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Local favorite Kaumakapili Church's annual lu'au For 30 years, the celebrated church at 766 N. King St. in Palama has offered a belly-busting feast as a fund-raiser. Themed "He Launa Pu Kakou" (Together in Fellowship), the lu'au is the way to get your kalua pig, chicken long rice, poi, lomi salmon, raw fish, opihi, etc. fix in large quantities. There's entertainment, too. This year's lu'au takes place July 20. Takeout boxes, available from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., are $15 each; a sit-down, all-you-can-eat feast at 5:30 p.m. is $20. Grind on! 845-0908.

The show will go on, despite the recent death of James Grant Benton. "Lolo No Ka Oi," a gathering of stand-ups, will be revised to include a tribute to the late original member of the groundbreaking comic trio Booga Booga. Among the performers will be Da Braddahs, Ed Ka'ahea (the last original Booga Booga member), Mel Cabang, and Augie T. Tickets: $35, $25, $18.

• 7:30 p.m. June 28 / Hawai'i Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki / 526-4400

GRINDS: June 28-30

"Taste of Honolulu," the grand feast of entrees, snacks, salads, desserts, appetizers and beverages, is one big buffet — and a benefit for Easter Seals. Restaurants will set up booths and woo you with on-site cooking; you pay for what you eat, though there's an initial admission fee. Among those offering their goodies: Bali-by-the-Sea, Big Island Steak House, Boomerang's, Brew Moon Restaurant & Microbrewery, Chai's Island Bistro, Ciao Mein, The Colony, Canoe's at the Ilikai, Culinary Institute of the Pacific, Down to Earth, Eastern Garden, Golden Dragon, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Kapono's, Marian's Catering, Musashi, Pipeline Cafe, Prince Court, Sam Choy's Restaurants, Teddy's Bigger Burgers, The Willows, Tony Roma's, Uncle Lani's Poi Mochi & Catering. Gate admission: $3 general, free for keiki and those 55 or older; scrip sales on site.

• 5-10 p.m. June 28, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. June 29, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. June 30 / Civic Center grounds / 536-1015

WRESTLING: June 29

Maybe you didn't feel like standing in line and paying up to $90 to see a wrestling match. There is an alternative, but with a bit less flash. X-treme Wrestling Federation (the Hawai'i chapter of the National Wrestling Alliance) has been putting on pro shows all over the islands with regulars such as JT Wolfen and others such as Hawaiian Gods of Destruction, Johnny Allblack (who was trained by The Rock's grandfather, Peter Maivia), Nemesis, The Final Solution, the list goes on. The next match is titled "Rage Over Palama." Tickets are $5; free for kids under 5 (ticket prices are going up after this match!).

• 7 p.m. June 29/ Palama Gym / 783-7809

CONCERT: July 3

Guitarist Larry Carlton brings pre-Fourth of July sparkle to the North Shore, appearing at a jazz, food and wine and fireworks extravaganza 'neath a blanket of stars. Carlton, a Warner Bros. Records act, performs with his band; other acts will be on the bill. Nourishment — food and liquid — will be by Honolulu and Turtle Bay restaurants. And aerial fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Tickets: $25 general, $20 advance. Food and drinks extra.

• 5:30-9:30 p.m. July 3 / Turtle Bay Resort grounds / 293-8811

RODEO: July 4

Bullriding, barrel racing, team roping, double mugging, bronc riding ... it's rodeo time at Town & Country Stables in Waimanalo. The July 4 event is a fund-raiser for Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii and Naturally Hawaiian's art and learning center in Waimanalo. Other attractions at the rodeo include a line-dancing contest, a simulated bullriding contest, and a post-rodeo hoedown with The Piranha Brothers band. Tickets are $12 general, $10 advance; available at Naturally Hawaiian Gallery, 41-1025 Kalanianaole Highway.

• 2 p.m. July 4 (gates open at noon) / Town & Country Stables in Waimanalo, 41-1800 Kalanianaole Highway / 259-5354

X-TREME CIRCUS: July 4-6

It's a new world, and a new kind of "circus" without elephants and clowns. "Blazin' Circus," featuring extreme sports athletes from the world of BMX, skateboarding, in-line skating and more, comes to town expecting to draw huge crowds of fans. Among the athletes scheduled to appear are Mat Hoffman, world bicycle stunt champion; in-line skating champion Fabiola Da Silva of Brazil; skateboarder Chris Gentry; and others who have made their mark in the X-world. Not to mention a beer garden, a hip-hop contest and show, mixed martial arts, Asian model search, and musical entertainment by folks such as Darrell Labrado, Marty Dread, 3 Plus, B.E.T., Forté, Tino and The Rhythm Klub ... must we go on? We're running out of space! Tickets are $15 general, $10 for children under 10 (special price good until 4 p.m.).

• 11 a.m.-9 p.m. July 4-6 / Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400

CONCERTS: July 10, 12, 14

Grammy Award winner George Winston, who has done much to boost the exposure of Hawaiian slack-key artists through his Dancing Cat record label, returns to the islands for a series of concerts. A July 10 Kaua'i concert is all-guitar and benefits KKCR radio station in Princeville. The July 12 and 14 gigs at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center and the Hawai'i Theatre, respectively, will be piano concerts.

