What's Up!

Local favorite Celebrating Kailua town The 12th annual "I Love Kailua Town Party," featuring a plant and produce sale, crafts, entertainment, keiki activities, health screenings and "A Taste of Kailua" (food from Kailua restaurants) takes over the town 11 a.m.-4 p.m. April 18. The block festival takes place on Kailua Road in front of Macy's and Longs Drugs. Admission is $4 general, $3 advance (available at 50 Kailua establishments), free for kids 12 and younger. 234-0404.

The 28th annual Banff Mountain Film Festival tour comes to Hawai'i for one night only. The eight award-winning feature films focus on mountain sports, cultural exploration and the environment from around the world. Films include "Front Range Freaks: Biscuit," left, "Wehyakin," "Part Animal, Part Machine," and "French Fries to Go." The event is a benefit for the Hawai'i Nature Center. Tickets are $8; for tickets and information, call Powder Edge at 593-2267.

• 7 p.m. April 16 / Blaisdell Center Pikake Room / (877) 750-4400

FESTIVAL: April 17

The theme of this year's East-West Fest is "'Ohana Brightens the World." Organized by the East-West Center's international students, the annual community festival celebrates culture and diversity with performances by students from countries in Asia and the Pacific, food, displays, interactive exhibits and games. The festival comes to a close with a paper-lantern parade and international disco. Admission is free.

• 3-8 p.m. April 17 / East-West Center's Hawaii Imin International Conference Center at Jefferson Hall / 295-7082

STAGE: April 23-May 2

The University of Hawai'i-Manoa Department of Theatre and Dance presents "Nozaki Village," right, a kabuki comedy-drama done in English. Kabuki, which means song, dance and skill, is a popular Japanese theater form that originated in 1603. "Village" tells the story of a country girl, a city girl, two suitors and a cunning clerk who all strive for love. Julie Iezzi directs. Tickets are $18 general, $15 seniors, military and UH faculty/staff, $12 non-UHM students and youths, and $3 UHM students.

• 8 p.m. April 23-24, 28-30 and May 1, and 2 p.m. May 2 / UH Kennedy Theatre mainstage / 956-7655

CONCERT: April 23-25

Imagine the ultimate rock tribute concert and you'll get "Rock Legends." This event celebrates the success of classic bands The Beatles, ABBA and Queen with renditions of timeless songs such as "Yesterday," "Dancing Queen" and "We Will Rock You." Forty members of the Honolulu Symphony will accompany the tribute performers. Tickets range from $35 to $65. The Advertiser is a sponsor.

• 8 p.m. April 23-24 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 25 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400

FESTIVAL: April 23-24

The 2nd annual Waikiki Spam Jam street festival is back with more Spam than ever. The event kicks off with the making, unveiling and eating of the world's longest Spam musubi. The first night features a Spam Jam concert and comedy revue at 6 p.m. at All Star Hawaii; admission is free if you bring a can of Spam, which will be donated to the Hawaii Foodbank. The street party happens on the second day, with Spam dishes prepared by local chefs. Two stages of entertainment, hula performances and craft tents also are in store. Admission is free.

• Noon-1 p.m. April 23 and 4-10 p.m. April 24 / Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Kalakaua Avenue / 545-4195, www.waikikiimprovement.org

CONCERT: April 24 and May 1

Indie/emo band Chandelle, left, rocks in from Kapa'a, Kaua'i, for two concerts on O'ahu. The three-piece rock band — from left, Mandee on bass and vocals, Kevin on drums and Jessica on guitar and vocals — plays original music. Their song "Alaska" won the BMI Songwriting competition on Kaua'i last year.

At its April 24 show at Hard Rock, Chandelle plays along with Harrison, Linus and Second String Heroes from San Francisco. Cover is $10 18- to 20-year-olds and $8 for those 21 and older.

• 9 p.m.-2 a.m. April 24 / Hard Rock Café / 955-7383

On May 1 at Club Pauahi, Chandelle plays with Persiphone Myth, Push the Pedal and Port Guyana. Cover is $6 for the all-ages show.

• 7:30 p.m.-midnight May 1 / Club Pauahi / 521-7252

MIXED BAG: April 30

The fifth annual Taste of the Stars showcases 18 of Hawai'i's top chefs. The gala benefit for the Culinary Institute of the Pacific at Leeward Community College features the culinary offerings of Alan Wong, Roy Yamaguchi, D.K. Kodama, Goran Streng, Hiroshi Fukui, Roberto Los Banos, Randal Ishizu, Eric Leterc, Don Maruyama, Richard Wagner, Ian Riseley, Dean Okimoto, Russell Siu, Darryl Fujita, Chai Chaowasaree, Wayne Hirabayashi, Colin Nishida and Douglas Lum. Also included in the festivities will be new inductees into the Culinary Hall of Fame, a silent auction and entertainment. Tickets are $100 per person before April 16 or $85 when charged on an American Express card. Tickets after April 16 are $120 per person. Reserved tables of 10 are available for $1,600 or $6,000 for a VIP table of 10.

