What's Up!

February film premieres Feb. 7: "Shanghai Knights," "The Quiet American," "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days," "Deliver Us From Eva" Feb. 14: "Daredevil," "The Jungle Book II," "Max" Feb. 21: "Dark Blue," "Gods and Generals" (above), "The Life of David Gale," "Old School," Feb. 28: "Cradle 2 the Grave," "The Guest," "The Hunted"

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.

• 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Feb. 7-8 / Punahou School / 944-5711

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, right, 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. 9, 23, March 2, 9

And now for something completely different: Tales of the Arabian Nights will be told by Jeff Gere, right, accompanied by Steven Rosenthal on reeds and pipes and Reggae McGowen on percussion, and accented by Willow Chang's Middle Eastern dance, at the Doris Duke theater of the Honolulu Academy of Arts. The performances are free. Here's the schedule:

• Feb. 9: "The Garden of Earthly Delights"
• Feb. 23: "The City of Brass"
• March 2: "Fisherman's Tale"
• March 9: "The Three One-Eyed Men"

Information: jeffgere@lava.net

The ensemble also will perform at Indigo restaurant's Opium Den Feb. 7 and 14 ("The Garden of Earthly Delights"); Feb. 21 ("The City of Brass"); Feb. 28 ("Fisherman's Tale"); and March 7 and 14 ("The Three One-Eyed Men"). Tickets are $20 and include a glass of champagne; limited to 30 seats. 521-2900.

VALENTINE'S DAY: Feb. 14

Ginny Tiu, pianist, and John Valentine, singer, will aim for the heart when they reunite (they did a similar gig last year) for a Valentine's Day dinner show, Feb. 14 at the Banyan Veranda of the Sheraton Moana Surfrider. Expect love songs a-plenty and a gourmet feast, from soup to nuts (and yes, including dessert). Reservations recommended.

• Dinner hour, Feb. 14 / Banyan Veranda, Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel / 922-3111

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," left. 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

CONCERTS: Feb. 14, 15

How about some music for your valentine? The Hawaiian Blues Mango Band, featuring Bla Pahinui; and Rick Shea, right, a California singer-guitarist, will team up in a pair of concerts Feb. 14 at Waimea Falls Park and Feb. 15 at Anna Bannanas. 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

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

CONCERTS: Feb. 21-23

Grammy winners Inner Circle and Ky-Mani Marley, two of reggaedom's best, headline Budweiser True Music's Superstars of Reggae Tour 2003, heading this-a-way for three playdates on as many islands.

The playdates:

• O'ahu — Feb. 21, 6:30 p.m., Waikiki Shell. Gates open at 5 p.m. Reserved tickets: $30 pool, $25 first terrace, $23 second terrace; grass seats, $18 ($23 on show day); at the Blaisdell Center box office and Ticket Plus locations. 526-4400, 591-2211.
• Big Island — Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m., Edith Kanaka'ole Stadium, Hilo. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door on show day; at MJS Music and CD Wizard in Hilo, Byrd's Audio in Waimea, Mele Kai Music in Kona. (808) 962-0651.
• Kaua'i — Feb. 23, 5 p.m., Kuku'i Grove Park. Gates open at 4 p.m. Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door on show day; at Big Kmart, Larry's Music, Progressive Expressions, Hanalei Surf Company and Hale Rasta in Hanapepe. (808) 245-9527.

CONCERT: Feb. 25

The University of Hawai'i Bands, featuring the UH Wind Ensemble and the Symphonic Band, give a concert Feb. 25 at Kennedy Theatre. Expect a mix of classical and popular fare, with Grant Okamura and Thomas Bingham conducting. Tickets: $6, $10.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 / Kennedy Theatre / 95-MUSIC

COMING UP:

• Kamehameha Schools Ho'olaule'a 2003, March 1, Kamehameha Schools
• "The Last Paving Stone," by Honolulu Theatre for Youth, March 1, Leeward Community College Theatre
• "Drums Under the Windows," Sunday @ 2 Matinee Readers Theatre, March 2-16, Richardson Theatre, Fort Shafter
• Aspen Ballet, March 2, Leeward Community College Theatre
• "Beehive," March 5-23, Manoa Valley Theatre
• The Brothers Cazimero, March 7, Hawai'i Theatre
• Hawai'i Music Awards, March 15, Kapono's
• Olomana, April 4, Hawai'i Theatre
• Hawai'i International Film Festival, April 11-17, Dole Signature Theatres
• 10th Annual Gourmet Affair, April 19, Hilton Hawaiian Village

BUZZING ABOUT:

Cho biz: Margaret Cho brings her "Revolution Tour" to Hawai'i in April, playing at 7:30 p.m. April 12 at the Waikiki Shell (reserved tickets, $35, $45; grass seats, $25), and at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at Castle Theatre, Maui Arts & Cultural Center (reserved tickets, $45, $29.50). On sale tomorrow at Ticket Plus locations and the Blaisdell box office in Honolulu, at the MACC box office in Kahului.

Chansons d'amour: Instead of flowers or candy, you can send your valentine a Singing Valentine Feb. 13-15. Barbershop quartets will present a card, a rose, and two songs, and chirp away at your place of choice (home, restaurant, workplace, hospital). Reservations required, of course, and denote your requests, too. $50. Call 262-SONG (7664).

Some enchanted evening: Keali'i Reichel, the only solo performer to consistently sell out his shows at Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theatre, will deliver his Kukahi 2003 spectacle Feb. 14-16. (808) 242-7469.

Symphony add-ons: Pianist Jon Nakamatsu gives a recital at 7:30 p.m. May 27 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. What's exciting: He'll tickle the ivories on the symphony's new Steinway Concert Grand Piano. And Bobby McFerrin ("Don't Worry, Be Happy") does a one-nighter, under symphony auspices, at 8 p.m. March 22 at the concert hall.

And all that jazz: For those who query, and complain, about the lack of jazz on Island radio, hear, hear: Art Good has launched "Jazz Trax," from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. every Sunday (lift-off was last week) on KUMU Lite 94.7 on the FM dial.

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.

Correction: An item in a previous version of this calendar gave the wrong phone number to buy a singing valentine. Call 262-SONG (7664) to arrange for a singing valentine Feb. 13 to 15.