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Local favorite Narcissus, bonsai on exhibit, too Narcissus plants and bonsai specialties will be on display Feb. 8 and 9 at the Honolulu Academy of Arts courtyards. Blooming Narcissus plants coincide with Chinese New Year's; a Hawai'i Bonsai Association display, tapping plants from eight bonsai clubs throughout Honolulu, also will be on view. The special attraction honors retiring academy director George Ellis; regular museum admission includes the plant displays. 591-8049, 532-8700.

Tower of Power, which defined hipness with its "What Is Hip?" hit of the 1970s, remains a mobile, powerful and ebullient ensemble, constantly reinventing itself amid changes musical landscapes over the disco, country-western, even hip-hop decades. Now they're coming back, in a one-nighter, Jan. 25 at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawaii Ballroom, and Power soulsters will still find wallop and drive in that horn section. Members have changed, but the memories — and magic — linger on. Tickets: $35, $45.

• 8 p.m. Jan. 25 / Hawaii Ballroom, Sheraton Waikiki Hotel / 526-4400

STAGE: Jan. 31-Feb. 16

It's hana-hou time for "Sea Marks," a drama by the late Gardner McKay, which director Joyce Maltby is reviving, starting Jan. 31 at the Hawai'i Pacific University Theatre, at HPU's Windward campus. The original cast has been retained from the original production directed by Maltby at Manoa Valley Theatre last year; Annie MacLachlan is Timothea and Peter Kamealoha Clark plays Colm, who are drawn together and ultimately face lifestyle clashes. Tickets: $14 general, $10 seniors, military, students, HPU faculty, $5 HPU students.

• 8 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; 4 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 31- Feb. 16 / HPU Windward campus / 375-1282

OPERA: Jan. 31, Feb. 2, 4

Pomp and pageantry return to the Blaisdell Concert Hall as the Hawaii Opera Theatre's 42nd season begins with a production of "Eugene Onegin." It's the tale, based on Alexander Pushkin's classic poem, of a dashing but jaded aristocrat and his romances, which have tragic consequences. Tickets: $27-$95, at the HOT box office (985 Waimanu St., 10 a.m.-5 p.m. weekdays) and the Blaisdell box office; www.hawaiiopera.org.

• 8 p.m. Jan. 31, 4 p.m. Feb. 2, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 4 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 596-7858; 800-836-7372 from the Neighbor Islands

STAGE: Jan. 31-Feb. 16

Watch for verbal fireworks when Diamond Head Theatre revives Dale Wasserman's play, based on the Ken Kesey novel, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," starting Jan. 31. Allen Cole stars as the volatile Randle McMurphy, the firecracker in a mental institution ruled over by Bridget Kelly as Nurse Ratched. Bill Ogilvie directs a cast that also includes Anthony Anderson, Barbara Kaneshiro, Brent Yoshikami, Chris Ciufo, Dan Hale, Ely 'Aina Rapozo, Eric Griffith, Gene DeFrances, Todd Savoian, Jack Rosenzweig, Jodie Yamada, John Mussack, Melanie Garcia, Jeff Dee, Randl Ask, Martin Monahan and Robert Thomas. Tickets: $10-$40.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, Jan. 31-Feb. 16 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

NEW YEAR: Feb. 1

Happy Year of the Ram! Market City Shopping Center rings in the Chinese new year with traditional lion dances, fire crackers and fortune cookies beginning at 10 a.m. Feb. 1, at the lower parking level. In the Chinese lunar calendar, the Year of the Ram begins Feb. 1 and runs through Jan. 21, 2004.

• From 10 a.m. Feb. 1 / Market City Shopping Center / 734-0282

STAGE: Feb. 5-March 2

What is art? That's the question to ponder — and yes, the answer is in the eye of the beholder — in Yasmina Reza's Tony Award-winning play, "Art," which premieres Feb. 4 at The Actors Group's Yellow Brick Studio, at 625 Keawe St. David Farmer is Serge, Russell Motter is Yvan and Mark Stitham is Marc, who have different takes on the significance of a pivotal painting, with the viewpoints threatening their friendship. Dave Donnelly directs. Tickets: $10.

• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 5-March 2 / Yellow Brick Studio / 591-7999

CONCERT: Feb. 7

Jimmy Eat World pauses in Honolulu Feb. 7 at the Pipeline Cafe, after a tour of Australia and New Zealand. Surely, they'll perform "The Middle," their summertime hottie, and more. Tickets: $20, at Tower Records, Cheapo Music, 808 Skate Kailua, and Ticket Plus outlets.

