What's Up!

December film premieres Dec. 5: "The Last Samurai" (above), "Honey" Dec. 12: "Love Don't Cost a Thing," "Something's Gotta Give," "Stuck on You" Dec. 17: "The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King" Dec. 19: "Mona Lisa Smile" Dec. 25: "Cheaper by the Dozen," "Cold Mountain," "Paycheck," "Peter Pan"

• 8 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 11-13, and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 / Kennedy Theatre / 956-7655

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

CONCERT: Dec. 7

Olivia the band is back in town, so a welcome-back party is in order. After heading for a California tour in August, the skate punk band is ready to rock this rock once again in a homecoming debut as part of the Surfarama event put on by the North Shore Christian Fellowship. Other activities include a surf slide show, video and prizes. Free.

• 5 p.m. Dec. 7 / Sunset Beach Elementary School / 637-6225

COMEDY: Dec. 11-12

Comedian Robert Schimmel 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. 12-14

The Honolulu Symphony gets into the holiday spirit with three Christmas shows as part of the Hawaiian Airlines Pops series. The ever-popular Brothers Cazimero join the sweet ladies of Na Leo Pilimehana as maestro Matt Catingub conducts this stellar lineup. Tickets: $20, $30, $40, $50 and $65.

• 8 p.m. Dec. 12-13 and 4 p.m. Dec. 14 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000, (877) 750-4400

CONCERT: Dec. 13-14

Willie K and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom reunite after four years apart in a concert presented by Tim Bostock Productions. Enjoy the catchy sounds of both old and new favorites when the duo comes together again, such as the "Hale'iwa Hula" and "Katchi Katchi Music Makawao." Tickets: $30 for loge and orchestra seats or $18 for balcony.

• 7:30 p.m. Dec. 13 and 2 p.m. Dec. 14 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

HOLIDAY: Dec. 13-14

Celebrate the holidays with Santa and his pals at Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii's 17th Annual "Breakfast with Santa" fund-raiser. Joining Santa for some ho-ho-ho-larious fun will be Winnie-the-Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Elmo, Barney, Taz, Bugs Bunny, Tweety and Sylvester. The admission price includes a served meal, photo with Santa, clowns, face-painting, games and crafts, entertainment, magicians from Monty's Magic Theater and Christmas gift. Tickets are $17; children under 2 are free.

• 8:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. and noon-2 p.m. Dec. 13-14 / Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Manoa Grand Ballroom / 440-4613

CONCERT: Dec. 17

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

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

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

CONCERT: Dec. 31

David Gest brings in musical superstars Gloria Gaynor and Isaac Hayes, along with B.J. Thomas, right, known for "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," and Freda Payne for a "New Year's Eve Musical Spectacular." Gaynor's signature song, "I Will Survive," became the comeback mantra for those down on their luck with love, while Hayes' smooth voice has charmed women all over the world. Tickets are $275 silver section, $380 gold section and $500 platinum section. All tickets include a four-course gourmet dinner with champagne and a New Year's toast with party favors.

• 8:30 p.m. Dec. 31 / Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii / 739-8890

COMING UP:

• Keiki Christmas Party, Dec. 7, Hono-lulu Academy of Arts
• Punk On A Rock, Dec. 13, Pipeline Cafe
• "Candlelight Christmas Concert," Dec. 13-14, St. Andrew's Cathedral
• 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
• Kenny Loggins, Dec. 31, Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom
• 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," Feb. 15, Hawai'i Theatre

BUZZING ABOUT:

He's back, we think: Rock icon Prince, who almost performed in Honolulu and on Maui a month ago, is planning to perform in Honolulu and on Maui in December. Yes, you read that right. The shows go on at 8 p.m. Dec. 16 at the Blaisdell Arena (doors open at 6:30 p.m.); and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 19 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (doors open at 5:30 p.m.). Tickets are $50, $70 and $80 in Honolulu, available at Ticketmaster outlets, (877) 750-4400, and the box office beginning at 9 a.m. tomorrow; $50, $65 and $75 on Maui, at the box office, (808) 242-7469, from 10 a.m. today for MACC members, 10 a.m. tomorrow for all others.

A solo rap: Rap star Wyclef Jean, of the late, great, in-limbo The Fugees, is coming for an 18-and-older concert at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 at Pipeline Cafe. One big hitch: You can only get tickets that are being given away by radio station I-94.

Tony's tunes: Tony Bennett gives two concerts in January — at 8 p.m. Jan. 14 at Blaisdell Concert Hall and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 16 at Castle Theatre at Maui Arts & Cultural Center — bringing his smooth, mellow, and often jazzy tones to our shores. Tickets are $75 and $55 for the Honolulu gig, on sale starting Dec. 6; call (877) 750-4400. Tickets on Maui will be $75, $55, and $35, with $95 premium seats available, on sale starting Dec. 13; call (808) 242-7469.

For good luck: It's time to think New Year's, and in Hawai'i, kadomatsu is the item of choice for good luck. Temari, the Center for Asian & Pacific Arts, is taking orders for the pine-and-bamboo arrangements, pegged to a Dec. 27 pickup (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) at Ward Warehouse. Cost: $40 for the public (discounts apply for Temari members); corporate (read: biggie) arrangements are $250. For order form, call 536-4566.

War remembrance: To mark the 62nd anniversary of World War II, The Patriots, a trio composed of Gordon Manuel Freitas, Cordell Keith Haugen and Don "Geezer" Humphrey, will perform patriotic tunes from their "Lest We Forget" CD, at 2 p.m. Dec. 7 at Ward Warehouse.

Lifetime party: "30 Years of Friends — Lifetime Party," a live recording featuring the 30th anniversary concerts by Cecilio & Kapono, is expected to be released in mid-December on C&K Records.

Flying high: "Peter Pan," which opens Dec. 5 at Diamond Head Theatre, has additional performance dates — at 8 p.m. Dec. 27 and 4 p.m. Dec. 28. These are in addition to the add-on shows at 3 p.m. Dec. 13 and 3 p.m. Dec. 20. Tickets: 733-0274.

Circus feats: "Mongolian Dreams" is the theme of a new show by the New Shanghai Circus, which will visit the islands in January. The tour:

• Maui Arts & Cultural Center — 7 p.m. Jan. 2, and 2 and 7 p.m. Jan. 3. $10, $16, $22.
• Kaua'i War Memorial Convention Hall — 1:30 and 4 p.m. Jan. 4. $20 general, $9.95 kids 12 and younger (limited amount of $30 Golden Circle tickets).
• Kealakehe High School Gymnasium, Kona — 7 p.m. Jan. 5. $17.50 general, $7.50 kids 12 and younger.
• Kahilu Theatre, Waimea — 7 p.m. Jan. 6. $30 Golden Circle, $20 general, $7.50 kids 12 and younger.
• Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, Hilo — 7 p.m. Jan. 8. $17.50 general, $7.50 kids 12 and younger.
• Hawai'i Theatre, Honolulu — 7:30 p.m. Jan. 9, 2:30 and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 10, 2:30 p.m. Jan. 11. $20, $25, $30 general; $5 discount for seniors, military and kids 12 and younger on $20 and $25 tickets. On sale beginning tomorrow at box office. 528-0506.

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.

Correction: Incorrect information for performances of "Peter Pan" at Diamond Head Theatre was given in a previous version of this listing.