The Buzz

Really hot stuff

Is it hot enough for you? It can always get hotter, especially when a new champion is crowned at the 10th annual World Fire Knife Dance Competition, continuing this weekend at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Here's the schedule:

• 6:30 p.m. today, Hale Aloha Theater: Junior World Fire Knife Competition finals and adult semi-finals. Admission: $7.
• Tomorrow, PCC's Pacific Theater: Adult finalists will show their stuff during the intermissions of the "Horizons" shows at 6 and 8 p.m. Admission, which includes the "Horizons" show, is $26 general, $16 children.

Admission is free for annual-pass holders with reservations. 293-3333.

On another cultural note, the High School Arts Festival also takes place from 9:30 a.m. Saturday in the center's Pacific Theater. Students will show their skills in Samoan traditions through friendly competitions such as basket weaving, coconut husking, fire making, singing and dancing. Admission is free.

He's got the blues

The last time blues brother guitarist Steve Freund played a Honolulu gig — at the Academy of Arts theater last August — he pretty much blew the full house of blues fans out of their seats. Now he's back for a pair of concerts tonight at Hale'iwa Joe's and tomorrow at Anna Bannana's. Freund, a purveyor of Chicago blues, is influenced by Sunnyland Slim, Otis Rush, Peter Green (of Fleetwood Mac) and Freddie King; his vocals are impressive, too. He just makes it look so easy. In Hale'iwa: 10 p.m. today, $10 at the door; 637-8005. In town: 9 p.m. tomorrow, $15 at the door, $10 advance; 946-5190. Homegrown blues band Third Degree opens up the Honolulu show; most of Third Degree opens up the one in Hale'iwa.

Saluting the military

Saturday is Armed Forces Day, and that means the annual red-white-and-blue concert of combined bands and singers from the Army, Marines, Navy and Air Force. Tunes will range from the patriotic to show tunes to contemporary. It takes place at 7 p.m. Saturday at Hawai'i Theatre and it's free. 528-0505.

The Bishop Museum also salutes the military with Family Sunday-Military Appreciation Day, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Among the attractions will be entertainment (Dita Holifield, noon-1:30 p.m.), food booths, crafts, a petting zoo, pony rides, kids' games and Planetarium shows. Demonstrations by Navy divers and the Marine K9 unit, an Army Humvee and a special robot from the Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit are also part of the event. And this is the last day to check out the "Life Through Time: From T.rex to Sabretooth" exhibit at the museum. Admission is $3 general, or $10 for a family of four (kids under 4 will be admitted free). Those with a Papa John's Pizza coupon flyer can attend for free (up to four people). 847-3511.

Spicing things up in Chinatown

Pepper — Bret Bollinger on bass and vocals, Kaleo Wassman on guitar and vocals and Yesod Williams on drums — bring their ska/punk/reggae sounds all the way from the Big Island for a concert tonight at Wo Fat in Honolulu's Chinatown. Also on the bill are Generic, Potluck and Friend of the Family. Pepper, which has been touring some western states, has a new release titled "Kona Town" and will join the Vans Warped Tour for 11 dates. Doors open at 9 p.m.; the bands start doing their thing at 10 p.m. Admission is $7. Wo Fat is at 115 N. Hotel St. 488-7534.

Also: Pepper joins O'ahu ska/rocksteady favorite Go Jimmy Go for a blowout 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Saturday night at South Seas Village/Hawaiian Hut at the Ala Moana Hotel. Go Jimmy Go also is destined for the Vans Warped Tour. Admission is $8 for those 18-20, $10 for those 21 and older. 941-5205.t

The laughs are on them

Veteran funny guys Bo Irvine and Jaz Kaner team up for two nights of laughs, one open to the general public, the other for the military crowd. Irvine has been performing for 16 years, including as the opening act for comedic stars such as George Carlin, Howie Mandel and Garry Shandling. Kaner has worked with Dennis Miller, Rodney Dangerfield, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carey; he's also known for his uncanny ability to wiggle his ears — honest! The laughs begin at 8 p.m. today at the Emporium Lounge and Comedy House in Pearl City, 98-1254 Kaahumanu St.; $12 (limited seating); 484-5753. Active military, retired military, DOD, dependents and guests are invited to the show that begins at 8 p.m. Saturday at the Take Two Lounge at Club Pearl at Pearl Harbor; free; 473-1743.

Make your way through the maze

Break out of that in-town rut and head over to Dole Plantation for a day in the country — 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday — that celebrates the fourth birthday of the Pineapple Garden Maze. The "World's Largest Maze," according to the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records, the thing covers more than two acres, with a path of 1.7 miles, so you'd better bring some comfy walking shoes, too. The birthday bash features 2-for-1 admission to the maze; free keiki crafts, a dinosaur bouncer and balloons; Hello Kitty and Pineapple Penny characters; Hypersquad dance performance at 10 a.m.; Firehouse Band at 11 a.m.; Na Leo Pilimehana at 1 p.m.; Ka Hula O Ululani at 2 p.m.; Aloha 'Ekahi at 3 p.m.; a country market of fresh produce, flowers and baked goods; and food. And Army personnel and military vehicles will be present, in conjunction with Armed Forces Day. Admission is free. Dole Plantation is at 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway, sort of in Wahiawa but mostly on the way to Hale'iwa. 551-3961.

