What's Up!

Local favorite Kikaida mania returns Kikaida fans, unite! "Kikaida Brothers: Live!" a stage show featuring original actors from the Japanese sci-fi series, will be performed Sept. 28 at the Hawaii Okinawan Center in Waipi'o. Show times are 11 a.m., 1 and 3 p.m. Tickets are $17 general, $13 advance (at the toy department of Shirokiya in Ala Moana Center). 836-0361, generationkikaida.com.

Let the Aloha Festivals festivities begin!

The opening ceremony is at 5:30 p.m. Sept 12. at 'Iolani Palace, and the celebration continues in the heart of Honolulu's business district for the Downtown Ho'olaule'a. There's entertainment and local grinds along Bishop Street and at Aloha Tower Marketplace. Admission is free; $5 for Aloha Festivals ribbon.

• 6:30 p.m. Sept. 12 / Bishop Street / 589-1771

Head for Waikiki Sept. 13 to watch the Aloha Festivals Floral Parade. Kalakaua Avenue will be filled with the heavenly scents and eye-catching colors of all kinds of flowers, along with hundreds of participants sharing their aloha. The procession includes pa'u riders, floral floats, hula halau and marching bands. Admission is free.

• 9 a.m. Sept. 13 / from Ala Moana Park to Kapahulu Avenue / 589-1771

Hawai'i's biggest block party makes a highly anticipated return Sept. 19 along Kalakaua Avenue. The Royal Court will be at the Ocean Lawn of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel to kick things off before heading to the Waikiki Ho'olaule'a to partake in the festivities, which include entertainment, food and arts and crafts. Featured entertainers include Augie Rey, Ka'ala Boys and Simplisity. Admission is free.

• 7-10:30 p.m. Sept. 19 / Kalakaua Avenue / 589-1771

CONCERT: Sept. 12 and 14

The Honolulu Symphony's Halekulani MasterWorks season continues with internationally acclaimed pianist Vladimir Feltsman. Japan maestro Tadaaki Otaka, left, guest-conducts the evenings of Russian romance, which include Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 2 in G Minor as well as Rachmaninoff's Symphony No. 2. Tickets: $16, $28, $33, $44 and $59.

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

CONCERT: Sept. 20

West Coast house DJ Dan brings his hard funky sound to Hawai'i for two crowd-jumping, floor-bumping concerts. Hailing from Olympia, Wash., Dan started out as a techno DJ in Los Angeles before starting the breakbeat trend with "Loose Caboose." Known for constantly breaking musical ground, Dan also went on to revamp his sound with a techno and house blueprint for his new DJ mix compilation CD. Also featured will be DJ Trek from Seattle and local DJs Daniel J, G-Spot, IKON, Scottie Soul, Sovergn T and KSM. Tickets: $5, $10 and $15, for 21 and older. DJ Dan also performs at Casanova on Maui Sept. 19. (808) 572-0220.

• 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Sept. 20 / Wave Waikiki / 591-3500, 941-0424, ext. 12

CONCERT: Sept. 20

The Shanghai Symphony Orchestra brings its world-class sounds to Honolulu in a collaboration by Tim Bostock Productions and Tom Moffatt Productions. The 80-piece orchestra, which received international acclaim with the recording of the Oscar-winning soundtrack from the movie "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," will perform selections from the movie and works by Mozart. Founded in 1879 and originally called the Shanghai Public Band, the orchestra holds the longest history among all the symphony orchestras of Asia. The award-winning Chen Xieyang conducts, and pianist Tian Jiang will be featured. Tickets: $35, $50 and $65.

• 8 p.m. Sept. 20 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400

DANCE: Sept. 20

It's getting hot in here ... because "Dance Fever!" is back in town. Put on your dancing shoes and groove to the music of the '70s and '80s as the hits of yesterday make a return. "Dance Fever!" stars Yvonne Elliman, Aura, The Reformers, The J. Michaels Band and Pacific Jamm and the songs of Rod Stewart, Madonna, Michael Jackson, The B-52's and more. Comedian Bo Irvine is emcee. Tickets are $12.50 in advance and $15 at the door.

