What's Up!

Local favorite Plants, produce galore The Pearl City Urban Garden Center, 962 Second St., is offering a sale of produce and plants — with an emphasis on the hibiscus — 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 9. Admission is free. Park at the diamondhead end of the Home Depot parking lot. 453-6050.

The ever-popular Makaha Sons will be the featured artists in the second program in the "Hana Hou!" series of Hawaiian music concerts at the Hawai'i Theatre. 8 p.m. Jan 11. $30; $5 discounts for students, seniors 62 and older, Hawai'i Theatre members and military; available at the box office. 528-0506.

FESTIVAL: Jan. 12

An all-day Korean Festival, celebrating the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to Hawai'i and the United States, takes place at Kapi'olani Park. The first Koreans disembarked in Hawai'i Jan. 13, 1903; an even bigger festival is planned for next year. Among the festivities will be entertainment (Halla Huhm studio, Myong Woo Dahn, Chum Sa Rang and others), food (including kim chee, below, and other delicacies), cultural attractions and kids' games. 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Jan. 12. Admission is free. 375-2799.

SALSA: Jan. 12

The first Latin salsa music/dance concert of the new year happens at the South Seas Village/Hawaiian Hut at the Ala Moana Hotel with Rolando Sanchez and Salsa Hawaii. 9:30 p.m. Jan. 12; doors open at 9 p.m. $10 cover charge at the door; no-host bar. It's a party for those 18 and older. 342-0911, 941-5205.

CONCERT: Jan. 12

The Jacques Thibaud Trio, award winner in the 1999 Bonn Chamber Music Competition, makes its Honolulu debut with a concert at Orvis Auditorium. The ensemble has performed to much acclaim throughout Europe, Japan and the Mainland United States. The program here will include selections from Mozart, Bach, Schubert, Beethoven and others; the Honolulu Symphony's Nancy Dimock will play the oboe on Mozart's Oboe Quartet in F Major, K.370. 8 p.m. Jan. 12. $24 general, $15 students, available at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Campus Center; free question-and-answer session will take place 7-7:30 p.m. 956-6878, 956-8246.

PUPPETS: Jan. 12-13

Jim Gamble and his puppets return to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Kennedy Theatre with the family show "Circus." Gamble has been entertaining the keiki for more than two decades with his collection of marionettes, rod puppets and hand puppets. "Circus" presents a variety of puppet animal acts, with Gamble as the ringmaster. 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Jan. 12, 2 p.m. Jan. 13. $9 general, $8 senior citizens, military, UH faculty/staff, $7 children and non-UHM students, $4 UHM students with valid ID; available at the box office and Ticket Plus outlets. 956-7655, 526-4400.

CONCERTS: Jan. 18-19

Island favorites and Na Hoku winners Henry Kapono and Robi Kahakalau offer a pair of pops concerts with the Honolulu Symphony at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. 7:30 p.m. Jan. 18-19. $15-$55. 792-2000.

ON STAGE: Jan. 22-Feb. 3, Feb. 7-10

"The Vagina Monologues," a provocative play by Eve Ensler that has become a world phenomenon, will make its Island debut at the Hawai'i Theatre. 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays through Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 5 and 8 p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 22 through Feb. 3. $20, $30 and $35 for Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday night shows; $30, $40 and $45 for Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday and Sunday matinees; discounts are available for students, senior citizens and military personnel; discounts are also available for purchases made by Dec. 31 for shows Jan. 22-24. 528-0506 or 526-4400; group discounts, 732-7733. The play also will tour Maui: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 7 ($10, $25, $30, $35), 8 p.m. Feb. 8 ($10, $35, $40, $45), 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. Feb. 9 ($10, $35, $40, $45), 2 p.m. Feb. 10 ($10, $35, $40, $45) and 7 p.m. Feb. 10 ($10, $25, $30, $35); available at the theater box office. (808) 242-7469.

CONCERT: Jan. 23, 25, 26

Natalie Merchant, former frontwoman of the band 10,000 Maniacs, offers a three-island concert tour. Merchant, who has embraced socially conscious themes throughout her musical career, is touring in support of her November release, titled "Motherland." Details:

• 8 p.m. Jan. 23, Sheraton Waikiki Hawaii Ballroom. $37.50, available at the Blaisdell Center box office, Sheraton Waikiki dining desk, Foodland stores, University of Hawai'i-Manoa Campus Center and military outlets. 526-4400.
• 8 p.m. Jan. 25, Kauai Marriott's Kauai Ballroom. $40, available at Kauai Marriott, Kmart, Larry's Music, Progressive Expressions and Foodland stores. 526-4400.
• 8 p.m. Jan. 26, Maui Arts & Cultural Center. $30-$40, available at the box office. (808) 242-7469.

THEATRE: Feb. 1,2

Greg O'Brien, Andy Horowitz and Paul Gordon are The Second Hand, an ensemble that creates programs that combine dance, comedy, audience participation and even food, and making its Hawai'i debut on the Big Island and O'ahu. The trio has performed in North America, western Europe, Russia, Israel, Chile and Japan. Details:

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1, University of Hawai'i-Hilo Theatre. Ticket prices to be announced.
• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 and 2 p.m. Feb. 3, Leeward Community Theatre. $20 and $25 general; $20 general, $15 with discount in advance.
• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 5, Brigham Young University-Hawai'i Theatre. Ticket prices to be announced.
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. Feb. 6, Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library. Free.

956-6878

OPERA: Feb. 1,3,5; Feb. 15,17,19; March 1,3,5,7

Grand opera gets under way in February with a season of "La Traviata" (Feb. 1,3,5), "Salome" (Feb. 15,17,19) and "Carmen" (March 1,3,5,7) at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays, 4 p.m. Sundays and 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays (and March 7 for the final "Carmen" performance). $75-$270 season tickets (through Feb. 1), $27-$95 single tickets; available at Blaisdell box office, the Hawaii Opera Theatre box office at 985 Waimanu St. and Ticket Plus outlets. 596-7858, 800-836-7372, 526-4400.

COMING UP

• Japanese Festival, part of the city's Hawai'i Ethnic Heritage Series, Jan. 11, Honolulu Hale
• Verdi's "La Traviata," by Hawaii Opera Theatre, Feb. 1, 3 and 5, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• David Byrne, Feb. 8, World Cafe
• Tony Conjugacion's "Hapa Haole Hou," a Hana Hou! Hawaiian Music Series concert, Feb. 8, Hawai'i Theatre
• Janet Jackson, Feb. 16, Aloha Stadium
• Strauss' "Salome," by Hawaii Opera Theatre, Feb. 15, 17 and 19, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Chinese Festival, part of the city's Hawai'i Ethnic Heritage Series, Feb. 22, Honolulu Hale
• Bizet's "Carmen," by Hawaii Opera Theatre, March 1, 3, 5 and 7, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Sarah Chang & Tchaikovsky's "Winter Dreams," with the Honolulu Symphony, March 24, 26, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Keali'i Reichel, a Honolulu Symphony Pops concert, April 12-13, 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.