The Buzz

Getting into the swing

Na Hoku Hanohano lifetime achievement recipient George Chun, vocalist Jan Brenner and orchestra leader Willie Barton will be part of the long-running swingfest "Let's Dance," 6-9 p.m. Sunday at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The event, at the oceanfront Monarch Room, with Diamond Head in the distance and waves a-lappin', also features Sonny Maguire and host Rene Mansho. Part of the proceeds will go to Hawaii Lupus Foundation Inc. Tickets are $15, with a one-drink minimum; available at Tower Records (Kahala Mall and Pearl Kai), Tower Video (Ke'eaumoku), Hawaii Lupus Foundation, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's service center, Sheraton Waikiki, Princess Kaiulani and the Moana Surfrider Hotel. 931-7194, 538-1522. Don't forget those dancing shoes.

An evening of classical Okinawan dance

High on the culture calendar is "Ryu no Mai: Nana Wudui no Yube" ("The Dragon's Dance: An Evening of Classical Okinawan Women's Dances"), which brings together dance troupes from Hawai'i, California and Okinawa to the Hawai'i Theatre stage. Mitsuko Toguchi Ryubu Kenkyusho (Mitsuko Toguchi's Okinawan Dance School) is presenting the event, which features 20 dancers and 25 musicians. The concert begins at 5 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15, plus a $2 theater restoration fee, available at the box office. 528-0506.

Hula from these and other shores

Nineteen dance schools will take part in more than 60 performances over the weekend as the 29th annual King Kamehameha Hula Competition fills the Blaisdell Arena. Among the participants will be Keali'i Ceballos and his Halau Keali'i O Nalani, overall winners of E Hula Mau competition in Los Angeles; and the women of Halau O Ka Manu Hula Le'a and the kupuna of Hula Halau Kahula O Hawai'i, winners in their categories at the 3rd King Kamehameha Hula Competition in Tokyo. Halau from Maui and O'ahu also will be featured. It all begins at 6 p.m. today, continuing from 1 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $8.50-$20, available at the box office. 536-6540.

Pet project

Hey, early birds and animal lovers! PetWalk 2002, the annual fundraiser for the Hawaiian Humane Society, will be unleashed (oh, wait, bring those leashes!) Sunday morning at Kapi'olani Park. The 2-mile walk begins at 8 a.m.; register and turn in your pledges 6:45-7:30 a.m. (for those birds who are, alas, too late to win prizes). After the walk, there's refreshments, games, entertainment and an affordable picnic lunch that benefits the Humane Society. 946-2187, ext. 370; www.hawaiianhumane.org (News & Events, Calendar).

That big-band sound

Brothers Phil and Bob Scellato lead the PBS Big Band, which performs on the last Thursday of each month at Studio 6 in the Musicians Union building, 949 Kapi'olani Blvd., second floor. The next concert of big-band jazz (think Count Basie, Buddy Rich, Harry James, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton) begins at 8 p.m. Thursday and includes guest artist Abe Lagremis on drums and featuring Gabe Baltazar on sax. Of course, there's the 17-piece band (yes, PBS represents the Scellato brothers' initials). Tickets are $8 general, $5 students; refreshments are included. 596-2905.

'World Beat' is a fund-raiser

"African-Caribbean World Beat," featuring the multicultural musicians, singers and dancers of Shaka Jambé, above, is a benefit for the Life Foundation, Hawai'i's AIDS organization. The event, which also features Jammarek, a traditional and improv West African musical group, includes hot vibes plus sushi and oyster-bar specialties, with sales helping the cause. There's a silent auction, too. The get-up-and-dance excitement begins at 10 p.m. Saturday at John Dominis. Tickets are $20 general, $15 in advance; available at John Dominis and Tower Records. Or $500 buys you a table for 10, includes two bottles of wine, and many thanks. 523-0955.

Soul survivors

Members of the San Francisco-based band Soulstice are heading for The W Honolulu for a one-night stand of their signature futuristic electronic soul. The event features deck master Mei-Lwun Yee on turntables and Gina Rene on vocals; and a special appearance by Drumfire on percussion. The concert, for those 21 and older, begins at 9 p.m. today. Tickets are $15. 922-3734.

Hot times at Salsa-thon

DJ Rod Moreno and many others strutting hot Latin stuff will be part of the 2nd annual Salsa-thon Festival, themed "Embrace the Heat," noon-8 p.m. Sunday at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park. Also in the entertainment lineup will be Rolando Sanchez and Salsa Hawaii, Orquesta SalsAloha, Son Caribe, Augie Rey and his band, Los Cari–osos, Second Time Around and others. And there's food, arts and crafts, a silent auction and kiddie activities. A $3 donation benefits the Hispanic Center of Hawaii; free for kids under 12 and seniors. 941-5216, 271-4967.

Tribute to a dance pioneer

Dance Feast 2002, the Hawaii State Dance Council's concert that showcases the variety of dance forms in the Islands and the winners for best choreography in 2002, also is a tribute to Carl Wolz, a driving force in dance who died in January. Wolz established the dance program at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa and was a founding member of the council. The concert begins at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre. Tickets are $18; $13 for HSDC members, seniors, students and military. 735-2114.

A concert in Pearl City

Calling Pearl City, 'Aiea, Waipahu folks and anyone who'd appreciate an evening of great Hawaiian and contemporary music! Sistah Robi Kahakalau, the Makaha Sons, Makana, Miss Hawai'i 1998 Jennifer Hera, and Kahuku High School student Hula Aki will perform in a fund-raising concert Saturday at the Pearl City Cultural Center, on the grounds of Pearl City High School. The show begins at 6:30 p.m. and benefits August Ahrens Elementary School's 6th-grade class. Tickets are $25 general, $22 in advance; available at Tower Records, Pearl Kai. 453-6147.