What's up!

Local favorite Bring the family What to do after all the excitement of the Fourth of July? Head for the Bishop Museum July 6 for a Family Sunday that features entertainment by Kapena, Ka'ala Boys and comic Mark Allen; food and crafts; the new exhibit "Robotics" (left); and a new planetarium show, titled "Red Planet Mars." Hours are 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; admission is $3 general, $10 for a family of four. 847-3511.

New York-based Covenant Dance Theatre presents a dancing homage to WWII second-generation Japanese American veterans in "Nisei." Choreographer Marla Hirokawa, a Hilo native, created the performance in honor of her late father, Lawrence. He was a soldier in the 100th Battalion and received a Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Students from Ballet Hawaii and 26 dancers from New York perform in the show, along with color guards, taiko drummers and actor/playwright Lane Nishikawa. After the performance will be walk-on appearances by WWII veterans from Hawai'i. Tickets: $35 with discounts for children, seniors and military/veterans. Tickets for the opening night gala on July 3 are $100 for dinner and the show or $50 for just the performance, to benefit the Library of Congress Veterans History Project in Hawai'i. Neighbor Island performances: Kaua'i Community College Performing Arts Center, July 8; University of Hawai'i-Hilo theatre, July 11-12; Maui Arts & Cultural Center Castle Theater, July 15.

• 8 p.m. July 3, 7:30 p.m. July 4, 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. July 5 / Leeward Community College Theatre / 947-5702

CONCERT: July 3

Breathe in the fresh country air while relaxing to some cool tunes at Turtle Bay Resort's "Guitars Under the Stars," featuring jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour, Zanuck Lindsey and Azure McCall and Friends. Go stargazing with telescopes and astronomy lessons by Litebox Telescopes. There will be food and beverage booths, and North Shore farm-grown produce stands. The night won't be complete without a dazzling fireworks display after the concert. Tickets: $22 advance, $28 at the door. Parking is $5. Blankets and low-backed chairs are welcome, but no coolers, outside alcohol, large bags or backpacks allowed.

• Doors open 6 p.m. July 3 / Turtle Bay Resort / 293-8811

FESTIVAL: July 4-6

Kick off Independence Day weekend with the popular summer bash, BayFest. Musical headliners include rockers Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, country icon Neal McCoy and alterna-cool band Everclear. The famous Grucci Brothers Fireworks are back, with colorful shows each night. There will be games, contests, giveaways, boat rides and car shows. E.K. Fernandez brings the midway to the windward side, offering rides for all ages. No backpacks or coolers are allowed. Pre-sale tickets are $8, and includes one adult admission, three carnival rides and two Papa John's pizza coupons.

• Noon-2 a.m. July 4-5, noon-midnight July 6 / Marine Corps Base Hawai'i / 254-7679

CONCERT: July 6

Surfer-filmmaker-musician Jack Johnson returns to the Islands to bring his acoustic surf-folk sound back home. Songs from the North Shore native's newest album, "On and On," which was recorded in Hawai'i, can be heard on airwaves across the nation. Count yourself lucky if you scored tickets to this all-ages show; it's sold out.

• 8 p.m. July 6 / Pipeline Café / 526-4400

CONCERT: July 11

Local and international 'ukulele stars will light up the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel with "Ukulele! The Legend Continues." Local talent includes Kelly Boy DeLima and son Kapena, Jake Shimabukuro and Herb Ohta Jr. The Langley Ukulele Ensemble from British Columbia, will also appear, along with members James Hill and Paul Luongo. Tickets are $35 and $45, including two drinks.

• 7:30 p.m. July 11 / Sheraton Waikiki Hotel, Hawaii Ballroom / 931-8383

CONCERT: July 11

Hailing from Little Rock, Evanescence, known for the hit song "Bring Me To Life" from the band's debut album "Fallen," is heading to town. "Bring Me To Life" is currently No. 5 on Billboard's Top 10 Singles list. Featuring Amy Lee on vocals, Ben Moody on lead guitar, John LeCompt on guitar and Rocky Gray on drums, get ready to rock with a dark twist. Tickets: $20, all ages.

