What's Up!

Local favorite Celebrating the Portuguese The annual "Festa," celebrating Portuguese heritage in Hawai'i, takes place 9 a.m.-6 p.m. March 27 at McCoy Pavilion, featuring food, comedy by Frank DeLima (left), entertainment, crafts, cultural displays and more. Admission is $3 general, free for kids 12 and younger. After the Festa, at 6:30 p.m., the 30-member dance troupe Alma Ribatejana, from San Jose, Calif., will give an extended encore performance; tickets are $5 general, $1 kids 12 and younger. 845-1616.

Hawaii Opera Theatre's next production of the season will be "Cosi Fan Tutte" ("Thus Do All Women") by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Set in Naples in the late 1700s, this opera depicts the battle of the sexes and is regarded as one of Mozart's finest works. Richard Harrell directs. Tickets are $29-$100.

• 8 p.m. Feb. 13, 4 p.m. Feb. 15 and 7:30 p.m. Feb. 17 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 596-7858

CONCERT: Feb. 14

It'll be Bump City on Valentine's Day with Tower of Power, the funky rock band formed in the late '60s whose classic hits include "What Is Hip?," "You're Still a Young Man" and "So Very Hard to Go." The Blaisdell Arena floor will be converted into a nightclubby dance party, and those seated at the tables will even have drinks and pupu service. Tickets: $45 for reserved arena level floor and riser seating and $55 for reserved table seating.

• 8 p.m. Feb. 14 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

STAGE: Feb. 15

V-Day is back! Eve Ensler's "Vagina Monologues" returns to Hawai'i as part of the V-Day Worldwide Campaign. This year's benefit production is presented by Girl Fest Hawaii, with a cast that includes Lois-Ann Yamanaka, Nora Okja Keller, Joy Harjo, Brenda Kwon, Selah Hope Geissler, Kasi Nunes, Jennifer Vo, Cocoa Chandelier, Tanisha, Jaquie Yang and Grace Alvaro Caligtan. Dance collective Giinko Marischino are special guest performers; DJ Primmitiv provides the grooves. Tickets: $12-$32.

• 8 p.m. Feb. 15 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506, www.girlfesthawaii.org

Also: a reception party follows the performance from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. at The W Hotel, with a talk story and intro to "The Menologues," featuring the men of Hawaii Slam. Sisters in Sound and Rebel Girl Underground bring in the sounds, celebrating the return of DJ Zita. Admission is $5, or free for those with V-Day Honolulu tickets, for 21 and older.

COMEDY: Feb. 20

Make Me Laugh 2, a new showcase of comedy, features a crew of veteran and new comics ready and willing to tickle those funnybones. The lineup: Bo Irvine, Da Braddahs, Mel Cabang, Tony Solis, Champ, Shawn Felipe, Cathy Tanaka (left), Kaleo Pilanca and a few surprises. Tickets are $20 advance, $25 at the door; available at Cheapo's, Rainbow Music, Harry's Music, Jelly's in 'Aiea and Hungry Ear in Kailua.

• 9 and 11:30 p.m. Feb. 20 / Hawaiian Hut, South Seas Village, Ala Moana Hotel / 735-0292 ext. 206

CONCERT: Feb. 21-22

Party on with heavy-metal band Rhino Bucket, hailing from Los Angeles. Known for its self-titled debut album and the followup "Get Used to It," the band may best be known for having its music featured in the movie and soundtrack of "Wayne's World." Its Bon Scott-era AC/DC sound is fueled by members Georg Dolivo on lead vocals and guitar, Reeve Downes on bass, Brian Forsythe on lead guitar and Jackie Enx (formerly known as Liam Jason) on drums. Tickets are $7 advance (good for both nights) or $10 on the day of the show.

• 8:30 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22 / Gussie L'Amour's / 836-7883

CONCERT: Feb. 24-26

Hip-hoppers Psychokinetics, below, return from the Bay Area to bring down three concerts in Waikiki. Dance your heart out to the eclectic beats, with a mix of styles ranging from down tempo reflective tracks to heavy bass sounds to scratch-filled instrumentals. The first concert takes place Feb. 24, during a special Mardi Gras edition of the Pussycat Lounge, along with opening act Sub Zero's Strong Arm crew. DJs A2Z, KSM, Sub Zero and D:ManD also spin their grooves. There'll be free beads and other Mardi Gras party favors, too. Those wearing green, gold and purple get in free before midnight; for 21 and older. Admission is $10 before midnight.

The following two nights, opening acts will be MC Trace and Kimo James, EyeSoulAted Mindz, Communication and 4 Elements. DJs BTF, RacerX, A2Z and D:ManD will also be in the house. On Feb. 25, entry is for those 18 and older; Feb. 26 is for those 21 and older . Cover is $10 for all on both nights.