• 7:30 p.m. July 10 / Kilauea Theater, Kaua'i / $25 general, $20 advance / (808) 826-7774
• 7:30 p.m. July 12 / Castle Theater, Maui Arts & Cultural Center / $10, $20, $25 (half price for kids 12 and younger / (808) 242-SHOW
• 7:30 p.m. July 14 / Hawai'i Theatre / $17.50, $22.50, $27.50, $35/ 528-0506

CONCERTS: July 14

Piano fans, lend us your ears! "Pianomania 2002," featuring pianists ages 4-18 — 270 in each of two concerts, with two different programs — from the Big Island, Kaua'i and O'ahu, will fill the Blaisdell Concert Hall, to the delight of friends, family and all who support musical education of young folks. It's sponsored by the Hawai'i Music Teachers Association. A silent auction will be held before each concert. Tickets: $10.50, available at the box office, Foodland, Sack n Save and Ticket Plus outlets.

• 1:30 and 4 p.m. July 14 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 591-2211

JAZZ: July 18-19, 20-21

Maui gets to bask in the music, too, at the 9th annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival beginning July 18. Among the headliners are Alex Han, 13, a wonder on the alto sax; and Herbie Mann, 72, the legendary jazz flutist who is one of the first "world" musicians. A large local contingent of talent also is on the bill. Here's the schedule:

• July 18, 7 p.m., Blaisdell Concert Hall: Hawaiian Jazz Night with Amy Hanaiali 'i Gilliom, Jake Shimabukuro, Keahi Conjugacion, Gabe Baltazar and others.
• July 19, 7 p.m., Blaisdell Concert Hall: Latin Jazz Night with Herbie Mann, Alex Han, the San Diego University Big Band and others.
• July 20, 7 p.m., Outrigger Wailea Resort, Maui: Vocal Jazz Night with The Four Freshmen, Tierney Sutton and others.
• July 21, 5:30 p.m., Outrigger Wailea Resort: Hawaiian Jazz Night and scholarship giveaways, with Gilliom, Shimabukuro, Conjugacion, Baltazar and others.

Tickets are $20, $35, $40 general; $5 for students with ID; other discounts available; at Blaisdell box office and Ticket Plus outlets. 591-2211, 526-4400. On Maui, tickets available at Maui Tacos, Borders, Tropical Disc, Maui Symphony, Outrigger Wailea Resort, Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays desks, Groove 2 Music. The Advertiser is a sponsor.

CONCERTS: July 19, 20

Grammy Award-winning rocker Melissa Etheridge makes her Hawai'i debut in two concerts, July 19 on O'ahu and July 20 on Maui. Etheridge has been touring in support of her seventh compact disc, "Skin," released last year. She'll be bringing an enthusiastic group of fans, ready to party hearty in Hawai'i, with her. Tickets for both concerts are $45 and $55.

7:30 p.m. July 19 / Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400

7 p.m. July 20 / Maui Arts & Cultural Center / (808) 242-7469

COMING UP:

• "Doors Tribute," featuring Morrison, Waikiki Shell, July 6
• ArtSpree, July 13, The Contemporary Museum
• "You Somebody," a comedy by Lee Cataluna with songs by Keola Beamer, July 19-Aug. 4, Diamond Head Theatre
• Celia Cruz and her West Coast Orchestra, July 25, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, July 26, Sheraton Waikiki
• "Once Upon One Kapakahi Time" trilogy, July 26-Aug. 4, Hawai'i Theatre
• 32nd annual 'Ukulele Festival, July 28, Kapi'olani Park Bandstand
• Tommy Chong and Shelby and the Family Stoned, Aug. 2-3, Gussie L'Amour's
• Hiroshima, Aug. 9, Hawai'i Theatre
• Lou Rawls, with the Symphony Pops, Sept. 27-28, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Hawai'i International Film Festival's Fall Film Festival, Nov. 1-10 on O'ahu, Nov. 8-10 on the Neighbor Islands

BUZZING ABOUT ...

Tickets on sale:

• Beginning 9 a.m. June 29 for No Doubt, the pop rock/ska ensemble that returns for a concert Aug. 10 at the Blaisdell Arena. Doors open at 6 p.m.; concert begins at 7 p.m. Tickets are $28.50 and $38.50; available at the box office, Ticket Plus outlets, University of Hawai'i Campus Center, military outlets. 526-4400.
• Tomorrow for '70s Soul Jam, featuring The Stylistics, The Chi-Lites, The Delfonics, Harold Melvin's Bluenotes and The Main Ingredient's Cuba Gooding Sr. The concert down memory lane begins at 7 p.m. July 23 at Blaisdell Arena. Tickets are $35 and $45; available at the box office and Ticket Plus outlets. 526-4400. TV note: A Soul Jam special airs at 7 p.m. tomorrow on KHET Channel 11.

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.