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Local favorite Hot stuff at Polynesian Cultural Center The heat is being turned up as the 12th annual World Fireknife Dance Competition gets under way at the Polynesian Cultural Center, 6:30 p.m. May 13-14 and 6 and 8 p.m. May 15. The schedule: preliminaries May 13; Junior World Fireknife Competition and the semi-finals of the adult competition May 14; finals May 15. Kama'aina admission to pre-finals events is $8 general and $6 children 5-11, with additional fees for those wishing to stay for the "Horizons" show. Visitors' tickets start at $30. Admission to the finals, which are held during the "Horizons" show, are $35 general and $24 children. Annual Pass holders enter free. 293-3333.

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 1-2

The 8th annual Great Hawaii Jazz BlowOut is about to burst upon the scene, featuring top local jazz musicians and vocalists. This year's festival includes Azure McCall, Anita Hall, Shari Lynn, Gabe Baltazar, right, DeShannon Higa, PBS Big Band, Rocky Holmes, Swingin' Tradewinds Jass Band and Noel Okimoto. Guest artists include Jerome James and New York Nigh High, Joey Stuckey Band from Georgia, Valery Ponomarev from Moscow, Martin Zenker from New York and Mark Weinstein from New York. Advance tickets are $15 one day and $25 both days, with discounts for seniors, military and students. Tickets at the gate are $20 one day and $30 both days. Those in wheelchairs or age 6 and younger are free.

• Noon-midnight May 1 and 11 a.m.-8 p.m. May 2 / Kapi'olani Community College, Great Lawn / 734-0397, 955-8821

FESTIVAL: May 1

It's flower power at the city's 77th annual Lei Day Festival, presented by the Department of Parks and Recreation. The theme of this year's lei contests is "Na Mele No Na Lei," or "Songs of the Lei." The adult lei contest awards cash prizes in the neck lei, hat lei and theme lei categories. Those 13-17 years old can enter the teen lei category. Registration is 7:30-9 a.m. Children 12 and younger are encouraged to participate in the youth lei contest, with registration at 8:30 a.m. Festival fun includes the traditional investiture of the Lei Queen and her Court, lei exhibit, craft demonstrations, food and entertainment with the Royal Hawaiian Band and Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association. Admission is free.

• 9 a.m.-6 p.m. May 1 / Kapi'olani Park bandstand / 692-5118, 692-5751

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 7-8

The Honolulu Symphony's Hawaiian Airlines Pops Series rocks on with the Grammy award-winning Toto, left. Fusing pop, rock and disco elements made the group famous through songs such as "Africa," "Rosanna" and "I Won't Hold You Back." Matt Catingub conducts. Tickets are $25, $35, $45, $55 and $70.

• 8 p.m. May 7-8 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400, 792-2000

CONCERT: May 7

Grammy award-winning singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins heads this way again for a concert; we last heard from him at a New Year's Eve gala at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. After splitting from the musical duo Loggins and Messina, Loggins went on to garner 12 platinum albums and 14 gold albums, ultimately selling more than 20 million albums worldwide. Hits include "Celebrate Me Home," "Whenever I Call You Friend" and "Footloose." Tickets are $30 lawn and $55 reserved.

• 7 p.m. May 7 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400

Also: Loggins performs at 7 p.m. May 9 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Tickets are $35 general and $45 and $55 reserved. (808) 242-7469.

CONCERT: May 8

Hawai'i jams again at Budweiser True Music's 9th annual Jammin' Hawaiians concert. The stellar entertainment lineup of local performers includes Pati, Ten Feet, Three Plus, Opihi Pickers, Kekai Boys, Sudden Rush, right, and Ho'onu'a, with others to be announced later. Tickets range from $10 to $26.

• 4-10 p.m. May 8 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400

MIXED BAG: May 14-15

Heads up: The lions are coming! Lion dancers from around the world will roar their way into Honolulu for the Hawaii World Invitational Lion Dance Championships. Ten teams from China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom and Hawai'i will don colorful costumes and dance on pillars up to 10 feet high and one foot wide. Tickets are $35 and $50 general and $65 for Red Carpet.