• 9 p.m.-4 a.m. Feb. 24-26 / Wave Waikiki / 941-0424

STAGE: Feb. 26-March 13

Army Community Theatre presents Cole Porter's musical "Kiss Me, Kate." The retelling of Shakespeare's comedy "Taming of the Shrew" stars Cathy Foy, along with Buz Tennent. Get ready to hear such popular songs as "Wunderbar," "Why Can't You Behave" and "Too Darned Hot." Jim Hutchinson directs and choreographs the musical. Tickets: $14 and $17 for adults and $8 and $10 for children.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 26-28, March 5-6, 12-13 / Richardson Theatre / 438-4480

STAGE: Feb. 27-March 7

Enjoy the songs of Irving Berlin, right, when Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center presents its spring production, "The Melody Lingers On." The musical features the life story and classic songs of award-winning composer Berlin, a Russian immigrant who died in 1989 after contributing a wealth of American pop standards. Tickets are $8 general and $5 children, seniors and students with ID. Preschool-aged children and younger are free. Tickets for Alumni Night, which will be March 6, are $10 for adults and seniors and $5 for children and students.

• 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27-28, March 5-6 and 3 p.m. March 7 / Kaimuki High School Auditorium / 733-4913

STAGE: March 5-14

The Saint Louis Players prepare to razzle dazzle the masses with all that jazz in the musical feast "Chicago," right. Produced in collaboration with ladies from Castle, Iolani, Kaiser, Kamehameha, Maryknoll, Mid-Pacific Institute, La Pietra, Punahou, Roosevelt and Sacred Hearts Academy, the students will bring the song and dance extravaganza to life at Mamiya Theatre. At right are leads Tani Lynn Fujimoto, John Long and Niki Passas. The 3rd Annual Drama Gala benefit night on March 5 is a fund-raiser for the fine arts program at Saint Louis High School. Tickets to the opening night gala are $100, with pupu and cocktails from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., followed by the show at 7:30. 739-4862. Tickets to the public performances are $18 general, $12 military, seniors and students.

• 7:30 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays March 6-14 / Mamiya Theatre / 739-4896

CONCERTS: March 5-6, 12-14

"Music, Art and Dance Fest!" is a collaboration of the musicians and artists in the University of Hawai'i community. Works of art will adorn the upper and lower lobbies of the theater; a hula kahiko, directed by Vicky Holt Takamine, will open the program; and performances will range from ballet to the UH Jazz Ensemble to poetry readings. Tickets are $15 general, $12 seniors, military, UH faculty/staff, $10 non-UHM students and children, $3 UHM students.

• 8 p.m. March 5-6, 12-13; 2 p.m. March 14 / Kennedy Theatre mainstage / 956-7655

COMING UP:

• "The Merry Widow," a Hawaii Opera Theatre production, Feb. 27, 29, March 2, 4, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Evan Dando, formerly of the Lemonheads, March 1, Tabu nightclub
• The Brothers Cazimero, March 12, Hawai'i Theatre
• "Mareke me Venuse" ("Mars & Venus"), a Tau Dance Theater production, March 19-20, Hawai'i Theatre
• Sir James Galway and Lady Jeanne Galway, with the Honolulu Symphony, March 19, 21, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre, April 2-3, Hawai'i Theatre
• blink-182, April 3 at Blaisdell Arena, April 4 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center
• Na Palapalai, April 23, Hawai'i Theatre
• David Benoit and Michael Paulo, with the Honolulu Sym-phony Pops, April 9-10, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Toto, with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, May 7-8, Blaisdell Concert Hall

BUZZING ABOUT:

Get your tickets: Grammy-nominated reggae star Sean Paul and his band are heading this way for an 8 p.m. Feb. 20 concert at the Blaisdell Arena. Mr. Easy and Thalisha also will be featured. The concert is a benefit for the nene, the state bird; and National Domestic Violence Awareness and Solutions Inc. Tickets — $40 for the dance floor, $32.50 for loges and higher — go on sale tomorrow at the box office and Ticketmaster outlets. (877) 750-4400. There's a concert planned for Feb. 21 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, too.

Online sales: The University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Outreach College has joined forces with the campus Athletic Department Ticket Office to expand ticket sales options for cultural events. Check www.etickethawaii.com or visit other UH outlets, including Rainbow-tique at Ward Centre, UH-Manoa Campus Center and the Office of Continuing Education in Hale Kuhina at the Windward Community College campus.

Keep on Trocking: A final note on Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, which performed recently at the Hawai'i Theatre — didn't you love that hana hou dance in that "Lord of the Dance"-like lineup, complete with Celtic foot-stomping and grandstanding? In tutus and pointe shoes, no less!

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.