• 8 p.m. Sept. 20 / Queen Kapi'olani Hotel, Big D's / 922-1941

CONCERT: Sept. 27

Classic rock is alive and well in Honolulu. The 1970s band Yes, right, wraps up its current world tour when it performs in concert with the Honolulu Symphony. Band members Jon Anderson, Chris Squire, Steve Howe, Rick Wakeman and Alan White are known for favorites such as "Owner of a Lonely Heart," "Love Will Find a Way" and "Heart of the Sunrise." Tickets: $45 and $65.

• 8 p.m. Sept. 27 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

STAGE: Oct. 1-5

Primetime in the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre kicks off with a showing of "Moral." Written by Kisaragi Koharu, this contemporary dark comedy is about Japan, consumerism and urban existence. Featured for the first time outside Japan, "Moral" follows the ups and downs of a seemingly perfect family in Tokyo. Colleen Lanki directs, and a discussion with the director and cast follows the Oct. 3 performance. Tickets: $10 general; $8 seniors, military, University of Hawai'i faculty and staff, and non-UH-Manoa students; $3 UH-Manoa students.

• 8 p.m. Oct. 1-4 and 2 p.m. Oct. 5 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre / 956-7655

FESTIVAL: Oct. 4-5

Thomas Square plays host to a showcase of Native American culture during the 29th annual American Indian Pow Wow Association's Pow Wow. There'll be dancing, drumming, singing, arts and crafts and food as Native Americans who live in Hawai'i, the Mainland, Alaska and Canada come together to celebrate. Admission is free.

• 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Oct. 4-5 / Thomas Square / 734-5171

Also: The Fourth Annual Native American Flute and Storytelling Concert takes place at 7 p.m. Oct. 6 at the Center for Hawaiian Studies, 2645 Dole St. Flutists Tommy Wildcat (Cherokee), Troy DeRoche (Blackfeet), Andrew Thomas (Navajo) and Shane Ridley-Stevens (Te-Moake Band of Western Shoshoni) will perform. Liz DeRoche (Metis) is the storyteller.

COMING UP:

• "A Night in Spain," with the Honolulu Symphony and conductor Stuart Chafetz, Sept. 13, La Pietra
• "Art of Rice," puppetry, dance, drama by Asian artists, Sept. 13, Leeward Community College
• Cinema Paradise Film Festival, Sept. 19-25, The Art House at Restaurant Row
• Latin Salsa Music Festival, Sept. 26, Ala Moana Hotel's Hibiscus Ballroom
• Blues Cruise, Sept. 27, with four bands aboard the Navatek I
• Taiwanese Food Festival, Sept. 28, McCoy Pavilion
• Steely Dan, Oct. 10 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center; Oct. 11 at Blaisdell Arena
• Dance Hall Crashers, Oct. 17, Pipeline Café
• "The Paper Bag Princess and Other Stories," Oct. 25-26, UH-Manoa Kennedy Theatre
• LeAnn Rimes, Nov. 1, Blaisdell Arena
• Dave Alvin, blues and folk artist, Nov. 15, Hawaiian Hut

BUZZING ABOUT:

Rock on: Tickets go on sale tomorrow for a "Rock and Roll Super Show" — featuring rock icons Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard and Chuck Berry — at 8 p.m. Oct. 25 at the Blaisdell Arena. Tickets are $55 and $45, on sale at the Blaisdell box office and TicketMaster outlets, including Foodland and Sack'N Save Stores statewide. Charge by phone: (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com. Information: 591-2211.

Loverly show: "My Fair Lady," the Rodgers & Hammerstein evergreen director Ronald E. Bright will bring back to the stage, will run Oct. 23-Nov. 16 at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College. Production dates were omitted in a recent listing in TGIF. Call 235-7433 for tickets.

Fame name: When artist Peggy Chun's name joins the "Wall of Fame" roster Nov. 18 at Compadres Bar & Grill, restaurant owner Rick Enos will preside as emcee, and Keola Beamer will provide entertainment. Tickets: $100, proceeds of which will assist Chun's life with ALS (amyotrophic lateral scleroris, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). Call 732-7733.

The date log: Kenny Loggins tops Waikiki's New Year's Eve celebration this year, with a festive concert at the Hilton Hawaiian Village's Coral Ballroom. Talent doesn't come without a price; tickets are $195, $160, $110 and $85, which include party favors, a half-bottle of sparkling wine, a standard cocktail, tax and tip. Reservations won't be accepted till Dec. 16. Call Agnes Wong at 947-7877.

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.