What's Up!

Come on down to Ala Moana Beach Park for the 8th annual AT&T Dragon Boat Festival. Cheer on your favorite teams as the colorful boats race to the finish 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Aug. 9 and 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Aug. 10. The festival, with family fun, food and entertainment, takes place 10 a.m.-5 p.m. both days. Admission is free.

• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 9-10 / Ala Moana Beach Park/ 951-0350

DANCE: Aug. 10 and 24

The 63rd Na Hula Festival takes place over two Sundays in August. On Aug. 10, halau scheduled to perform include Puanani Alama Hula Studio, Leilani Alama Hula Studio and Halau Hula 'O Hokulani. On Aug. 24, entertainment will include Na Wahine O Ka Hula Maika Pu'u Wai, Royal Hawaiian Band, Gleemen Plus of Honolulu and Halau Hula 'O Pua 'A'ala Hone. Free.

• 11 a.m. Aug. 10 and 24 / Kapi'olani Park bandstand / 692-5118

CONCERT: Aug. 10

Hailing from Chicago, Grammy award winner Common heads for Hawai'i for a concert at Pipeline Cafe. This solo hip-hop act's latest album, "Electric Circus," is a followup to the critically acclaimed "Like Water for Chocolate." Tickets are $15 pre-sale, $20 at the door, for 18 and older. Doors open at 9 p.m., with the afterparty 1:30-4 a.m.

• 9:30 p.m.-1:30 a.m. Aug. 10 / Pipeline Café / 589-1999

CONCERTS: Aug. 14-16, 22-23

World music is the specialty of the San Diego-based trio named Calima, left, which begins a three-island tour Aug. 14 at Windward Community College's Paliku Theatre. The ensemble — guitarists Alejandro Guillen and Jimmy Patton and flutist Louisa West — performs flamenco rumba and Brazilian bossa nova, bebop and Latin-tinged Greek and Persian music. Tour details:

• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14, Paliku Theatre. $20 general, $18 seniors and military, $15 students and children. 235-7433, etickethawaii.com.
• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 15, Atherton Performing Arts Studio, Hawai'i Public Radio. $18. 735-2866, 262-2175.
• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 16, McCoy Studio, Maui Arts & Cultural Center. $18. (808) 242-7469.
• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 22, Blue Dolphin Restaurant, 61-3616 Kawaihae Road, Waimea, Hawai'i. $10. (808) 882-7771.
• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 23, Aloha Theatre, Kainaliu, Hawai'i. $12 general, $10 advance. (808) 322-2122.

CONCERT: Aug. 14

Known for the hit songs "Understatement" and "Head on Collision," emo rock band New Found Glory brings its sounds to the Islands for an all-ages concert. Its song "Forget About Everything" can be heard on the "American Wedding" soundtrack, the third installment of the naughty but funny "American Pie" movies ("Wedding" is scheduled to open in theaters Aug. 1). Tickets: $20.

• 7 p.m. Aug. 14 / Pipeline Café / 526-4400

CONCERT: Aug. 15

America's only all-deaf professional rock 'n' roll band, Beethoven's Nightmare, performs with local musicians during the "Live It Up Live, Hawai'i" benefit concert. The concert and party coincide with the Hawaii Sign Language Festival Aug. 16 and benefit VSA arts of Hawai'i-Pacific's "Artists Unlimited" project. Beethoven's Nightmare will also record two CDs with island musicians at the Atherton Studio during its stay. Concert tickets are $25, includes dinner.

• 5-10 p.m. Aug. 15 / Hard Rock Café / 946-7300

CONCERT: Aug. 15

The moon and music and more are yours at the next Aston Hawaii Full Moon Concert, featuring comics Lanai and Augie, below, the harmonizing Tradewinds, Na Hoku award winner 'Ale'a, contemporary musical group Reign and Island favorite Kapena. Bring a blanket and a picnic and enjoy the ambiance at the Kapi'olani Park bandstand; plate lunches and soft drinks also will be available. It's free.

• 6:30-9 p.m. Aug. 15 / Kapi'olani Park bandstand / 931-1435

CONCERT: Aug. 16

"Ka Himeni Ana," an evening of unamplified Hawaiian music, celebrates its 20th anniversary with a concert dedicated to musician-instructor-songwriter Winona Beamer. Beamer is also the mother of local favorites Keola and Kapono Beamer. The evening's entertainment features many of the first-place winners from "Ka Himeni Ana" concerts, including Ho'omaile, Lihau, Pai'ea, 'Ale'a, Pa'ahana, Kanilau, Moana Chang and Family, Hala'i and Kaleo 'O Kalamaola. Before the program begins, Mahi Beamer will play Hawaiian music on the Morton organ at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $6, $10, $15, $20, $25 and $30.

