The Buzz

Making merry music together

Sesame Street Live, featuring kiddies' favorite characters from Elmo to the Cookie Monster, Big Bird to The Count, Bert & Ernie to Rosita, returns to Honolulu with a show titled "Everyone Makes Music," opening Thursday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. The family favorite also introduces Jenny, whose arrival in the neighborhood is soured when her musical instruments are delayed. Never fear, the gang gets together and discovers that music can be made from all sorts of nontraditional things, such as rubber duckies, a trash can lid and even their own laps.

A total of 14 performances are scheduled:

• Thursday, 7 p.m.
• June 14, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• June 15, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.
• June 16, 2 p.m.
• June 20-21, 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m.
• June 22-23, 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Tickets are $15 and $11, available at the Blaisdell box office and Ticket Plus outlets; all seats are $11 on opening night Thursday. 526-4400, www.sesamestreetlive.com.

From Japan, with friendship

The Pan-Pacific Festival Matsuri, a testament to the friendship between Hawai'i and Japan, is a mammoth cultural celebration, now in its 23rd year. About 3,000 musicians, dancers and artists from Japan will participate, and many events are free. Some highlights:

• A ho'olaule'a unfolds 6:10-10 p.m. today along Kalakaua Avenue. It's a street party that features food, entertainment and a concert by Sean Na'auao. It also marks the U.S. debut of the 12-foot Ushioni float, with the head of a demon and the body of an ox. Free.
• A parade, 5-7 p.m. Sunday, along Kalakaua Avenue, will include taiko drummers, high school bands, street performers and the 30-foot- long Onbashira float in its U.S. debut. Free.
• Matsuri Moonlight Finale, in conjunction with Aston's Full Moon Concert, 4:40-8:30 p.m. Sunday at Kapi'olani Park. This event includes a traditional bon dance, Korean cultural performances, hula, and a concert by island favorite Kapena. Free parking and shuttles are available at Kapi'olani Community College. Free.

Other events include:

• The 2nd annual hula festival, 1-4 p.m. Saturday at Ala Moana's Centerstage. Free.
• A Japan-Korea concert, 1-4:30 p.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i Theatre, in which taiko drummers and Korean dance groups will celebrate the upcoming 100th anniversary of Korean immigration to the United States. Tickets are $12. 528-0506.
• A Furusato stage show, 5:30-9 p.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i Theatre, featuring Japanese folk songs and dance. Tickets are $12. 528-0506.
• Ballroom dancing, 7-10 p.m. Saturday at the Ala Wai Palladium Ballroom. Admission is $4, and includes non-alcoholic drinks. 234-1672.

926-8177, www.pan-pacific-festival.com.

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Bon dance season begins

Summer marks the bon dance season, when the living pay tribute to those who have gone before. Bon dances also are social events, where young and old come together to dance, talk story, enjoy the night air and chow down on a variety of local food. Admission is free; bring some cash for the food. This weekend's bon dances:

• Waimea Higashi Hongwanji, 8 p.m. today and Saturday, Waimea, Kaua'i. (808) 338-1847.
• Hawai'i's Plantation Village, 6-10 p.m. Saturday, 94-695 Waipahu St. 677-0110.
• Pan-Pacific Festival finale includes two 20-minute bon dances, at 5:15 p.m. and just before 7 p.m. Sunday, Kapi'olani Park. 926-8177.

A tribute to King Kamehameha

The annual King Kamehameha celebration offers several opportunities for residents and visitors alike to observe or take part:

• The lei-draping ceremony, from 4 p.m. today, is full of flowers, music and hula as the downtown statue is decorated in grand style. Keahi Allen, who served on the King Kamehameha Celebration Commission for nearly 30 years before she retired in March, will present a special lei at about 5:30 p.m. Free. 586-0333.
• The King Kamehameha Floral Parade, from 9:30 a.m. Saturday, is an only-in-Hawai'i tradition, with pa'u riders trotting down King Street in front of the Kamehameha statue, on to Punchbowl, then Ala Moana, hooking up with Kalakaua Avenue to finish at Kapi'olani Park. Organizers expect 3,000 marchers, 50 vehicles, six bands and five floats, too. Find a spot along the parade route, slather on the sunscreen and enjoy the spectacle; it's free. 586-0333.
• The Kamehameha Day lu'au returns to the grounds of Kawaiaha'o Church Saturday after a two-year absence. There's entertainment, too, from Kapena, Kilinahe and others. It's $10 for a takeout box lunch (pick-up 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m.) or $12 for a sit-down, all-you-can-eat affair (11 a.m.-2:30 p.m.). 522-1333.
• Also at Kawaiaha'o Church is the annual craft fair and white elephant sale. Admission is free. 522-1333. The church's craft fair competes a bit with the Mission Houses Museum's annual Fancy Fair on the next block, featuring food and arts and crafts, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Admission is free. 531-0481.

Tuesday is the King Kamehameha Day holiday. Click here for a map of the events.

How to beautify your home

Planning to renovate that kitchen? Looking for just the right plants for that barren corner of the yard? Nesters, your lucky weekend is coming up soon. Exhibits, home-improvement seminars, cooking demonstrations, entertainment, cash giveaways and more are part of the Finance Factors 2002 Home & Garden Show beginning Thursday at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Hours are 5-10 p.m. Thursday and June 14, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m. June 15 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. June 16. Admission is $3 general, $2.50 for those 55 and older and children 7-12 years old, free for kids under 7. 945-3594, www.financefactors.com.