• 7 p.m. Feb. 7 / Pipeline Cafe / 526-4400, 589-1999

VALENTINE'S SHOW: Feb. 14

Frank DeLima plays Cupid — well, he does enjoy playing other people — when he hosts a Valentine's Day dinner show from 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Palace Showroom of the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel. DeLima and his Na Kolohe sidekicks, Robert Nishida and David Kauahikaua, will perform for lovers and the romantically inclined. Seating for a dinner buffet begins at 7 p.m., show is at 8 p.m. Tickets: $39.50 for adults, $19.50 for children 12 and under, includes a drink or beverage; show-only, $22 for adults, free for children with paying adults, plus a two-drink minimum.

• 8 p.m. Feb. 14 / Palace Showroom, Ohana Reef Towers Hotel / 923-SHOW, 922-6408

DANCE CONCERT: Feb. 14-23

"Dance Korea," with contemporary choreography by South Korean artist Jeong Ho Nam, celebrates the 100th anniversary of Korean immigration. Ten of her students from the Korea National University of the Arts will join University of Hawai'i-Manoa dancers in a performance of her work, "Wanderers." Nam's students also will offer a world premiere of another of Nam's works; a finale will feature Korean drum dances choreographed by localite Mary Jo Freshley. Tickets: $12 general, $10 seniors, military, and UH faculty, $8 students, $3 UHM students.

• 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, Feb. 14-23 / Kennedy Theatre / 526-4400, 956-7655

STAGE: Feb. 28-March 9

"Once on This Island," a musical by Lyn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty and a dancing-actor's (or actress') dream to strut his/her stuff, brings tropics-inspired syncopation to the Kaimuki Performing Arts Center stage starting Feb. 28. Peggy Anne Siegmund directs; Nanilisa Pascua handles musical direction and Vernon Campbell choregraphs. Tickets: $8 general, $5 students and seniors over 65; March 8 performance is a benefit for the Kaimuki Alumni Association scholarship ($10).

• 7:30 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 3 p.m. March 9 / Kaimuki Performing Arts Theatre 733-4913

COMING UP:

• "War," a Honolulu Theatre for Youth production, Feb. 1, 8, 15, Tenney Theatre
• "The Magic Flute" opera, Feb. 14, 16, 18, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "Godspell," by Army Community Theatre, Feb. 27, Richardson Theatre, Ft. Shafter.
• "La Boheme" opera, Feb. 28, March 2, 4, 6, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• The Brothers Cazimero, March 7, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Spirit of the Dance," March 11-16, Hawai'i Theatre
• Frederica Von Stade, opera star, March 21, 23, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• The Makaha Sons, March 29, Leeward Community College Theatre.
• Spring craft fair, April 26, Hawai'i Okinawa Center.
• "The Robbers," April 26, Kennedy Theatre
• "Spirit of the Dance," March 11-16, Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

On the road again: Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. Saturday for a Willie Nelson concert at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 at the Waikiki Shell. Tickets: $25, $35, $45 (reserved), $18.50 (unreserved, $22.50 on show day), at the Blaisdell Center box office (591-2211) and Ticket Plus outlets (526-4400).

Love is in the air: Bla Pahinui, Mountain Apple Co. and Dancing Cat Records singer-guitarist, and Rick Shea, a California singer-guitarist, will team up in a pair of Valentine's weekend concerts, 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Pikake Pavilion at Waimea Falls Park, and 9 p.m. Feb. 15, at Anna Bannanas. The Blue Mango Band, featuring guitar virtuoso Chris Planas, will provide accompaniment. Tickets: $20 on sale starting Jan. 25 at both venues (638-851, 946-5190), Tower Records and Flavormania ice cream shop in Hale'iwa.

That "Island Feeling": Winter Bash 2003, a concert celebrating Ten Feet's CD "Island Feeling Part II," begins at 5 p.m. Jan. 25 at the Waikiki Shell. Doors open at 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 lawn, $16.50 upper terrace, $18.50 lower terrace, $25 pool; on sale at Blaisdell box office and Ticket Plus outlets. Also on the bill are Natural Vibes, Three Plus, Ho'onu'a, Pati, B.E.T. and others.

Pacific diary: Rhonda, the single-monickered Queen of the South Pacific, makes a Waikiki re-entry Jan. 24 at the Esprit Nightclub, Sheraton Waikiki. Her mentors are Jack Cione and Yemun Chung, the behind-the-sceners in Randy Smith's recent Frank Sinatra tribute slot, at 7:45 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, which Rhonda is inheriting. 922-4422.

Opening attraction: The Courage Band, from the Bahamas, will be the warm-up band for Big Mountain, at 7 p.m. today and Saturday at Kapono's at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Why is Big Mountain doing a waterfront gig at Kapono's? Lead singer Quino is a longtime ally of club owner Henry Kapono — an instance of friends helping friends.

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.