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Local favorite Enjoy the great outdoors at KCC Bring your bento or picnic dinner, lawn chairs and beach mats to Kapi'olani Community College's Outdoor Concert, 5-10:30 p.m. March 22 on campus. Performers include Ryukyukoku Matsuri Daiko (a taiko group), Troy Fernandez' Kaiser's Surf Crew band, student talent show winners, Sistah Robi Kahakalau and her band, and the Tapa Groove band. The concert is free, parking is free. Everyone is invited. No alcohol, please. 734-9576.

Plus One, a Christian act that speaks to the young, takes the Hawai'i Theatre stage March 21 and 22. The foursome — Nate Cole, Jeremy Mhire, Nathan Walters and Gabe Combs — are hip in appearance and in sound, all the better to send out their message of commitment and purpose. Tickets: $15-$35.

• 7:30 p.m. March 21, 22 / Hawai'i Theatre /528-0506

PARADE AND RACE: March 22

If you have all your ducks in a row, you're probably ready for the annual Great Hawaiian Rubber Duckie Race and Parade, near the Ala Wai Canal. The parade starts at McCully Shopping Center, journeys on McCully to Ala Wai, crosses Kalakaua to the Ala Wai Promenade, where floating ducks will be bobbing their way to the finish line.

• From 12:30 p.m. March 22 / Ala Wai area / 532-6744

STAGE: March 21

"Romance, Romance," a musical so jammed with love, they had to say it twice in the title, premieres March 21 at Diamond Head Theatre. It reunites two stellar voices and talents, Laurence Paxton as Alfred and Sam, and Isabelle Decauwert as Josephine and Monica; he is a University of Hawai'i-Manoa music professor, she is a New York theater regular who earned her stripes here. The play looks at two distinctly different stories of romantic complications, one set in old-world Vienna, the other in present-day Hamptons. Sherry Chock Wong and Gary Masuoka are also in the cast, directed and choreographed by John Rampage, with Donald Yap as musical director. Tickets: $10-$40.

Premieres at 8 p.m. March 21; repeats at 8 p.m.

• Thursdays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays, through April 6 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

CONCERT: March 22

Bobby McFerrin, who is mistakenly only associated with his "Don't Worry, Be Happy" mega-hit, brings his uncanny, must-see solo show to Hawai'i for a one-nighter, under the auspices of the Honolulu Symphony, March 22 at Blaisdell Concert Hall. Since scoring with his "Happy" hit, McFerrin has reinvented himself into multi-task artist, ranging from symphonic conductor to one-man band. He uses his voice, and thumps on his body, to mimic a myriad of sounds. It's a symphony season add-on "extra." In a word: incredible. Tickets: $15-$57.

• 8 p.m. March 22 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

G0-CART FUN: March 22

More than 30 high schools will be represented when the 2003 Electron Marathon varooms into action at Ford Island. It's a go-cart competition of performance, endurance and speed, sponsored by HECO, the state Department of Education, the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Department of Energy.

• 9 a.m. March 22 / Ford Island, Pearl Harbor / 543-7511

CONCERT: March 23

Karen Keawehawai'i and Brother Noland will join a host of others in "Love and Aloha from the Heart," a concert of sacred music, March 23 at the Hawai'i Theatre. The Elijah Bible Institute, which sponsors Samoan students at Hawaiian Mission Elementary and Intermediate School, is presenting the event, which also showcases hula, slack-key guitar, piano artistry, singing groups and more. Tickets: $10-$50.

• 4 p.m. March 23 / Hawai'i Theatre / 372-1780

SPRING FLING: March 29-April 19

Has spring sprung? Find out at "Nouveau: Everything Spring," March 29-April 19 at Kahala Mall, when Hawai'i landscapers bring the outdoors in, to show how flowers, plants and water can enhance Island living. There will be a fashion show, a garden party, a mannequin contest, a floral exhibit and more. Free.

• Shopping hours, March 29-April 19 / Kahala Mall / 732-7736

HAWAIIANA: March 29

Two artistic forces — Halau O Kekuhi of Hilo and the Tau Dance Theatre of Honolulu — unite in a cultural spectacular, synthesizing the Hawaiian tradition of hula and chant with the western movement of dance, in a significant and theatrical endeavor playing March 29 at the Hawai'i Theatre. The production, "Hanau Ka Moku: An Island Is Born" is a threeiact examination dedicated to the island of Lo'ihi, being formed off the coast of the Big Island, tapping the elements of the ocean and the volcano. Kumu hula Pualani Kanahele and Nani Kanaka'ole have teamed up with Peter Rockford-Espiritu in this significant production touring statewide. Finally, O'ahu gets a look-see. Tickets: $8, $18, $33, $48

• 7:30 p.m. March 29 /Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

DANCE: April 2-6

"Footholds II: Young Choreographers on Stage," a program of student choreography, will be staged April 2-6 at Earle Ernst Lab Theatre at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. A rap session follows the April 4 show. Tickets: $9 general; $8 for students, seniors, military, staff; $3 for UH students with ID.

