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Local favorite It's carnival time at Punahou The malassadas, the Hawaiian plate, the Greek gyros, the Portuguese bean soup, the art gallery, the midway of games and rides. Whatever the lure, the Punahou Carnival remains the favorite in the state, and it unfolds Feb. 7 and 8 on the school's Makiki campus. It's a scholarship fund-raiser, presented by the junior class, and yes, E.K. Fernandez provides the 20-plus rides. Free admission, but bring money for scrip for games, rides and grub. Hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. each day. 944-5711

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

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

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

STAGE: Feb. 1, 8, 15

"War" looks at the culture of violence in teenage boys, and how it affects their relationships with each other, adults and girls. It's a serious, even controversial, play by Canadian Dennis Foon, and it's the next production of the Honolulu Theatre for Youth. It plays to the public Feb. 1, 8 and 15 at Tenney Theatre. Tickets: $12 general, $6 for youths 3-18, free for kids 2 and younger. Recommended for those age 10 and older.

• 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 8, 15 / Tenney Theatre, St. Andrew's Cathedral / 839-9885

CONCERT: Feb. 2

"Ebony Daze," a musical tribute to Duke Ellington, will be staged Feb. 2 at the First Presbyterian Church as part of the Black History Month observance now under way. Performers will include Betty Loo Taylor, piano; Star Williams, vocals; Leon Williams, vocals; and the Royal Hawaiian Band and Ecumenical Chorale, conducted by Aaron Mahi. The program will tap some of the classics associated with The Duke — "Sophisticated Lady," "Moon Indigo," "Satin Doll," "Solitude" and "Take the 'A' Train." Free.

• 3 p.m. Feb. 2 / First Presbyterian Church, 1822 Ke'eaumoku St. / 532-1111

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. 5 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 Café / 526-4400, 589-1999

CONCERT: Feb. 8

Celebrate the birthday of reggae legend Bob Marley, Feb. 8 at the Hawaiian Hut as Maacho & Cool Connection, Ooklah the Moc and special guest vocalist April Wheeler from Los Angeles get in the groove. Tickets: $12 for those 18-20, $10 for those 21 and older.

• 10:30 p.m. Feb. 8 (doors open 9:30 p.m.) / Hawaiian Hut at the Ala Moana Hotel / 259-6326

CONCERT: Feb. 8

Willlie Nelson, a sometime Maui resident and country music icon, makes a rare and much anticipated Honolulu appearance when "Willie Nelson & Friends" take the Waikiki Shell stage at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8. Over six decades, Nelson has recorded more than 100 albums and logged hits such as "On the Road Again," "Always on My Mind" and "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" (an unlikely duet with Julio Iglesias). Tickets: $25, $35 and $45 for reserved seats, $18.50 ($22.50 on the day of the show) for unreserved lawn seats.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8 / Waikiki Shell / 526-4400 (Ticket Plus), 591-2211 (Blaisdell Center)

STAGE: Feb. 8-9

"The Vagina Monologues," Eve Ensler's provocative and hilarious comedy, will be revived in a two-day, three-performance run Feb. 8 and 9 at Leeward Community College's main stage theater. The production, a University of Hawai'i benefit to fund the Sex Abuse Treatment Center and Sisters Offering Support, is sponsored by the Hawai'i State Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and coincides with an annual national V-Day celebration of the off-Broadway hit play. Tickets: $10.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 8, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 9 / Leeward Community College Theatre / 440-4664

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

CONCERTS: Feb. 14, 15

How about some music for your valentine? Bla Pahinui, the Mountain Apple Co. and Dancing Cat Records singer-guitarist, and Rick Shea, a California singer-guitarist, will team up in a pair of concerts Feb. 14 at Waimea Falls Park and 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 the venues and at Tower Records and Flavormania ice cream shop in Hale'iwa.

• 8 p.m. Feb. 14 at the Pikake Pavilion at Waimea Falls Park, 9 p.m. Feb. 15 at Anna Bannanas / 638-851, 946-5190

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

FITNESS: Feb. 17

The 19th annual Great Aloha Run — an 8.15 mile route — will be held Feb. 17, beginning at Aloha Tower downtown and continuing on an ewa-bound route to the Aloha Stadium finish. You can run, walk, skip, stroll — it's one of those fitness events that's geared to a variety of levels of distance walk/runs. There will be entertainment and encouragement along the route, too. Advance sign-up required.

• Staggered starting times, Feb. 17 / Aloha Tower to Aloha Stadium / 528-7388

DINNER SHOW: Feb. 28-March 22

It's "Mardi Gras Follies" time at The Banyans at Pearl Harbor, with the usual parade of songs and dances, mostly performed in glitzy Las Vegas-style revue by a cast of military and civilians, directed by Jack Cione. The show is produced by the Pearl Harbor Performing Arts Association and will be performed on weekends only, preceded by a dinner. Details to be announced.

• 7:45 p.m. (buffet from 6:30 p.m.) weekends Feb. 28-March 22 / The Banyans at Pearl Harbor / 473-1703

COMING UP:

• Hula Bowl, Feb. 1, Maui War Memorial Stadium
• NFL Pro Bowl, Feb. 2, Aloha Stadium
• "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
• Terrance Simien, zydeco master, Feb. 22, Leeward Community College Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT ...

Reggae, mon: The Super Stars of Reggae Tour 2003, featuring Inner Circle and Ky-mani Marley, comes to the Islands Feb. 21-23. Tickets go on sale tomorrow. Details:

• 6:30 p.m. Feb. 21, Waikiki Shell; gates open 5 p.m. $23 lawn seats at the door ($18 advance), $23 second terrace seats, $25 first terrace, $30 pool; available at the Blaisdell box office and Ticket Plus outlets. 526-4400, 591-2211.
• 6:30 p.m. Feb. 22, Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium, Hilo; gates open 5:30 p.m. $30 at the door, $25 advance; available at MJS Music and CD Wizard in Hilo, Byrd's Audio in Waimea, Mele Kai Music in Kona. (808) 961-0651.
• 5 p.m. Feb. 23, Kukui Grove Park, Kaua'i; gates open 4 p.m. $30 at the door, $25 advance; available at Big Kmart, Larry's Music, Progressive Expressions, Hanalei Surf Company, Hale Rasta in Hanapepe. (808) 245-9527.

Wish list: Ballet Hawaii, which puts on the premier "Nutcracker" production during the yuletide (with live music by the Honolulu Symphony), wants a little live music for rehearsals. The organization, with studios at Dole Cannery, is seeking a donation of a piano for rehearsals. Call Judy Muncaster at Ballet Hawaii, 521-8600.

Homecoming: Alan Onickel, who starred in Diamond Head Theatre's "Singing in the Rain" years ago, is returning from New York City to guest-choreograph "Anything Goes," which the Castle Performing Arts Center will produce. The show, directed by Karen Meyer, goes on April 4-13 at the Ronald Bright Theatre at Castle. Onikel needs tap and jazz dancers for auditions 3-6 p.m. today on campus. 233-5636.

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.