What's Up!

April film premieres April 5: "Big Trouble," "High Crimes," left, "National Lampoon's Van Wilder" April 12: "Changing Lanes," "Frailty," "New Best Friend," "The Sweetest Thing" April 19: "Murder by Numbers," "The Scorpion King" April 26: "Frank McClusky, C.I.," "Jason X," "Life or Something Like It"

Youth Jam 2002, featuring a lineup of contemporary Christian performers and speaker Josh McDowell, takes over the Hawai'i Convention Center. Among the performers will be local artists David Kahiapo and Apartment 3; Dove Award nominee All Together Separate and Geoff Moore, left, are the headlining acts. The event is youth-oriented, but the public is invited. 5 p.m. April 6. $10, available at The Agape Shoppe in Kailua, Logos Bookstore, Showers of Blessings bookstore and New Hope Resources. 946-1300.

PLANT SALE: April 6

If you love plants, you'll love Lyon Arboretum's spring plant sale at the Blaisdell Center. Among the attractions will be plant experts, jams and jellies, handicrafts, books, keiki activities .... oh, and thousands of plants, from 35 nurseries. 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 6. Admission is free. 988-0456.

CONCERTS: April 8,9

Baha Men, of "Who Let the Dogs Out" fame, are heading for Gussie L'Amour's for two concerts. 8:30 p.m. April 8 and 9. Opening act for April 8 is Obsessed; opening April 9 will be Ski & The Ska Flavored Band. Tickets are $25 general, $22 for an advance pass (good for both nights); available at Gussie's and the Gold Zone in Wahiawa. The concerts are for those 21 and older. 836-7883.

CONCERT: April 12

Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom's "Tribute to Hawaiian Musical Treasures," part of the "Hana Hou" series at the Hawai'i Theatre, pays tribute to three legendary ladies of island music — Auntie Genoa Keawe, Auntie Kealoha Kalama and Auntie Leina'ala Haili. The concert also is the debut of Gilliom's new band, composed of Sonny Cruz Jr., Barry Flanagan and Jack Ofoia. 8 p.m. April 12. Tickets are $30 general, with $5 discounts for theater members, seniors 62 and older, youths 17 and younger, students and military; available at the box office. 528-0506.

BENEFIT CONCERT: April 12

The bands Third Degree, below, and Bluzilla, vocalist Keahi Conjugacion and surprise guests offer "Midnight Blues," a benefit concert for Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii. 10 p.m.-1:30 a.m. April 12 at John Dominis' The Edge Nightclub. $20 at the door, $15 advance. 523-0955. Also, sponsor tables are available: $500 for a table for 10, including Conjugacion's "Live at the Atherton" CDs, gift certificates from various sponsors of the concert and a bottle of wine.

CULTURE: April 12

Hawaii Pacific University celebrates its diverse student population with the 18th annual Intercultural Day on Fort Street Mall. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 12. Admission is free. Among the activities will be cultural exhibits, a colorful parade (10:30 a.m.) and dance and music performances (1-4 p.m.). The HPU International Chorale will make its debut at 1 p.m. with a Cameroon processional song. 544-0265.

CONCERTS: APRIL 12-13

The very popular kumu hula/singer/songwriter Keali'i Reichel, below, never seems to have a problem drawing in the masses: With nearly a month to go yet until his performances in the Honolulu Symphony Pops series at Blasidell Concert Hall, the 7:30 p.m. April 13 show is already sold out and the 7:30 p.m. April 12 show has only a few tickets left. So organizers have added a third show, at 2 p.m April 13. $15-$55, at the Blaisdell box office, Ticket Plus outlets and military ticket outlets, or the symphony ticket office, 792-2000.

KIKAIDAMANIA: April 12-13

If you grew up in the 1970s in Hawai'i, then you know what — or who — we're talking about: Japanese TV superheroes Kikaida and Kikaida-01, fueled by a new wave of popularity, will appear at a two-day Kikaidamania Festival at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii. The April 12 portion has an admission fee; the April 13 event is free:

• "Gill's Gala," a dinner program 6-10 p.m. April 12, will be held at the Manoa Grand Ballroom. There will be a question-and-answer session with Jiro (Daisuke Ban) and Ichiro (Shunsuke Ikeda), a silent auction of collectibles, and more. Costumes are suggested. Tickets are $50 (plus $2 service fee) for adults and children. 836-0361, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.
• The free festival, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 13 in the courtyard, will be highlighted by appearances by Kikaida, Kikaida-01

and Hakaida; autograph sessions follow with the costumed heroes. Keiki may participate in Kikaida look-alike contests, karaoke challenges and chomp on Kikaida bentos and slurp Kikaida shave ice. Entertainment also is planned throughout the day. A Kikaida memorabilia exhibit will open at 11:30 a.m. April 12 in the JCCH gallery. Admission is free.

FESTIVAL: April 14

Celebrate the camaraderie on the windward side of the island at the "I Love Kailua Town Party," featuring entertainment, restaurant offerings at "A Taste of Kailua," a plant sale, arts and crafts, health screenings and prizes. It's a benefit for The Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. in downtown Kailua, behind First Hawaiian Bank. $3 general, free for kids 12 and younger. 262-9479.

KARAOKE: April 27

Here's a first: McKinley High School graduates will strut their karaoke stuff in the very first Karaoke Challenge at the school's auditorium. The event, open to the general public, too, includes dinner in the cafeteria, an open karaoke session for the audience, then the contest. 4:30 p.m. April 27. $15. It's a benefit for the McKinley Alumni Association's Scholarship and Special Projects Fund. 949-5659, 956-9213.

COMING UP:

• "Malama e Na Kupuna," benefit concert for Lunalilo Home, April 14, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," April 18-21, Hawai'i Theatre
• HIFF Spring Film Festival, April 19-24, Waikiki Theatres
• The Duke Ellington Festival, April 26-27, Honolulu Hale
• Ho'okena, May 17, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Fully Committed," May 15-25, The ARTS at Marks Garage
• "Destiny," Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, May 31, June 1-2
• "Titanic," May 24-June 9, Diamond Head Theatre
• "Destiny," an Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre production, May 31-June 2, Hawai'i Theatre
• Ka Leo Hano, June 30, Maui Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 18-19 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, July 20-21 at Outrigger Wailea Resort, Maui
• BayFest, Aug. 16-18, Marine Corps Base Hawai'i

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.