What's Up!

Local favorite Pidgin productions Before there was Lee Cataluna, there was actress-playwright Lisa Matsumoto, pictured — and composer Roslyn — and a slew of "Once Upon One Time" pidgin musicals. The "Once Upon a Kapakahi Time" trilogy will unfold July 26-Aug. 4 at the Hawai'i Theatre, where tickets are available. 528-0506.

Te Vaka, the once-scheduled, once-canceled 10-piece New Zealand band (blame Sept. 11 for the delay) finally will arrive in all its glory, with a show of songs and dances reflecting its South Seas cultural influences. Expect the sounds and styles of Maori, Samoan, Tokelauan and Tuvaluan nations, with the performers cavorting in colorful costumes and musicians playing, among other things, drums that date back to earlier generations. Te Vaka ("the canoe" in Tokelau) has been touring the world for the past five years; Hawai'i is lucky to roll out the welcome mat. Tickets: $20 general, $15 advance.

• 8 p.m. May 11 / World Cafe / 585-2877
• Also: 7:30 p.m. May 10 / Maui Arts & Cultural Center / (808) 242-SHOW
• 7:30 p.m. May 9 / Palace Theatre, Hilo / (808) 934-7010

STAGE: May 15-June 2

"Wit," the Pulitzer Prize-winning drama about a professor dying of ovarian cancer, is hardly the stuff of entertainment, but as perceived by Margaret Edson, the play is poignant and shocking, touching and alarming, and ultimately mesmerizing. Manoa Valley Theatre has the full-stage Hawai'i debut (Army Community Theatre had a readers theater presentation last year), with Betty Burdick as Dr. Vivian Bearing, the tough cookie who simply looks death straight in the face. Tickets: $25 general (discounts for seniors and military), $10 for youths 25 and younger; dinner option available 90 minutes before curtain Wednesdays through Saturdays.

• 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays; 8 p.m.
• Fridays, Saturdays; 4 p.m. Sundays, May 15-June 2 /Manoa Valley Theatre / 988-6131

STAGE: May 16-June 16

Lee Cataluna, the prolific playwright when she's not column-writing, has created her fourth Kumu Kahua entry, "Super Secret Squad," about the vagaries of righting wrongs in Hawai'i nei, involving five University of Hawai'i "professional" students, in their eighth year of a four-year run. Expect nonsense to da max. Tickets: $5-$16.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays through Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays, May 1-June 16 / Kumu Kahua Theatre /536-4441

MOTHER'S DAY: May 12

The list of Mother's Day celebrations is growing::

• Na Leo, Andy Bumatai, Cory Oliveros, Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki; noon buffet show (doors open at 9:30 a.m., $49), dinner show (doors open 5:30 p.m., dinner from 6:30 p.m., $58). 922-4422
• The Makaha Sons, Mel Cabang, Rodney Villanueva, Kamele, Pacific Ballroom, Renaissance Ilikai Hotel; brunch buffet (doors open at 10 a.m., $35 general, $17.50 children 5-10). 944-6372
• Frank DeLima & Na Kolohe, Hibiscus Ballroom, Ala Moana Hotel; brunch buffet (10:30 a.m., $34 general, $16 children 12 and under), and dinner buffet (from 5 p.m., $36 general, $18 children). 955-4811
• Augie T & Lanai, Koa'uka, Grand Ballroom, Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel; brunch buffet (doors open at 10:30 a.m., buffet 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m., show 11 a.m.-1 p.m.; $39.95 general, $19.98 youths 6-15). 921-5523
• Kapena and Norm & The All-stars, Tapa Ballroom, Hilton Hawaiian Village, brunch buffet, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. $44 adults, $23 children 4-11. 947-7877
• Maunalua, Darren Benitez, Elaine Ako Spencer, Kawika Gapero, Chino Montero and emcee Keaumiki Akui, brunch buffet, Maunakea Ballroom, Hawaii Prince Hotel, from 10 a.m. $65 adults, $35 children 4-11. 526-4400
• Jerry Santos, dinner buffet (from 4 p.m. — seatings at 4, 6, 8 p.m.), Chai's Island Bistro; $39.95 with show, $35.95 buffet only, 585-00111

CONCERT: May 17-18

Blues brother guitarist Steve Freund returns to O'ahu for a pair of concerts, at Hale'iwa Joe's ($10) and Anna Bannana's ($15 general, $10 advance). His 2001 release, "I'll Be Your Mule," will likely be the focus of his shows. If he's anything like his last gig here (at the Academy of Arts theater, where he really wailed), you're in for a treat. His style is influenced by the likes of Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) and Freddie King. Our homegrown Third Degree opens up the Honolulu show.

