What's Up!

LOCAL FAVORITE A treasure trove of Hawaiian songs Bill Kaiwa, above, and Nina Keali'iwahamana, performers well-rooted in mele pulama ea, or treasured Hawaiian songs, will kick off the 14th season of the Honolulu Academy of Arts' Na Mele O Hawai'i series at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 15 at the Doris Duke theater. A trio of stellar musicians will also be on hand: Martin Pahinui, vocalist-guitarist; George Kuo, ki ho'alu specialist; and Aaron Mahi, Royal Hawaiian Band master on bass and vocals. Tickets: $18 general, $15 members. 532-8700.

It's the movie a whole bunch of kids and adults have been waiting for: the second installment based on the overwhelming best-sellers, "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets." Word is the wizard Harry and pals have matured a bit and that this second film (the first reaped nearly $1 billion worldwide) has more thrills. Expected to open at a zillion theaters around the islands.

CONCERT: Nov. 15

Kalapana, the contemporary Hawaiian music group, will make its first appearance in the Hawai'i Theatre's Hana Hou series Nov. 15 at the Hawai'i Theatre. The group, which features members Gaylord Holomalia, Malani Bilyeu, D.J. Pratt and Kenji Sano, has logged an impressive stable of hits, most dating back to the 1970s. Remember "Naturally," "The Hurt," "You Make It Hard," "Nightbird," "When the Morning Comes" and "Moon and Stars"? Tickets: $30.

• 8 p.m. Nov. 15 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CONCERT: Nov. 15, 16

When Keola Beamer, the renowned singer, composer and ki ho'alu wizard, makes his Honolulu Symphony Pops debut Nov. 15 and 16 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, his signature song, "Honolulu City Lights," will be rendered in a newly-arranged symphony treatment by pops maestro Matt Catingub. Beamer's wife, Moana, will hula. The Valley Isle's Uluwehi Guerrero will also be a guest artist, sharing his sweet falsetto for the first time with the orchestra. Ah, Hawaiiana heaven! Tickets: $15-$57.

• 8 p.m. Nov. 15, 16 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000 (symphony), 526-4400 (Ticket Plus)

CONCERT: Nov. 16

The Herold String Quartet from the Czech Republic performs Nov. 16 at Orvis Auditorium, University of Hawai'i-Manoa, as part of the Hawai'i Chamber Music Series. The Prague group includes Peter Zdvihal, first violin; Jan Valta, second violin; Karel Untermeller, viola; and David Havelik, cello. A meet-the-artists reception, from 6:30 p.m. in the UH music building room 36, precedes the concert. Tickets: $24 general, $15 students, at the UH Campus Center.

• 7:30 p.m. Nov. 16 / Orvis Auditorium, UH-Manoa / 956-3836

CONCERT: Nov. 17

Reel Big Fish, the ska and rock band from Southern California, will perform again at World Café, with Go Jimmy Go opening the show. The Fish now includes Aaron Barrett, Carlos De La Garza, Tyler Jones, Scott Klopfenstein, Dan Regan, and Matt Wong. Tickets: $17.50.

• 7 p.m. Nov. 17 (doors open at 6 p.m.) / World Café / 526-4400

CONCERT: Nov. 17

"He Makana O Na Mele (The Gift of Music)," a fund-raiser by and for the Hawai'i Youth Symphony Association at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, will feature the Youth Symphony I directed by Henry Miyamura. The guest artist will be Maui-based Keali'i Reichel, award-winning singer, composer, kumu hula and Hawaiiana scholar, who makes an exclusive appearance with some friends. A silent auction also is slated. Tickets: $65, $125 (premium tables, $600-$2,500).

• 5:30 p.m. Nov. 17 / Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom / 988-1338

CONCERT: Nov. 22, 23

Wycliffe Gordon brings his jazz trombone (he fronts a quartet) for a pair of concert gigs, Nov. 22 at the Ko'olau Golf Club Ballroom in Windward O'ahu, and Nov. 23 at Orvis Auditorium at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. He's a heavy when it comes to improv, so expect a hot jam. Tickets: $20, $15.

• 7:30 p.m. Nov. 22 at Ko'olau Golf Club Ballroom, 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 at Orvis Auditorium / 956-6878

STAGE: Nov. 22, 23

"Round Pegs, Square Pegs," an anti-war play by Mary Hall Surface, will be directed by Debra Jean Zwicker, an M.F.A. candidate in youth theater, Nov. 22 and 23 at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa Campus Center Ballroom. The metaphorical production, embracing a giant abacus, peg missiles, movement and dialogue to promote peace and remind children that they have the power to make a difference, is a project of the University's Department of Theatre and Dance, the Student Organization of Theatre and Dance and the Associated Students at the University of Hawai'i. Tickets: $7 general, $5 seniors, $3 UH students and children under 12.

• 7 p.m. Nov. 22, 23 / UH Campus Center Ballroom / 956-9977

CONCERT: Nov. 22, 24

Vivaldi's Four Seasons, which almost never is out of season, will be performed by the Honolulu Symphony, under the baton of guest conductor JoAnn Falleta, in a pair of Halekulani MasterWorks concerts Nov. 22 and 24 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Adele Anthony, violinist, also is on the bill. Tickets: $15-$57.

