What's Up!

Local favorite Gilliom and Willie reunited Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K, left, reunite after four years apart in two concerts at the historic Hawai'i Theatre presented by Tim Bostock Productions. When the duo comes together again, enjoy old and new favorites such as the "Hale'iwa Hula" and "Katchi Katchi Music Makawao." Concert times are 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14. Tickets: $30 for loge and orchestra seats or $18 for balcony. 528-0506.

Eleven young bands, one starry night. What more could you ask for? Presented by Smirnoff, GIG is a concert supporting Hawai'i's newest bands such as Amplified, Country Fire, left, The Crud, Elevin, Fool Around Kine, High Intensity, Mystic, Pozitiv NRG, Revalation, Rizon and Speed Limit. Presale tickets are $10 or $14 at the door.

• 7 p.m.-1 a.m. Nov. 29 / Kapono's / 536-2161

CONCERT: Nov. 29

Happy birthday, Wave Waikiki! The nightclub celebrates 23 years of wild nights and even wilder mornings as one of the hottest spots in town. Local alt rock band Missing Dave performs, along with other surprise guests from the Wave's colorful history. DJs spinning their sound include KSM, BTF, Alex, Sean G. and Tim B. Tickets are $10 before midnight, for 21 and older.

• 10 p.m.-4 a.m. Nov. 29 / Wave Waikiki / 941-0424

STAGE: Nov. 29-Dec. 21

Honolulu Theatre for Youth's holiday offering this year will be "The Best of Christmas Talk Story 2003," culled from the best stories presented during previous years of the Talk Story tradition. Directed by Mark Lutwak and in co-production with Kumu Kahua Theatre, the original stories by Hawai'i's local writers are sure to get everyone in the Christmas spirit. Performances are recommended for 6 and older. Tickets are $16 adults, $12 students, $8 children and seniors and free for children under 2.

• 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturdays and 3:30 p.m. Sundays Nov. 29-Dec. 21 / Tenney Theatre / 839-9885

EXHIBIT: Nov. 30-Dec. 7

Celebrate 150 years of U.S.-Japan relations when the traveling exhibit "Black Ships and Samurai: Commodore Perry and the Opening of Japan" stops in town. The art exhibit explains American and Japanese interpretations of the first east/west meeting in 1853. Commodore Perry's meeting with the Japanese resulted in a treaty that kicked off a trade agreement between the two countries. The exhibit was co-created by MIT history professor John Dower and MIT Japanese language and culture professor Shigeru Miyagawa. Admission is free.

• 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Mondays-Fridays and noon-4 p.m. Saturdays-Sundays, Nov. 30-Dec. 7 / East-West Center Gallery / 395-2314

STAGE: Dec. 5-7

Jim Nabors, right, does the neighborly thing once again with "A Merry Christmas With Friends and Nabors." Presented by Hawai'i Theatre Center, Honolulu Symphony and Naborly Productions, the event stars Nabors along with Jimmy Borges, Philip Huber and the Huber marionettes, Karen Keawehawai'i and Emma Veary. The roster includes The Company Singers, Diamond Head Theatre Shooting Stars, Halau Hula 'O Kawaili'ula, Honolulu Symphony and Hula Hui O Kupunahala 'O Nu'uanu YMCA. Tickets: $45, $55, $75, with discounts for children 17 and younger, seniors 62 and older and military.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 5-6 and 2 p.m. Dec. 7 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

HOLIDAYS: Dec. 5-7

O Christmas tree! The 49th annual Festival of Trees sponsored by the Queen's Medical Center Auxiliary will be three days of Christmas fun with handmade gifts, art-collection items and miniature trees decorated by local personalities. The trees will be auctioned off during a silent auction fund-raiser with bidding closing at 2 p.m. Dec. 7. The event is a fund-raiser for the Queen's Auxiliary to purchase new neuroscience unit equipment. Admission is a $1 donation; children 12 and younger are free.

• 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Dec. 5-6 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 7 / Ward Warehouse, Kakaako and Kewalo Rooms / 547-4397

STAGE: Dec. 5-21

If you believe in fairies, clap your hands! Then go off to Diamond Head Theatre and watch "Peter Pan" as the magic of fairy dust and flying come alive. Elizabeth Harrison plays Peter Pan, with Randl Ask as Captain Hook and Kristina Sault as Wendy. Tickets are $12-$42.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays Dec. 5-21, also 3 p.m. Dec. 13 and 20 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

HOLIDAYS: Dec. 6

Honolulu City Lights will set downtown aglow during its grand opening night with a parade, concert, tree exhibits and, of course, Santa Claus. Tree-lighting festivities begin at 6 p.m., with a ceremony hosted by Mayor Jeremy Harris. At 6:30 p.m., the Public Workers' Electric Light Parade will pass City Hall from its starting point at A'ala Park. Santa will come riding along with the parade at 7:30 p.m. to hear children's wish lists. Santa will be available for visits during the month of December, and Honolulu Hale will be open daily 8 a.m.-11 p.m. during December for viewing of the wreath and tree exhibits. Honolulu City Lights ends Jan. 4. Admission is free.

• 4 p.m. Dec. 6 / Honolulu Hale / 527-6631

COMEDY: Dec. 11-12

Comedian Robert Schimmel, left, brings some laughs and gaffs to town. Named Best Male Stand-Up Comic in 1999 by the American Comedy Awards, Schimmel credits humor with keeping him going after he was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's lymphona, which is now in remission. His explicit language and taboo topics have been a staple in his many live performances around the country, along with his albums, "Unprotected," "If You Buy This CD I Can Get This Car" and "Robert Schimmel Comes Clean." Tickets are $20 and $25 in advance.