Honoring royalty

Pay homage to the kings and queens of old at "Kupulau Aloha VI," a fund-raising concert and luncheon for Ka Pa Ku Kaiaulu, a school of Hawaiian culture and dance. The theme of the event is "Na Ali'i O Hawai'i," dances in honor of past Hawaiian royalty. The entertainment lineup includes Manini, Clyde Lono and Hawaiian Paradise, Del Beazley, Lei Pakalana Trio and Ka Pa Ku Kaiaulu. The festivities take place 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday at Likeke Hall, on the grounds of Kawaiaha'o Church. Admission, which includes a Hawaiian plate lunch, is $15 pre-sale and $20 at the door. 387-5639, 479-2480.

Stepping back in time

Journey down memory lane and celebrate the historical and architectural treasures of Honolulu 9:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Saturday during "A Capital Day, Down Capitol Way." This year marks the eighth annual observation of this nationwide event. Museums and historic locations in the capitol district — including 'Iolani Palace, Mission Houses Museum and Honolulu Academy of Arts — will offer free admission. Some of the day's events include:

• Opening ceremony at 9 a.m. at Honolulu Hale, with local entertainers followed by ongoing tours.
• Tours at Ali'iolani Hale, King Kamehameha V, Judiciary History Center (above), and Supreme Court.
• Tours at the Honolulu Police Department's Law Enforcement Museum, with an introduction to HPD's history by the curator.
• Guided tours of the 75-year-old YWCA, 9:30 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Plate lunches from Cafe Laniakea will be offered 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m.; a ceramics showcase sale takes place 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.
• Tours at Washington Place, former home of Queen Lili'uokalani and now the governor's residence, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Docent-led tours and children's tours at St. Andrews Cathedral, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tea and cookies will be served.
• Tours at the state Capitol, including the House and Senate chambers, the Governor and Lieutenant Governor's offices and the Public Access Room. Closing ceremonies are at 3 p.m.

523-2900.

Baby, baby, baby!

Unfold those strollers and pack those diaper bags, then head over to the New Baby Expo 2002, where more than 100 exhibitors targeting Hawai'i's prenatal to preschool market will be on hand. Some of the weekend's highlights include appearances by the Tooth Fairy at noon both days and Clifford the Big Red Dog at 11 a.m., 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday. The ever-popular Foremost Dairies Baby Crawling Contest, limited to 80 contestants, returns at 2 p.m. Saturday; registration takes place on site. Expectant mothers and their loved ones can enjoy refreshments, games and prizes at 2 p.m. Sunday during Hawai'i's Largest Baby Shower, which follows the Maternity Fashion Show by Makana Mother & Baby at 1:20 p.m. Registration begins at 1 p.m., and the shower is limited to 500 mothers. Free Infant CPR Awareness Classes will be offered by the American Heart Association at 10:30 a.m., 1:30 and 4 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Sunday. Each class is limited to 75 participants; to register, call 531-0174. Expo hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday at the Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall. Admission is $3.50 general, free for children 5 and younger. 239-2229.

Tenor tackles 'Turandot'

Acclaimed tenor and local-boy-made-really-good Keith Ikaia-Purdy comes home for a concert of highlights from Puccini's grand opera "Turandot." Ikaia-Purdy has been a member of the Vienna State Opera since the 1992-93 season. He and soprano Mary Jane Johnson (a regular guest at many of the world's most prestigious opera houses) join the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and Chorus in two shows, 4 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall; concert conversations take place an hour before each performance. Maestro Samuel Wong conducts. Tickets are $15, $25, $30, $40, and $55, available at the box office, Ticket Plus outlets and online at www.honolulusymphony.com. 792-2000.

Celebrating Southeast Asian traditions

The Hawai'i Ethnic Heritage Series continues to celebrate the different cultures of Hawai'i tonight with a Cambodian, Laotian and Vietnamese festival. The night's festivities include the local Cambodian community providing a full traditional Cambodian orchestra playing Chayum, a percussion procession, and dancers performing Ram Vong, a folk dance. The Lao-American community will hold a fashion show and demonstrate a traditional dance called Fon Saravanh. From the Vietnamese-American community, there will be a traditional and modern fashion show by Mai-Scherelle. Traditional Vietnamese dances will be performed, including the Cone Hat Dance, above, which is said to bring grace, charm and reflect a grand culture. Pho 97 and My Canh will offer a variety of Vietnamese food. The festival starts at 6:30 p.m. at Honolulu Hale. Free parking will be available at the Civic Center parking structure, and the event is free, too. 523-4674.