The Buzz

Lighting up the sky on Independence Day

Celebrate the Fourth on Thursday with dazzling fireworks. Among the popular destinations are Magic Island, where Ala Moana Center presents its annual aerial display, and Sills Field at Schofield Barracks, where entertainment precedes the night sky show. Our calendar of events for the next six months, July through December, lists Independence Day events.

It's rodeo time in Waimanalo

A celebration of a different kind — a little more down to Earth than a fireworks display, anyway — is being offered on the Fourth of July. Bull-riding, barrel-racing, team-roping, double-mugging, bronc-riding, rodeo clowns ... it's a rodeo celebration at Town & Country Stables in Waimanalo, a fund-raiser for Therapeutic Horsemanship of Hawaii and Naturally Hawaiian's art and learning center in Waimanalo. Other attractions include a line-dancing contest, a simulated bull-riding contest, and a post-rodeo hoedown with The Piranha Brothers band. Tickets are $12 general, $10 advance, free for kids 10 and younger; available at Naturally Hawaiian Gallery, 41-1025 Kalaniana'ole Highway, The Shack restaurants, Out of the West Clothing at Aloha Tower Marketplace, Paniolo Trading in Ala Moana Center and military outlets. The fun begins at 2 p.m. Thursday; gates open at noon. Town & Country Stables is in Waimanalo at 41-1800 Kalaniana'ole Highway. 259-5354.

Wrestling fever

The Rock and his World Wrestling Entertainment cohorts have come and gone, but remain a $90 memory for many fans. If you're still looking for that brand of sports entertainment, there's something a lot closer to home. 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 heavyweight champion Johnny Allblack, who was trained by The Rock's grandfather, Peter Maivia; JT Wolfen, and others with names such as Hawaiian Gods of Destruction and Nemesis. The next match is titled "Rage Over Palama," 7 p.m. Saturday at Palama Gym. Tickets are $5; free for kids under 5. 783-7809.

All-day 'Sunsets' on the North Shore

The North Shore communities are going all out this weekend as "Sunset on the Beach" visits Ali'i Beach Park as part of the "Rediscover O'ahu's Neighborhoods" program.

The events take place 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, featuring fresh produce, "Made in Hale'iwa/North Shore" arts and crafts, a health fair, demonstrations, entertainment, food booths, kiddie activities, ocean activities and movies on a 30-foot screen. Saturday's film is "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone"; Sunday's is "Grease," the 1978 musical starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. "Grease" will be preceded by "Surfing for Life," a documentary that features North Shore legends Peter Cole and Fred Van Dyke and other surfers.

Don't feel like driving? Express buses — marked Hale'iwa Express — will take you from Waikiki/Ala Moana Center directly to the North Shore and back for $1.50 each way. Departure times are 9:30, 10:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. from Monsarrat Avenue (across from the zoo), stopping at city bus stops along the way to Ala Moana Center, then straight to Hale'iwa. They depart for Honolulu at 9, 10, 10:30 and 11 p.m.

Those who already are in the vicinity can catch free trolleys throughout the day on Kamehameha Highway and Hale'iwa's main street.

Admission is free. 523-2489, 637-4558.

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Standing strong with pride

"Kupa'a Ko Kakou" ("Together We Stand Strong") is the theme of Honolulu Pride 2002, a celebration by the gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, questioning and friends community that continues through Saturday. Among the events:

• Honolulu Pride Lu'au, 5-9 p.m. today at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park. Tickets are $30 general, $25 advance.
• Honolulu Gay Pride Parade, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, from Ala Moana Beach Park, down Kalakaua Avenue to Kapi'olani Park. A scene from a previous parade is shown above.
• Honolulu Pride Festival and Dance, noon-9 p.m. Saturday at McCoy Pavilion. Admission is $2 donation.

951-7000.

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Bottle mania and more

Yes, there will be bottles, bottles and more bottles at the 30th annual Bottle Show and Sale at McKinley High School Cafeteria this weekend, but that's not the end of the story. All kinds of glassware, Hawaiian shells, rocks, coins, stamps, pogs, vintage toys and other stuff make this a sort of mini collectibles fair. And if you have a collectible and are curious about its origins or value, bring it along; someone there might have the information you're looking for. Hours are 9 a.m.-6:30 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 (donation). 628-9220.

Guitar man

Hawai'i Guitar Festival 2002 on O'ahu comes to a close with a concert by award-winning Denis Azabagic at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Azabagic, hailed as among the elite in the younger generation of guitarists, has recorded six releases for international labels and has appeared with orchestras on the Mainland and in Europe. Tickets are $20 general, $15 children, UH students, faculty and staff. 956-6878. Azabagic also will conduct a noncredit classical guitar workshop, 1-4 p.m. today at the UH Music Building, Room 108. A $30 registration fee required. Bring your guitar. 956-8246.

On Kaua'i, festival participants Darryl Gonzales, Paul Meyers, Byron Yasui and Dennis Azabagic will take part in the "Hawai'i Guitar Festival All-Star Concert," 7 p.m. Sunday at the Performing Arts Center of Kaua'i Community College. Tickets are $15 general, $10 children and students. (808) 245-8270.