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CONCERT: March 28, 29

March 28 at Orvis Auditorium, March 29 at Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000

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

PLANT SALE: April 5

If it's spring, it must be ... time to spruce up the garden, with the help of the annual Spring Plant Sale sponsored by Lyon Arboretum. The flora fest at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall will include more than 30 nurseries offering orchids, native Hawaiian plants, fruit trees, herbs, bromeliads, gingers, heliconias, succulents, palms and so much more. Don't forget the ever-popular jams and jellies. Admission is free.

9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 5 / Blaisdell Exhibition Hall / 988-0456

STAGE: April 11-May 11

Hawai'i Pacific University had to assemble a somewhat "senior" cast for its Paul Osborn comedy, "Morning's at Seven," playing April 11-May 11 at HPU's Windward campus. Joyce Maltby directs, and the distinguished ensemble includes a family of four maturing sisters: Ida (Sharon Adair), Cora (Jo Pruden), Arry (Sylvia Horman-Alper,) who have lived next door to each other for 50 years, and Esther (Mary Frances Kabel Qwin), the eldest at age 70, who lives a few blocks away. John Hunt, John Mussack, David Schaeffer play the husbands. Things become unhinged and loyalties are tested when Ida's 40-year-old son Homer (David Starr) brings his long-time girlfriend Myrtle (Becky Maltby) home to meet the folks. Tickets: $14 general, $10 seniors, military, students, HPU faculty and staff, and $5 HPU students.

Premieres April 11, with curtain at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays (plus 6 p.m. May 11 show), through May 11 / HPU's Windward campus / 375-1282

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

DANCE: March 30

World beat comes to the island in full force as Urban Tap's "Full Cycle" lands for one performance March 30 at Paliku Theatre. Founded by "Riverdance" veteran Tamango, the international troupe combines freestyle dance with multiple rhythms of multiple cultures. Expect an electrifying blend of tap, world jazz, breakdancing, hip-hop based on the sounds of the urban environment.

Tickets are $25 general, $20 students, seniors, military, University of Hawai'i faculty/staff; available at the UH-Manoa Campus Center ticket office. Urban Tap also stops on Maui, 7:30 p.m. March 27 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Pre-show festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $10, $18 and $25; half-price for kids 12 and younger. (808) 242-7469.

2 p.m. March 30 / Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College / 956-6878

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

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 Ticketmasteroutlets 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, (877) 750-4400

DANCE: April 12-13

The innovative dance company Momix brings its stage magic back to the Hawai'i Theatre April 12-13 with a new show titled "Opus Cactus," inspired by the flora, fauna and beauty of the Southwest. The troupe, directed by Moses Pendleton, draws on creative forms ranging from modern dance to ballet, body surfing to pole-vaulting. Momix's last Honolulu stint was in October 1999. Tickets: $17-$35, available at the box office.

7:30 p.m. April 12, 2 p.m. April 13 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

Buzzingabout ...

• Call it Ticketmaster: Ticket Plus has been bought out by Ticketmaster, so keep in mind that there are a few changes in how you can get tickets to some shows. Outlets include Pearl Harbor Bloch Arena, MWR Kunia and Foodland stores. Also, www.ticketmaster.com; 526-4400, (877) 750-4400 to charge.

• Sum 41 is coming: Fun-loving hot-band-of-the-moment Sum 41 makes its Honolulu debut at 7 p.m. May 5 at Pipeline Cafe; doors open at 6 p.m. The band's latest release is titled "Does this Look Infected?" Tickets — $20 — go on sale tomorrow at the Blaisdell box office and Ticketmaster outlets. (877) 750-4400.

• Sing on: A popular 'ukulele soloist, in the middle of a local recording session, has done a vocal — his first — and now is contemplating: Should it or shouldn't it be included on the new CD? (It should!)

• Role call: A director needs to be willing, able and versatile these days. When Honolulu Theatre for Youth opened "The Last Paving Stone" at Leeward Community College Theatre, artistic director Mark Lutwak had to come from the wings to centerstage to play Rama, normally portrayed by Cynthia See, who became ill. He donned a too-short costume and had script in hand, but the fourth- and fifth-graders in attendance didn't mind.

— Wayne Harada, Advertiser entertainment writer