• 6 p.m. May 14 and 7 p.m. May 15 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

STAGE: May 19-June 6

Manoa Valley Theatre's next production is the drama "Gunfighter," based on the true story of Lt. Col. Ralph Hayles. Hayles was the first soldier in the history of the U.S. Army to be named publicly as the shooter in a combat friendly-fire incident during the 1991 Gulf War. It's written by award-winning playwright Mark Medoff, who also co-directs the play with Joyce Maltby. Tickets are $25, with a $5 discount for seniors and military. Those 25 and younger pay $15.

• 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays May 19-June 6 / Manoa Valley Theatre / 988-6131

CONCERT: May 14

Enjoy a burst of blues from Chicago, Louisiana and more during the 8th annual Hawaiian Islands Rhythm and Blues Mele 2004. The Eric Sardinas Trio opens up the night with hot blues-rock sounds on the electric slide Dobro guitar. The second act features guitarist/songwriter/singer Sonny Landreth, above, with the Lafayette Rhythm Section putting on the grooves with some swamp blues and southern rock. The seven-piece Chicago Reunion Blues Band headlines the event, featuring Nick Gravenites, Harvey Mandel, Tracy Nelson, Corky Siegel, Zak Wagner, Rick Reed and Don Heffington. Tickets are $30 advance and $40 at the door. Gates open at 5:30 p.m.

• 6:30 p.m. May 14 / Kaka'ako Waterfront Park / 732-6699

Also, the Rhythm and Blues Mele travels to:

• Kaua'i Memorial Theater at 6 p.m. May 12. Tickets are $30 advance and $35 at the door. (808) 337-9234.
• Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater, 7:30 p.m. May 13. Tickets are $30, $35 and $40. (808) 242-7469.
• Kona Brewing Company, Brewhouse Oasis on the Big Island at 5:30 p.m. May 15. Tickets are $30 advance and $40 at the door. (808) 334-1133.

COMING UP:

• 50th State Fair, May 27-June 20, Aloha Stadium
• GiRL FeST, multimedia festival, May 28-June 5, venues to be announced
• King Kamehameha Day Celebration Floral Parade, June 12, downtown to Kapi'olani Park
• "The Honeymoon-ers: The Lost Episodes," starring Joe Moore and Pat Sajak, June 17-20, Hawai'i Theatre
• Atomic Punks, Van Halen tribute band, June 18, Pipeline Café
• Hawaiian Humane Society's Petwalk, June 20, Magic Island and Ala Moana Beach Park
• Taste of Honolulu, June 25-27, civic center grounds
• '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:

Got soul?: Tickets go on sale tomorrow for a "'70s Soul Jam," featuring The Stylistics The Emotions, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, The Chi-Lights, Carl Carlton, Eddie Holman and Hawai'i's own Yvonne Elliman. Two dance floors will get you moving to the music. The concert starts at 7 p.m. June 11 at the Blaisdell Arena. Tickets — $35 and $45 — go on sale at the box office and Ticketmaster outlets. (877) 750-4400.

Get slamming: "Stage Rage: Mortal Kombat Style" is calling all slam poets to compete at 8 p.m. May 7 at the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Hemenway Theatre. Poets should register from 7 p.m. There'll be martial arts performances, too. And despite the event's name, this is not a yelling-in-anger competition. Consider it a cathartic opportunity for self-expression instead. Admission is $5 general, $3 for students. 226-4839.

• Caz on Maui: Yes, the Brothers Cazimero will offer a May Day concert on Maui, but on the day after May Day. After all, the pair — and pals — will be performing at the Waikiki Shell on May 1. So Maui audiences will have their fill of the Caz at 7:30 p.m. May 2 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center's Castle Theater. Tickets are $10, $22 and $35 general; half price for kids 12 and younger. (808) 242-7469.

Mark your arts calendars: The Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort & Spa is hosting a free celebration of the arts April 30-May 2. Among the attractions: arts and crafts of the Pacific Handcrafters Guild; performances by local poets of the Hawai'i Slam Team, the Hawaii Opera Theatre, Galliard String Quartet, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Ballet Hawaii, University of Hawai'i Dance Ensemble, Honolulu Brass, Kumu Kahua and storytellers James McCarthy and Jeff Gere.

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.