• 8 p.m. Dec. 11-12 / Pipeline Cafe /926-3000

CONCERT: Dec. 12

Pop icon Neil Sedaka is heading for town for an acoustic evening at Hawai'i Theatre. The Brooklyn-native singer-songwriter made a niche for himself with a hit list that includes "Calendar Girl," "Sweet Sixteen" and "Breaking Up is Hard to do." Tickets are $25, $37.50 and $45.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

Also on Maui: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Tickets prices are same as above. (808) 242-7469

CONCERT: Dec. 17

Bob Marley's eldest son, Ziggy, above, is headed to Hawai'i for a series of concerts—minus the Melodymakers. Fresh from recently releasing his first solo album, "Dragonfly," Marley's reggae tunes inspires reflective moods and mellow grooves. Tickets: $30.

• 7 p.m. Dec. 17 / Pipeline Cafe / (877) 750-4400

Also: Ziggy Marley will be at Maui Arts & Cultural Center on Dec. 14 and Kukui Pavilion on Kaua'i on Dec. 16. Tickets for neighbor island shows are $25 each.

FESTIVAL: Dec. 17-21

The Winter Solstice Fire Tribe Gathering is a community celebration focused around dark-to-dawn magical fire circles. Spoken offerings, prayers, poems and ritual theater are invited and encouraged during this spiritual ceremony. The festival invites all to co-create transformation and artful relationship through chanting, dance, poetry, drumming and spontaneous sacred ceremony. Early discount registration ends Nov. 22, with final registration closing on Dec. 5. Festival fees and times vary.

• Dec. 17-21 / Leeward O'ahu / www.firetribehawaii.org

COMING UP:

• World Art Bazaar, Honolulu Academy of Arts' Linekona art center, Nov. 29-Dec. 14
• Keiki Christmas Party, Dec. 7, Hono-lulu Academy of Arts
• Punk On A Rock, Dec. 13, Pipeline Café
• Jerry Seinfeld, Dec. 20, Waikiki Shell
• "A White Christmas" with the Makaha Sons, Dec. 20-21, Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel
• George Carlin, Dec. 31, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Kokua Festival, featuring Jack Johnson, Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom, Willie K and others, Jan. 3, Kualoa Ranch
• Chicago and America, Jan. 10, Blaisdell Arena
• "Otello," Hawaii Opera Theatre's season opener, Jan. 30, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "The Vagina Monologues" one-time-only performance Feb. 15, the Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

In the pink: The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Sheraton's flagship Pink Palace hotel in Waikiki, will offer a jazz-and-pop New Year's Eve slate on Dec. 31. The Monarch Room welcomes jazz saxophonist Gabe Baltazar, appearing with a six-piece band, from 7:30 p.m. (doors open a 7 p.m.), followed by dinner and a nightcap (complete with champagne) with music for listening and dancing with Danny Couch and the Bobby King Band. Cost: $255 adults, $135 children, including a five-course meal, glass of wine, split of champagne, party favors (kama'aina rates, $225 adults, $125 children); show-only, $95 adults, $60 children, $75 kama'aina. 931-8383.

Hawaiian celebration: Next-door at the Sheraton Waikiki's Hawaii Ballroom, a Hawaiiana celebration, "Ho'omaka Hou 2003," is planned from 7:30 p.m. on the Eve. Kanilau, Halau Na Mamo Ka'ala, The Makaha Sons with Robi Kahakalau, Brother Noland, Kapena and Tamali'i O Patitifa Dance Company will perform, with Billy V emceeing. Cost: $225 adults, $135 children, includes buffet dinner and unlimited wine (kama'aina rates, $175 adult, $125 children). show-only, $95 adults, $55 children, $65 kama'aina. 931-8383.

Meal deal: To celebrate its 20th birthday, Auntie Pasto's Beretania is offering a prix fixe menu for only $20, from Nov. 24-30 (except on Thanksgiving, when the restaurant's closed), that includes an appetizer, champagne, salad, a pasta course and choice of two entrees. Plus wine, at $1 per glass. 523-8855.

Run fun: Keali'i Reichel will headline the Honolulu Marathon's pre-run lu'au concert, at 7 p.m. Dec. 12, at the Waikiki Shell. 'Ukulele wizard Jake Shimabukuro co-stars. The all-you-can-eat lu'au begins at 5:30 p.m. Those signed on for the Dec. 14 Honolulu Marathon may buy tickets at $20 per; others need to pay the late-entry fee of $120, plus the $20. 734-7200, www.honolulumarathon.org.

Hiroshima, the band: Hiroshima, the Los Angeles-based Asian group which includes a former Honolulan, brings its EastiWest jazz sounds to Hawai'i, in three concerts on as many islands: 7 p.m. Dec. 11 at the Kahilu Theatre on the Big Island ($40, $35, $30; 808-885-6868, www.kahilutheatre.org), 7:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center ($28, $18, $10; 808-242-7469, www.mauiarts.org), and 7 p.m. Dec. 13 at the Kaua'i Community College ($35; 808-242-2787, www.kauaicc.hawaii.edu). The group is led by Dan Kuramoto and includes local boy Kimo Cornwell.

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.

E-mail: tgif@honoluluadvertiser.com

Schedule is subject to change.