• 8 p.m. April 2-5, 2 p.m. April 6 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre, UH campus / 956-7655

FESTIVAL: April 3-5

A three-day Waikiki Spam Jam, April 3-5 in Waikiki, offers ample opportunity to relish the joys of Spam. Love it or loathe it, Spam is king in Hawai'i (6.7 million cans consumed annually). Thus, it should be no surprise that the world's longest Spam musubi will be attempted, from noon April 3 at the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, where the mascot Spammy will appear. Frank DeLima, Hawai'i's chief dispenser of ham (and then some), will be there, too, since he's festival spokesman. Other events: Taste of Paradise Spam Cook-off, 6-9 p.m. April 4 ($50 per person), with participants sampling an array of menu items featuring Spam and paired with wine; a Spam Jam street celebration (free admission), 4-10 p.m. April 5 on Kalakaua Avenue, with food booths, craft booths and entertainment stages and Spam-related contests Spam-eating, scavenger hunt).

• Various times and venues, April 3-5 / 545-4195, www.waikikiimprovement.org or www.spam.com

HULA: April 5

Mapuana de Silva's Halau Hula 'Ilima — celebrating 25 consecutive years of Merrie Monarch Festival performances — will preview their 2003 Merrie Monarch presentation, and then some, at its fund-raising endeavor, April 5 at the Hawai'i Theatre. Besides the parade of hula, the halau's Miss Aloha Hula participant, Meali'i Kaiko, will be featured, along with a cluster of musical groups: Anuhea, 'Ale'a, Kilinahe and 'Ulaleo. Also performing for the first time: Wai'anae's Halau Mapuna Leo, directed by kumu Kamana'o Mano'i-Hyde, a 1999 graduate of Halau Hula 'Ilima. Tickets: $15, $25.

• 6 p.m. April 5 / Hawai'i Theatre / 261-0689

COMEDY: April 12

Comic Margaret Cho, whose past tours — "I'm The One That I Want" and "The Notorious C.H.O." — were critical and audience favorites, brings a new "Revolution Tour" to Honolulu April 12 at the Waikiki Shell. If you're already a fan, you already know: No topic is tabu. Tickets: $35, $45 reserved; $25 grass seats, available at Ticket Plus outlets and the Blaisdell box office.

Cho also performs at 7:30 p.m. April 13 at Castle Theatre, Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets: $29.50, $45; available at the box office.

• 7:30 p.m. April 12 / Waikiki Shell / 526-4400

FOOD DRIVE: April 19

With Spam topping the wish list at the Hawai'i Foodbank, and supplies dwindling before you can say "Spam and eggs," a Spam Wall be built as part of the 2003 Hawai'i Foodbank Drive, April 19 at Restaurant Row. While all kinds of food can be donated, drive organizers Restaurant Row and Waterfront Plaza are intent on building a wall from Spam can donations near Ruth's Chris Steak House. Last year, 1,500 cans were donated — and collectors are hoping to top that this year.

• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. April 19 / Restaurant Row / 532-4750

COMING UP:

• Olomana, April 4, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Morning's at Seven," April 11, Hawai'i Pacific University Theatre
• Hawai'i International Spring Film Festival, April 11-17, Dole Signature Theatres
• "Les Miserables," April 17, Punahou School
• "Rumble in the Jungle," 'Iolani School carnival, April 25-26, 'Iolani campus
• Karaoke Challenge, April 26, McKinley High School
• Lei Day concert, with The Brothers Cazimero, May 1, Waikiki Shell
• "Giselle" ballet, by Ballet Hawaii, May 3-4, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Mother's Day concert, with Ho'okena, May 11, Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom
• Uluwehi Guerrero, May 16, Hawai'i Theatre
• Pianist Andre Watts, May 20, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Maui Film Festival, June 1-15, Wailea

BUZZING ABOUT:

Ozomatli returns: High-energy multi-rhythmic band Ozomatli will perform an all-ages show at 7 p.m. April 22 at Pipeline Cafe; doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets — $20 — go on sale tomorrow at the Blaisdell box office, University of Hawai'i Campus Center, Pearl Harbor Bloch Arena, MWR Kunia and all Foodland stores. (877) 750-4400.

Fourth escape: If you're planning to be on Kaua'i July 4, consider the Independence Day celebration, 3-9:30 p.m. at Vindinha Stadium. It's a Kaua'i Hospice fund-raiser, complete with aerial fireworks, but there will be musical sparks, too, from headliner Kalapana. Tickets: $7 through July 3, $10 at the gate. (808) 246-2440.

May Day alert: Tickets go on sale Saturday for The Brothers Cazimero Lei Day concert, 7:30 p.m. May 1 at the Waikiki Shell. Robert and Roland are embarking on their next 25 years of serenades. Reserved seats are $25, lawn seats are $15. Call 526-4400 or visit ticketplushawaii.com.

Next stop Vegas: Missed Martin Nievera, who did a one-nighter last Saturday at the Hawai'i Convention Center? The Hawai'i-reared, Philippines-based superstar is booked at the Golden Nugget in Las Vegas May 15-June 8. Call 1-866-946-5336.

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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.