• 10 p.m. May 17 /Hale'iwa Joe's / 637-8005
• 9 p.m. May 18 /Anna Bannana's / 946-5190

MUSIC: May 18

To mark Armed Forces Day, the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and ATT-Hawaii will present a red-white-and-blue evening of combined bands and singers from the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force bands. The fare will run from patriotic to contemporary to Broadway — hand-clappers and toe-tappers, for sure. Come salute those who serve Uncle Sam and thank them for protecting our freedom. Free.

• 7 p.m. May 18 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0505

CONCERT: May 24

The Wayne Brady bunch of characters are raring to go again, as the ABC-TV fave ("The Wayne Brady Show," "Whose Line Is It Anyway?") returns to Hawai'i for a Honolulu and Maui gig. He acts, he sings, he shares vignettes. Honolulu tickets, $35; Maui tickets, $35, $40, $45.

• 7:30 p.m. May 24 / Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki / 526-4400
• 7:30 p.m. May 25 /Castle Theatre, Maui Arts & Cultural Center / (808) 242-SHOW

FAIR: May 24-June 16

The 50th State Fair — complete with a midway of E.K. Fernandez rides, games and food booths — opens a four-weekend run May 24 at the Aloha Stadium parking lot. It's the summery thing to do — indulge in cotton candy, ride the Ferris wheel, try to get that dime to land on that glass plate. Repeats May 25-27, May 31-June 2, June 7-9, June 13-16. Hours are 6 p.m.-midnight Fridays and June 13, noon-midnight Saturdays, Sundays and Memorial Day. Admission: $3 general, $2 kids 4-11, free for those 3 and younger. Admission June 13: $8 for those 12 and older, $5 for 4-11, free for those 3 and younger.

• May 24-June 16/ Aloha Stadium parking lot / 682-5767

NIGHTLIFE: May 24

Randy Smith resumes his Frank Sinatra serenades, with a new repertoire and a pair of new sidekicks, Cathy Foy and John Valentine. Yep, she's the erstwhile stage trouper, former Miss Hawai'i and former off-Broadway actress; he's the singer-musician with Brian Robertshaw at the Sheraton's Hanohano Room (he's continuing this gig). Tickets: $15 general, $20 at Sheraton dining desk (handling fee included).

• 7:45 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays / Esprit nightclub, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel / 922-4422

FAMILY FUN: June 5

Who knows if the animals or humans have more fun during the "Wildest Show in Town," Honolulu Zoo's nocturnal nicety that launches its annual Wednesday pau hana run, with music, food and dusk visits to the creatures of the zoo.

A slate of troupers (human variety) and other details will be announced.

• Wednesday evenings, June 5-Aug. 28 / Honolulu Zoo / 732-3739

COMING UP:

• AFI, May 26, World Cafe
• Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, May 21, Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki
• Pepe Romero, with the Honolulu Symphony, May 26, 28, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "Destiny," Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, May 31, June 1, 2, Hawai'i Theatre
• Kamehameha Day parade, June 8, downtown to Kapi'olani Park
• "Wildest Show in Town" series begins June 5, Honolulu Zoo
• 23rd annual Pan Pacific Festival-Matsuri in Hawai'i, June 7-10, various venues
• Kamehameha Day parade, June 8, downtown to Kapi'olani Park
• Filipino Fiesta and Parade, Kapi'olani Park, June 15
• "Taste of Honolulu," June 28-29, Honolulu Hale grounds
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 18-19 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, July 20-21 at Outrigger Wailea Resort, Maui
• Melissa Etheridge, July 19, Blaisdell Arena
• BayFest, Aug. 16-18, Marine Corps Base Hawaii

buzzingabout ...

• Blue Hawai'i: This year's Rhythm & Blues Mele 2002, which plays Maui (May 15, Royal Lahaina Resort), O'ahu (May 16, South Seas Village) and the Big Island (May 17, Palace Theatre in Hilo; May 18, Ohana Keauhou Beach Resort), showcases Savoy Brown and Eric Sardinas. (808) 326-9148.
• Three for the show: Gaye Glaser always wanted to produce the Gardner McKay "Sea Marks" play ... while he was still alive. Well, better late than never; with encouragement from widow Madeleine, Glaser has assembled a cast of two sterling actors, Peter Clark and Annie MacLachlan, and a respected director, Joyce Maltby, to do a two-nighter at 7:30 p.m. May 20 and 21 at Manoa Valley Theatre. 988-6131.
• Show's off: A planned Dave Edmunds concert here has been scrapped — his tour goes as far as Seattle without crossing the big pond.

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.