• 6:30-9:30 p.m. April 30 / Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa, Coral Ballroom / 455-0392

STAGE: April 30-May 1

Giddy up, cowboys, as the Sounds of Aloha Chorus presents "Rhinestone Rides Again." This barbershop melodrama set in the old West features the Tropichords, the Pacific Trades, the Sounds of Aloha Chorus and international barbershop quartet champions Four Voices. Early cowpokes who get there at 7 p.m. are treated to John McCreary on the Robert Morton Theatre Organ. Tickets are $12, $18 and $25, with discounts for Hawai'i Theatre members, students, seniors, military and groups of 10 or more.

• 7:34 p.m. April 30 and May 1 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CONCERT: May 1

May Day is Lei Day in Hawai'i, and it also marks the Brothers Cazimero annual May Day Concert. Robert and Roland come together for the 27th edition of the popular concert, along with special guests. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for picnicking on the lawn. Tickets are $15 and $25.

7:30 p.m. May 1 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400

COMEDY: May 1

The legendary touring comedy troupe The Second City is set to bring laughs galore to the Islands. The Chicago-based comedy theater has in the past produced such comics as Bill Murray, Mike Meyers, Gilda Radner and Tina Fey. Get ready for hilarious sketches, comedic songs and cutting-edge improv with rising comedy stars. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30.

• 8 p.m. May 1 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400

Also: catch the laughs at 7:30 p.m. April 29 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets are $20, $25 and $30. (808) 242-7469.

CONCERT: May 8

Celebrate Hawaiian oli (chant), hula and mele (song) at Kumulipo II, the third annual Halau Ku Mana concert. The native Hawaiian public charter school offers up an evening with entertainment by Ka Lei Papahi 'o Kakuhihewa, Kainani Kahaunaele and the Wish List Band, Kaumaka'iwa Lopaka Kanaka'ole and Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom. Tickets range from $18 to $23.

• 7-10:30 p.m. May 8 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506, 945-1401

COMING UP:

• "Noises Off," April 16-May 2, Paliku Theatre
• Secretary's Day, with The Makaha Sons, April 21, Renaissance Ilikai Waikiki Hotel
• Toto, with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, May 7-8, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Hawaii World International Lion Dance Champion-ships, May 14-15, Blaisdell Arena
• GiRL FeST, multimedia festival, May 28-June 5, venues to be announced
• "The Honeymoon-ers: The Lost Episodes," starring Joe Moore and Pat Sajak, June 17-20, Hawai'i Theatre
• 'Ukulele Festival, July 25, Kapi'olani Park bandstand
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 30-31 at Hawai'i Theatre, Aug. 6-7 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center

BUZZING ABOUT:

Blink reschedules again: Those guys! Forget the October dates; now the blink-182 crew is planning to perform Aug. 13 on O'ahu — and the Maui gig is possibly canceled.

Loggins returning: Pop singer/songwriter/hitmaker Kenny Loggins, last seen/heard here at a New Year's Eve bash, is coming back for a pair of concerts — 7 p.m. May 7 at the Waikiki Shell, 7 p.m. May 9 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets — $30 general, $55 reserved for the Shell; $35 general, $45 and $55 reserved on Maui — go on sale at 9 a.m. tomorrow at the Blaisdell box office and Ticketmaster outlets and the MACC. (877) 750-4400; (808) 242-7469 on Maui.

That Spidey sense: Note to those eager comic-book fans keeping track: The much-anticipated film sequel to "Spider-Man" will open nationwide June 30, a Wednesday, two days earlier than previously announced.

Blues notebook: Here's the schedule of blues performances at O'Toole's, 902 Nu'uanu, for the rest of the month:

• April 15: 5-9 p.m., Northside Art; 9 p.m.-1 a.m., David Lamar Project
• April 22: Larry Spalding; 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Notorious Northsiders
• April 29: 5-9 p.m., Northside Art; 9 p.m.-1 a.m., TNT

And the blues hold forth Saturday nights at Ye Olde Fox & Hounds in Kahala, 4614 Kilauea Ave.:

• April 17: 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Jeff Said No!
• April 24: 9 p.m.-1 a.m., Bluzilla

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.