What's Up!

Bobcat Goldthwait brings his comic act to Honolulu as the end of summer nears. The New York native's numerous guest starring roles on TV include "The Simpsons," "ER," "That '70s Show" and "CSI." Local funnyman Paul Ogata opens. Tickets: $25 for table seating and $20 for general admission. Goldthwait also appears at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center at 8 p.m. Aug. 30; tickets are $10, $20 and $30. (808) 242-7469.

• 8 p.m. Aug. 29 / Pipeline Café / 926-3000

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, Aloha Tower Marketplace / 955-8821

CONCERT: Aug. 30

1043 XME has just the thing to help you cool down during the hot season: The End of Summer Luau. The all day and all night event kicks off with games, prizes and entertainment from 10:30 a.m to 5 p.m., followed by a concert from 6 to 10 p.m. National recording artists Frankie J and Stagga Lee, right, will perform, along with local acts Zacc Kekona and The Next Generation. California-based Frankie J is known for his sexy hit "Don't Wanna Try" while rapper Stagga Lee's hot song "Roc Ya Body" fills dance floors across the nation. Tickets are $33.99 general or $22.99 kids for the all day and night event, with discount coupons available at the radio station's Web site. Admission to the concert only is $7.

• 10:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Aug. 30 / Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park / www.1043xme.com

MULTIMEDIA: Aug. 31

Girl Fest hosts the second of four multimedia fund-raisers this year with "Speakeasy, Speakout!" Following the theme of the Roaring '20s, this event promotes women's voices and is an educational forum to stop violence against girls and women. Spoken-word artists include Rebel Girl, Hawaiian Ryan, Kealoha and Selah Geissler, below. Modern dance performances include Christine Berwin, Sequoia and The House of Chandelier. Missing Dave, Sisters in Sound, Rea Fox and other performers add the musical entertainment. Film and videos will be shown from Women Make Movies, Kara Herold and Wendy Fong. Photojournalist Nobuko Oyabu and photo artists Elea Dumas and Kim Kinard will have expos all night. Doors open at 8 p.m. Cover: sliding scale of $7-$20.

• 9 p.m. Aug. 31 / Studio 1 / 945-0996

STAGE: Sept. 6-21

Sam-I-am, do you like green eggs and ham? If so, you'll love what Honolulu Theatre for Youth has in store for its season opener. HTY brings back its 1997 hit, Dr. Seuss's "Green Eggs and Ham" and "Gertrude McFuzz." But this time there's a twist, as the production will be produced in collaboration with the Hawaii Opera Theatre and the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra. Children ages 4 and older should enjoy the exciting music, colorful scenery and comedy in store. Tickets range from $6 to $24.

• 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. Saturdays and 1:30 p.m. Sundays Sept. 6-21 / Hawai'i Theatre / 839-9885

CONCERT: Sept. 5 and 7

The Honolulu Symphony's popular Halekulani MasterWorks season opens up with violinist Midori, right. This classical music star will perform Brahms Violin Concerto during two concerts. Midori has performed throughout Asia, Europe and the U.S., including Seattle, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. Born in Japan, Midori now lives in New York City with her two dogs. Samuel Wong serves as conductor. Tickets are $16, $28, $33, $44, $59.

• 8 p.m. Sept. 5 and 4 p.m. Sept. 7 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

STAGE: Sept. 10-28

Manoa Valley Theatre starts off its 2003-2004 season with a showing of "Bat Boy: The Musical." Based on a story in supermarket tabloid The Weekly World News Ledger, this comedy/horror show is about a half boy/half bat creature discovered in a cave in West Virginia. This off-Broadway hit is full of laughs and gasps. Tickets: $30.

• 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 10-28/ Manoa Valley Theatre / 988-6131

CONCERT: Sept. 22 and 29

Chamber Music Hawaii opens its 2003-2004 season with two performances by the Honolulu Brass Quintet, which is made up of members from the Honolulu Symphony. The ensemble will perform an all-sonata program, emphasizing on the early Italian versions. It will be an evening of Corelli, Scarlatti and Albinoni, three Italian baroque masters. Tickets: $20.

• 7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 at Paliku Theatre and Sept. 29 at Doris Duke Theater / 524-0815, ext. 245

ALOHA FESTIVALS: Sept. 12, 13, 19

Let the Aloha Festivals festivities begin!

The opening ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. Sept 12. at 'Iolani Palace, and the celebration continues in the heart of Honolulu's business district for the Downtown Ho'olaule'a. There's entertainment and local grinds along Bishop Street and at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Admission is free; $5 for Aloha Festivals ribbon.

• 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 / Bishop Street / 589-1771

Head for Waikiki Sept. 13 to watch the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade. Kalakaua Avenue will be filled with the heavenly scents and eye-catching colors of all kinds of flowers, along with hundreds of participants sharing their aloha. The procession includes pa'u riders, floral floats, hula halau and marching bands. Admission is free.

• 9 a.m. Sept. 13 / from Ala Moana Park to Kapahulu Avenue / 589-1771

Hawai'i's biggest block party makes a highly anticipated return Sept. 19 along Kalakaua Avenue. The Royal Court will be at the Ocean Lawn of The Royal Hawaiian to kick things off before heading to the Waikiki Ho'olaule'a to partake in the festivities, which include entertainment, food and arts and crafts. Featured entertainers include Augie Rey, Ka'ala Boys and Simplisity. Admission is free.

• 7-10:30 p.m. Sept. 19 / Kalakaua Avenue / 589-1771

COMING UP:

• Windward Ho'olaule'a, Sept. 6, Windward Community College
• Cinema Paradise Film Festival, Sept. 19-25, The Art House at Restaurant Row
• Shanghai Symphony Orchestra, Sept. 20, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Steel Pulse, Sept. 26, Volcanoes on Nimitz Highway, also Sept 25 Kaua'i, Sept. 27 Maui, Sept. 28 Hilo
• Yes, the '70s rock band, with the Honolulu Symphony, Sept. 27, Blaisdell Arena
• Steely Dan, Oct. 10 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; Oct. 11 at Blaisdell Arena
• "The Paper Bag Princess and Other Stories," Oct. 25-26, UH-Manoa Kennedy Theatre
• LeAnn Rimes, Nov. 1, Blaisdell Arena
• Dave Alvin, blues and folk artist, Nov. 15, Hawaiian Hut

BUZZING ABOUT:

On Lana'i: The Brothers Cazimero — Robert on bass and Roland on guitar — head for Lana'i for a concert at The Lodge at Koele as part of the Visiting Artist Program. Make your plans now: It's happening 8 p.m. Sept. 6. The performance is free and open to the public.

Starlight, stars bright: A pair of musical programs 'neath the stars will be held this fall at La Pietra, on the slopes of Diamond Head. On Sept. 13, the Honolulu Symphony, conducted by Stuart Chafetz, performs 7:30-8:30 p.m. (grounds open 5:30 p.m.) — $45, includes coffee, dessert and soft drinks (bring your own picnic suppers; tables will be set up). On Nov. 23, Sunset Jazz features Shari Lynn and other local musicians, 6-7 p.m. (grounds open at 5 p.m.) — $30, includes wine, dessert, coffee and soft drinks (bring your own picnic supper, lawn chairs, blankets). 922-2744, 924-7515.

Cool jazz: Watch for a Sept. 11 performance by Kohala, the cool Big Island guitar ensemble, at the Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel, plus a November concert at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio at Hawai'i Public Radio.

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.