• 8 p.m. Nov. 22, 4 p.m. Nov. 24 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

CONCERT: Nov. 23

Richard Thompson, a cult favorite for three decades, resurfaces again in Hawai'i with a performance Nov. 23 at the Doris Duke at the Academy. He's an icon among serious folk/rockers, who know him as a singer, a songwriter and a guitarist with enormous prowess on all fronts. Ledward Ka'apana will be the special guest. Tickets: $30.

• 7:30 p.m. Nov. 23 / The Doris Duke at the Academy / 532-8700

CONCERT: Nov. 23

The highly-touted Maurice Duruflé "Requiem" will be featured in a Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and Chorus program Nov. 23 at Blaisdell Concert Hall, and the voice of the moment, Honolulan Quinn Kelsey will be a soloist. He's just back from a summer with the San Francisco Opera's Merola Program, but is en route to Chicago for a year's apprenticeship with the Chicago Lyric Opera, so this is an opportunity to experience an opera star of tomorrow. Mezzo-soprano Milagro Vargas also will be a soloist and two conductors are also aboard: JoAnn Falletta, music director of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and the Virginia Symphony, who will conduct the Honolulu orchestra, and Karen Kennedy, who is director of the symphony chorus. Tickets: $15-$57.

• 8 p.m. Nov. 23 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000 (symphony), 526-4400 (Ticket Plus)

BENEFIT JAZZ: Nov. 24

"Sunset Jazz, Etc.," a La Pietra-Hawai'i School for Girls benefit, unites two of the best in jazz vocal dynamics, Shari Lynn and Jimmy Borges. Fascinatin' Rhythm provides the back-up, and saxophonist Gabe Baltazar is a guest artist. Lawn opens at 5 p.m. for picnicking; music begins at 6 p.m. Bring lawn chairs (the ground can be tough), blankets (there could be a chill in the evening) and picnic baskets (you may get your jazz appetite fulfilled, but the hunger pangs may linger). Tickets: $30, includes wine, dessert, coffee and soft drinks.

• 5-7 p.m. Nov. 24 / Hawai'i School for Girls at La Pietra / 924-7515

HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS: Dec. 7-Jan. 5

Honolulu's brightest holiday attraction, the annual Honolulu City Lights, premieres Dec. 7 with the usual downtown flair and finery: Christmas music from 4 p.m. on the Honolulu Hale lawn, where there will be entertainment and food booths; a Kawaiaha'o Church service across the street at 4 p.m.; a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m.; the Electric Light Parade at 6:30 p.m. The parade has a different route this year, beginning at Aala Park, traveling on King Street to City Hall; doors to the Honolulu Hale exhibits open at 6:30 p.m. (thereafter, viewing hours will be from 8 a.m.-11 p.m. daily); lawn entertainment, coordinated by Tom Moffatt, starts at 7 p.m.; Santa checks in at 7:30 p.m. at Skygate. Of course, the various lighted displays along Beretania, King, Bishop, Alapai and Kapi'olani will be a-twinkling overnight for late-hour viewing. Free.

• Various times Dec. 7-Jan. 5 / Honolulu Hale and downtown routes / 523-4385

COMING UP:

• Dessert Fantasy 2002, Nov. 17, Pacific Beach Hotel
• "Theatrefest 2002," Nov. 22-23, Tenney Theatre
• Social Distortion, Nov. 29, World Café
• "Dragon Tales Live," Nov. 29-Dec. 8, Blaisdell Arena
• "The Sound of Music," Dec. 6-22, Diamond Head Theatre
• Festival of Trees, Dec. 6-8, Ward Warehouse
• Kane'ohe Christmas Parade, from Windward Mall, along Kamehemeha Highway, to Kane'ohe Bay Drive and Castle High School
• Quiet Riot, Dec. 7-9, Gussie L'Amour's
• Gingerbread Festival, Dec. 8, Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
• "Cookin'," Dec. 11-14, Hawai'i Theatre
• Punk on a Rock, Dec. 14, Pipeline Cafe
• Pink, Dec. 18, Blaisdell Arena
• "Luma: Theatre of Light," Dec. 19-22, Hawai'i Theatre
• Sony Open in Hawai'i, Jan. 13-19, Wai'alae Country Club

BUZZING ABOUT:

The color of ... : Pop queen Pink, whose last release "M!ssundaztood" went double platinum, makes her Island debut at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18 at the Blaisdell Arena. Tickets — $37.50, $45.50 — go on sale tomorrow at the box office and Ticket Plus outlets. 526-4400.

Favorite fling: Carla Waterfield will be Maria, Robert Frederick will be Capt. Von Trapp when Diamond Head Theatre revives "The Sound of Music" Dec. 6-22. Greg Zane is guest director, and he's tapped Teresa Bomberger as Mother Abbess, John Hunt as Max, and Valerie Vedder as Elsa — relatively fresh talent for DHT audiences. The Von Trapp children will be Katherine Mills as Leisl, Samuel Roeca as Friedrich, Keely Schneider as Louisa, Jack Smart as Kurt, Kim Anderson as Brigitta, Katherine Clifton as Marta and Madeline Sault as Gretl. OK, all together now, "do-re-mi" ...

Duty calls: Choreographer-dancer Ronald K. Brown, in town last weekend with his Evidence company for a pair of concerts, had to zip back to the Mainland. He's choreographing a play called "Crowns" tomorrow night in The Big Apple.

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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.