The Buzz

We be jammin'

Are you ready for some reggae? Roots reggae band Groundation is performing around the island during its stay here. The 10-piece reggae ensemble from Santa Cruz, Calif., began performing last Sunday in Honolulu and wraps up with a concert tonight at Anna Bannanas and tomorrow at Jaron's in Kailua.

The Anna Bannanas concert starts at 9 p.m., the Jaron's gig at 10. Tickets are $7; for 21 and older.

Local reggae band Ooklah the Moc joins in, and reggae DJ sound system Pacific Sounds Outernational opens both shows.

946-5190, 261-4600.

Mei Lwun spins again

• 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Tuesday at the Wave Waikiki's Pussycat Lounge, where Mei Lwun made his Hawai'i debut. $7 before midnight, $10 after; for 21 and older. 941-0424.
• 10 p.m.-2 a.m. Wednesday at the newly established Star Bar, at Longhi's in Ala Moana Center. Tickets: $15 express entry pass from www.groovetickets.com or $10 standard cover, for 21 and older. 349-1224.
• 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Wednesday at the Wave. Alt rockers Missing Dave play an early set, then Mei Lwun takes over from 2 a.m. until closing. DJ BTF also appears. $10 all night, or $5 with a Star Bar stamp. 941-0424.
• 9 p.m.-1 a.m. Nov. 28 at Hula's Bar & Lei Stand with DJ Al-X. Cover: $5 or $3 with HUI card, for 21 and older. 941-0424, ext. 10.
• Doors open at 9 p.m., show begins at 10 on Nov. 28 at Wave Waikiki. Rail opens, followed by Mei Lwun at 1 a.m. Cover is $10, or $5 with a Hula's stamp; for 21 and older. 941-0424.
• 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Nov. 29 as Wave Waikiki celebrates its 23rd anniversary. Missing Dave rocks the private party at 9, followed by DJs BTF, Al-X and of course Mei Lwun. $12 before midnight; for 21 and older. 941-0424.

Storytelling time

Baba Jamal Koram, a black storyteller from Virginia, will perform "African Stories in the Americas," tales from the African migration.

Also performing will be Hawaiian storyteller Nyla Ching-Fujii, bluesman/balladeer Jeffry Stephen Babb and Japanese-American storyteller Dann Seki. Admission is free; intended for children 5 and older. 831-6878.

Koram also presents a 45-minute performance at public libraries:

• 10:30 a.m. today at the Salt Lake-Moanalua Public Library.
• 3:30 p.m. today at the Moloka'i Public Library.
• 2 p.m. Saturday at the Hawai'i Kai Public Library
• 3 p.m. Monday at the Pearl City Public Library.

Information online at: www.librarieshawaii.org/programs/childrenindex.htm.

More stories, just so

The Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center's advanced acting class presents "Just So Storytime" this weekend, an adaptation of stories from Rudyard Kipling. Directed by Peggy Anne Siegmund, the production stages three tales from Kipling's classic "Just So Stories." Most of the original dialogue has been kept to honor the literature and preserve the babyspeak Kipling uses to imitate a child's voice.

Performances are at 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Kaimuki High School Theatre. Tickets are $8 general; $5 for children, high school students and seniors; and free for pre-kindergarten children. 733-4913.

Jazzing up the orchestra

Jazz guitarist and vocalist John Pizzarelli headlines the next installment of the Honolulu Symphony's Hawaiian Airlines Pops series. New this time around will be a blending the big-city sound of traditional jazz with pop music.

Local jazz performer Jimmy Borges also appears, and Matt Catingub conducts.

Showtimes are 8 p.m. tonight and Saturday in the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets are $20, $30, $40, $50 and $65. 792-2000, (877) 750-4400.

Celebrate Filipino style

Kick off the holidays Philippine-style with the Pasko! cultural festival. From 1 to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, the Honolulu Academy of Arts will be full of Filipino foods, handicrafts, music, song, dance, children's games, books for sale and native textiles displays. Parol, the traditional colorful Christmas lanterns, will be for sale. Enjoy traditional songs and dances such as itik itik and a tribal Mindanao dance by Filipino student groups from the University of Hawai'i, Leeward Community College, Kapi'olani Community College and Campbell High School. Videos on Philippine festivals and children's folk tales can be viewed in the Doris Duke Theatre. The Ati Atihan festival dancers, in feathered and painted costumes, open the fiesta. This year's holiday festival focuses on the themes of Thanksgiving and harvest. Admission is free. 532-8700.

Savoy Sisters return to stage

The Savoy Sisters take a break from retirement to join the festivities during Sunset Jazz Etc., a concert benefit for La Pietra school's financial aid program. The Savoy Sisters, formerly known as the Jive Sisters, were once headliners for American Hawaii Cruises, also performing at the Outrigger Hotel, the Dunes in Las Vegas and at a new year's party at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel with Tom Jones.

Also coming out for the event are sax man Gabe Baltazar, and the headliners, actress/vocalist Shari Lynn and jazz performer Jimmy Borges, along with Fascinatin' Rhythm. It all takes place Sunday on the school's Great Lawn, which will open for picnics at 5 p.m. The concert lasts from 6 to 7 p.m. Tickets are $30, which includes dessert, wine, coffee and soft drinks. Reservations: 924-7515.

North Shore gets its groove on

Power up during Mana Nui, a North Shore bash featuring Sudden Rush, above, and B.E.T. Bruddah Sam of "Local Kine Grindz" emcees this music fest, which features surprise performers as well. It happens from 7 to 11 p.m. Tuesday in La'ie, at Brigham Young University's Canon Activity Center. Tickets are $10. No smoking or alcohol allowed. (877) 750-4400.

Comedy jam at Hawaiian Hut