• 8 p.m. Aug. 16 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CONCERT: Aug. 17

Seven hours of festivities are in store at the 21st annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, which includes Hawaiian crafts and food in addition to performances by some of Hawai'i's top musicians. Among the artists scheduled to perform: Maunalua, Cyril Pahinui, George Kuo, Raymond Kane, Owana Salazar, Jeff Peterson, Makana, Barry Flanagan, below, Ernie Cruz Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, The Native Hawaiian Band featuring Raiatea Helm and others. Free.

• 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 17 / Kapi'olani Park bandstand / 239-4336

STAGE: Aug. 27-Sept. 28

The Actors' Group opens its 2003-2004 season with "The Guys," directed by Brad Powell. The play is a memorial of words to the Sept. 11 attacks, telling the true story of a fire captain who contacts a writer to help him craft eulogies for the eight men he lost in the World Trade Center attacks. That writer, Anne Nelson, is also the author of the play. Tickets: $10.

• 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays Aug. 27-Sept. 28 / Yellow Brick Studio / 722-6941, taghawaii.org

CONCERT: Aug. 30

All you blues lovers out there, listen up: The 3rd annual KIPO Blues Marathon is coming up at the end of August with 13 hours of non-stop blues. Seventeen local blues acts will groove on two stages, ending with an All-Star Jam at midnight. The lineup includes Blue Fuse, Jeff Said No!, Slim Mango, Biker Blues Band and Bluzilla with Keahi Conjugacion. Advance tickets are $20 general, $18 for members of Hawai'i Public Radio. At the door, tickets are $20 before 1 p.m., $25 afterward. Doors open at 11:30 a.m.

• Noon-1:30 a.m. Aug. 30 / Kapono's / 955-8821

COMING UP:

• Bobcat Goldthwait, Aug, 29 at Pipeline Café; Aug. 30 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center
• "Gypsy," Sept. 4-20, Army Community Theatre
• Midori, violinist in concert with the Honolulu Symphony, Sept. 5 and 7, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "Green Eggs and Ham & Gertrude McFuzz," a Honolulu Theatre for Youth production, Sept. 6-21, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Bat Boy: The Musical," Sept. 10-28, Manoa Valley Theatre
• Aloha Festivals Downtown Ho'olaulea, Sept. 12
• Aloha Festivals Floral Parade, Ala Moana Park to Kapi'olani Park, Sept. 13
• Cinema Paradise Film Festival, Sept. 19-25, The Art House at Restaurant Row
• Yes, the '70s rock band, with the Honolulu Symphony, Sept. 27, Blaisdell Arena

BUZZING ABOUT:

Comedy cues: Greg Azus, who is bringing Bobcat Goldthwait to Pipeline Café Aug. 29 (Aug. 30 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center), is also angling for Tommy Chong in December and Second City in March 2004. Laughter, anyone?

Pickin' opihi: Imua Garza, the sparkplug with the Opihi Pickers (whose "All for You" CD is off and running), has recorded and demo'd nearly 100 tunes since June of last year, bopping with jazz, rock, new age, Hawaiian, bluegrass, and, yes, Island rhythms. He's winding up a solo 'ukulele instrumental CD — hear that, Jake Shimabukuro? — with cutting-edge sizzle. It's due in October.

Hot stuff: It'll be Amy and Ernie — that's Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Ernie Cruz Jr. — together on Chai's Island Bistro's tiny stage 7-9 p.m. Aug. 6 and 13. Considering both are former Na Hoku Hanohano Award winners, it's a coup to get them together; he's toiled with her previously, but usually in back-up. Here, he gets equal time (if she lets him). Na Palapalai (this year's big Hoku winner) also has been on Chai's roster — last night, again tonight and Aug. 7 and 8.

Return to splendor: Elvis Wade brings "Aloha Again From Hawai'i" to the Waikiki Shell Aug. 16 (Aug. 14 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center), remembering The King's 30th anniversary of a live-from-Hawai'i concert (it was at the then-named Honolulu International Center Arena — now Blaisdell). The show will be carried live on Internet talk radio, SurfNet Media Group Inc., according to Wade's website, elviswade.com.

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.