• 7 p.m. July 11 / Pipeline Café / 526-4400

CONCERT: July 11

Hear harmonious chamber melodies performed with jazz, Latin American and other ethnic influences when contemporary classical music band Ufonia presents a concert at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. Composed of Benjamin Verdery (guitar), John Marshall (percussion) and Keith Underwood (flute), each member is established in the classical musical scene and are teachers as well. Verdery heads the guitar department at Yale University, Marshall instructs at Washington Montessori and The Gunnery schools in Connecticut, and Underwood teaches at New York University and Mannes College of Music. Tickets: $18 general, $15 students, seniors, museum members.

• 7:30 p.m. July 11 / Doris Duke Theater / 532-8703

STAGE: July 16-Aug. 3

This powerful docu-drama closes out Manoa Valley Theatre's current season with a look at a horrific event and its aftermath. Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old college student, was murdered in Laramie, Wyo., the victim of a hate crime because he was gay. "The Laramie Project" is based on a series of interviews with the citizens of Laramie as they struggle to understand and come to terms with the crime. Tickets: $25, discounts for seniors, military and those 25 and younger.

• 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays, July 16-Aug. 3 / Manoa Valley Theatre / 988-6131

CONCERT: July 18-19

The Hawaii International Jazz Festival celebrates its 10th year with an all-star lineup of international and local artists including Makoto Ozone, Nestor Torres, Larry Coryell, left, Keahi Conjugacion, Tierney Sutton, and the Honolulu Jazz Quartet. The festival takes place over two weekends on O'ahu and Maui with concerts, jam sessions and jazz clinics. Tickets are $30 and $45.

• July 18-19 on O'ahu, July 25-26 on Maui / 941-9974, www.hawaiijazz.com

CONCERT: July 20

It's time for some smooth, slow grooves with a '70s Soul Jam. Featuring hit bands from the decade of big hair and equally big shoes, The Stylistics, The Manhattans and The Chi-Lites get it on with their silky sounds to help you dance the night away on two dance floors. Jimmie "JJ" Walker serves as the "Dyno-Mite" host. Tickets: $35 and $45.

• 7 p.m. July 20 / Blaisdell Arena / 526-4400

COMING UP:

• "Midsummer Night's Dance Celebration" by Ballet Hawaii, June 27, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "The Wizard of Oz," July 18-Aug. 3, Diamond Head Theatre
• 'Ukulele Festival, July 27, Kapi'olani Park Bandstand
• New Found Glory, Aug. 5, Pipeline Café
• Beethoven's Nightmare, the deaf rock 'n' roll band, Aug. 15, Hard Rock Café
• 2003 Made in Hawaii Festival, Aug. 15-17, Neal Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall and Arena.
• Midori, violinist in concert with the Honolulu Symphony, Sept. 5 and 7, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "Gypsy," Sept. 4-20, Army Community Theatre
• "Bat Boy: The Musical," Sept. 10-28, Manoa Valley Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

• Belly interesting: Habibi Hawaii, a belly-dance festival, will be held Oct. 4-5 at the Radisson Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel, offering performances, an Eastern bazaar, and workshops by San Francisco Bay Area dancers Latifa, Alexandria Parafina and Andrea Aranda. Workshop fee: $85 before Sept. 15, $100 afterward, includes the two-day sessions. Information: Shadiya at 739-6297.
• Jake on the go: Jake Shimabukuro, everybody's favorite 'ukulele stylist (and Entertainer of the Year at this year's Na Hoku Hanohano Awards), brings his lightning-fast nimble fingers and his uke to the Kapalua Seafood Festival July 13 at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua on Maui. Tickets: $130 ($99 kama'iaina), but there'll be a bounty of grinds to sample — along with music.
• Upcountry reopening: Big Islanders wondering why Daniel Thiebaut's restaurant in upcountry Kamuela was closed for three weeks should be happy to know that Thiebaut reopened on Father's Day. He had shut down for three weeks for a spruce-up and renovation, and Dan Cook is now the on-site manager.

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.