The Buzz

Surf's up at the Hawaiian Hut

Despite its name, this bash isn't exclusively for wave riders. Anyone up for a good time can check out the Surf Into Winter Surf Party, 10 tonight to 2 a.m. at the Hawaiian Hut.

Groove to live bands Quadraphonix and The Four Elements, as well as DJs 45, above, and Mr. INC spinning hip-hop, soul and dancehall.

And what's a party without favors? There will be freebies all night long by Ezekiel and Transworld Surf Magazine, and one lucky guest will win a brand new surfboard from pro surfer Ross Williams. Admission is $10. For 18 and older. 941-5205.

Rock with the golden oldies

Call it an oldies-but-goodies-turned-Broadway musical.

Army Community Theatre's "Smokey Joe's Cafe" features classic tunes — "Charlie Brown," "Jailhouse Rock," "Spanish Harlem," "Stand By Me" and "Hound Dog," to name a few — by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, whom many consider the inventors of rock 'n' roll.

The show, which celebrates a golden age of American culture via song and dance, is directed and choreographed by Derek Daniels with musical direction by Carla T. Jones. Showtimes are 7 :30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15-16, 22-23, 29-30. Tickets are $14 or $17 general, $8 or $10 for children. 438-5230 or 438-4480.

Fluid Floyd (Lloyd Kandell) and the Restless Natives Dancers are ready to entertain you at "The Forbidden World of Don Tiki" Saturday night.

Another world

Jungle jazz meets Polynesian polyphonics at "The Forbidden World of Don Tiki," an elaborate stage show 9 p.m. Saturday at the Hawaiian Hut's South Seas Village.

"It's a hip, alternative, Polynesian revue meets Cirque du Soleil with top Hawai'i musicians and gorgeous, sultry Polynesian dancers," said producer Lloyd Kandell, also known as Don Tiki's Fluid Floyd. Special guests include Mihana Souza and Lopaka Col—n.

Those wanting to keep the tiki torches burning can party on at the post-show DJ party, 11:30 p.m.-2 a.m. with DJs Frank Orrall of Chicago, Keith Kandell of New York and Honolulu's G Dogg.

Tickets for the show and DJ party are $20 in advance and $25 at the door, or $10 after 11:30 p.m. for the DJ party only. Purchase tickets at Tower Records Ke'eaumoku Street and Kahala Mall. 941-5205, 256-4333.

Expression through dance

A collection of seven dance pieces emphasizing both the theatrical and the physical aspects of contemporary dance will be the subject of "Footholds I: Dancing Voices," a concert presented by the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Department of Theatre and Dance. Showtimes are 8 p.m. Wednesday-Nov. 16 and 2 p.m. Nov. 17 at Earle Ernst Lab Theatre.

The show is directed by Melissa Teodoro and Ana Paula Hofling, who reviews dance for The Advertiser, with all pieces choreographed by the two during their M.F.A. studies at UH.

Tickets are $3 for UH-Manoa students; $7 for other students, seniors, military and UH staff; and $9 for all others. Tickets may be purchased at the Kennedy Theatre box office or by calling 956-7655.

The heart of Waipahu

Food fanatics, rejoice: Those "Taste of" events just keep on comin'. For all-day grinds and rich community history, consider the Taste of Waipahu, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday at Waipahu District Park.

The second annual event includes cultural edibles from Cocina Filipina Restaurant, Hako Sushi, La Familia Restaurante Mexicano and Crown Court Restaurant, among many others.

Highlights include Hawai'i Plantation Village's historical tent with a talk-story area, pictures of old Waipahu and trolley tours of the village at reduced rates. Taste also will offer its share of entertainment, crafts and keiki games.

Early birds can check out the Taste parade, which will kick off the event 8 a.m., starting at the Waipahu Town Center, through Leo'ole, Waipahu and Paiwa streets, and ending at the park. Admission to the event is free. 677-6939.

Victoria Gail-White, Walter Eccles II and Eden-Lee Murray perform in "The Actor's Nightmare," one of two one-act plays beginning Wednesday at the Yellow Brick Studio.

Facing your fears with laughter

Comic playwright Christopher Durang explores two of humanity's greatest fears — Catholic-school nuns and public speaking — in "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains it All to You" and "The Actor's Nightmare," one-act plays presented by The Actor's Group and directed by David Farmer, showing Wednesday through Dec. 8 at the Yellow Brick Studio.

In the Obie Award-winning "Sister Mary," Durang uses his absurd humor to challenge the rigidity of religious beliefs, homophobia, marriage and parenthood. "Nightmare" is about a man who finds himself on stage during a performance, with no idea of what his lines are, what the play is about and whether he is even an actor. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $10. 591-7999.

Drums at the symphony

Taiko master Kenny Endo will join forces with the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra for a Halekulani Classical MasterWorks concert, 8 p.m. today and 4 p.m. Sunday at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

Endo will perform local composer Takeo Kudo's "Let Freedom Ring," for a synthesis of traditional Japanese drumming techniques, western jazz percussion styles and the symphony orchestra. The program also includes Bela Bart—k's "Concerto for Orchestra" and Maurice Ravel's "Le Tombeau de Couperin."

Tickets are $15-$57, and are available at the Blaisdell box office or any Ticket Plus outlets. Call 792-2000 or visit www.honolulusymphony.com.