film will be last year's blockbuster "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" (the second in the series — "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" — is still playing in theaters); Sunday's is the family holiday hit "Home Alone," starring a young Macaulay Culkin, who outwits a couple of idiot burglars.
Each film will begin at 6:30 p.m. on the 30-foot screen. The "Sunset" events, at Queen's Surf Beach in Waikiki, begin at 4 p.m. with entertainment and food booths. Admission is free. 523-2489.
After Christmas, it's still party time!
The holiday gimmes don't have to end at Christmas.
For free goodies, not to mention dancing that will last all night long, make your way to the Hip-Hop S-3 Slam, an after-Christmas party where surf will meet street and sound, 11 p.m. Thursday at Pipeline Cafe.
Among the giveaways: a custom surfboard from HIC, a new wardrobe from Ezekiel, and $1,000 cash, courtesy of Hyper Sports, for the person who can do the fastest lap on the Gran Turismo game. Hawaiian Extreme Sports will also be at the bash to look for a new TV host for its 2003 shows. Admission is $10 for ages 18-20, $5 for 21 and older. 589-1999.
