What's Up!

August film premieres 8 | 6 "Collateral," above, "Little Black Book" 8 | 11 "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" 8 | 13 "Alien vs. Predator," "Yu-Gi-Oh!" 8 | 18 "Without a Paddle" 8 | 20 "Benji Returns: Rags to Riches," "Exorcist: The Beginning" 8 | 27 "Anacondas: The Hunt for the Blood Orchid," "Suspect Zero"

The summer is about to get HOT as Hawaii Opera Theater presents Gilbert & Sullivan's "The Mikado." Sung in English, this comedy offers a hilarious look at the customs of a Japanese village through a Western looking-glass. The cast includes Jamie Offenbach as the Mikado of Japan, Kevin Anderson as Nanki-Poo, Kathy Krosovec as Yum-Yum and Cathy Foy as Pitti-Sing. Tickets are $20-$75 for the 8 and 4 p.m. shows. Tickets for the 2 p.m. Aug. 7 matinee are $10 (up to four tickets, as long as one is for someone younger than 18). Group/military night is 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14, with all seats $20.

• 8 p.m. Aug. 6 and 13, 4 p.m. Aug. 8 and 15, 2 p.m. Aug. 7 and 7:30 p.m. Aug. 14 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 596-7858

CONCERT: Aug. 6

The summer season is all about the sun, the breezes and the stars ... or the Summer Show of Stars. Get starry-eyed with the rock 'n' roll sounds of Dion, sentimental stylings of Bobby Vee, do-wop harmony of The Crystals, and rock on with Dave Sommerville and the original Diamonds. Tickets are $45.

• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 6 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

DANCE: Aug. 8 and 22

Celebrate the joy of hula when the city Department of Parks and Recreation's culture and the arts section presents the 64th annual Na Hula Festival. The first day of this event showcases two hula halau directed by sisters Puanani and Leilani Alama. The day continues with performances by Halau Hula 'O Hokulani, left, under the direction of kumu hula Hokulani DeRego. The second day starts off with Na Wahine O Ka Hula Maika Pu'u Wai, directed by kumu hula Valerie Pollack, followed by Halau Hula 'O Pua 'A'ala Hone, directed by kumu hula Flo Fernandez. The day finishes with music by the Royal Hawaiian Band. Admission is free.

• 11 a.m. Aug. 8 and 22 / Kapi'olani Park bandstand / 692-5118

CONCERT: Aug. 8

Tokyo-born cellist Mineo Hayashi, above, brings his rich sounds to the University of Hawai'i-Manoa. Based in Switzerland, Hayashi is director of the Suzuki Method School and a professor at the International Academy of Suzuki Method. Pianist Yukie Okuyama joins him in concert. Tickets: $20 general and $15 students, seniors, military and UH faculty and staff.

• 4 p.m. Aug. 8 / UH Orvis Auditorium / 944-2697, 956-8246

STAGE: Aug. 13-14

Monkey and the Waterfall Dance Theatre Company presents a blend of Eastern and Western dance and theater concepts with "Club Monkey." Masked dancers and actors perform in this cabaret-style performance, with guest artists including University of Hawai'i dance professor Betsy Fisher, kumu hula Michael Pili Pang and Coco Chandelier. Yukie Shiroma directs. Tickets: $15 at the door.

• Doors open 8:45 p.m. Aug. 13-14 / The Hawaiian Hut / 941-5205

CONCERT: Aug. 14

Won't you head on over to funky town and "Get Down Tonight" during a dance party featuring Six-Five-O, from Las Vegas. Also on tap to help you do a little dance and make a little love will be local bands Aura, eightOeight, Shining Star, H2O and Planet Jane. Tickets are $20 advance and $25 at the door, for 21 and older.

• 8 p.m. Aug. 14 / Kapono's / 545-3642

CONCERT: Aug. 14

Start feeling irie in the Islands as Reggae in Paradise welcomes Bunny Wailer and Luciano. A founding member of the Wailers and now the trio's only surviving member, the Grammy award-winning Wailer roots reggae style will be backed by Solomonic Reggaestra. The spiritual R&B reggae sounds of Luciano will be backed by the Jah Messenjah Band. Also appearing will be reggae artists Dean Fraser and Mikey General along with local bands. Tickets are $35.

• 4 p.m. Aug. 14 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400

Also: Reggae in Paradise will be at 4 p.m. Aug. 13 at the War Memorial Baseball Stadium on Maui.

FESTIVAL: Aug. 20-22

It's a one-stop-shop for locally made goods as First Hawaiian Bank presents the 2004 Made in Hawaii Festival. With about 400 exhibitors from the various islands, this year's goodies include food, flowers, books, fashions, plants, pottery, crafts and produce. There will also be chef demonstrations and Hawaiian entertainment. Admission is $2, and children under 6 are free.

• Noon-9 p.m. Aug. 20, 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Aug. 21 and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Aug. 22 / Blaisdell Exhibition Hall and Arena / 533-1292

CONCERT: Aug. 20-21

Here they are, baby: British reggae supergroup UB40 is making its way back to the Islands. If you love the way they do the things they do, don't miss out as members Robin and Ali Campbell, Earl Falconer, Mickey Virtue, Brian Travers, Jim Brown, Norman Hassan and Terence "Astro" Wilson take you to higher ground. Another concert has just been added — Aug. 21 at the Shell; tickets go on sale today. General admission tickets are $25 advance and $30 at the door. Reserved tickets are $45.

• 7 p.m. Aug. 20-21 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400

Also: UB40 rocks on at 7 p.m. Aug. 17 at Edith Kanakaole Tennis Stadium in Hilo. Tickets are $29 advance and $32.50 at the door. They also appear at 7 p.m. Aug. 19 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center's A&B Amphitheater. Tickets are $35 advance and $40 at the door. (808) 242-7469.

CONCERT: Aug. 21-22

Get a taste of Broadway right here in the Islands when Honolulu Broadway Babies presents a benefit concert, "Broadway Mixed Plate." Featured will be headliners from Broadway, national tours, European and Disney musicals performing songs from the plays they starred in. The song list includes music from "Les Miserables," "Beauty and the Beast," "Lion King" and "Miss Saigon." Local artists Kristian Lei, left, Ed Chevy, I. Mihana and Katie Leiva also perform. Tickets are $35 and $40. Different sponsorship levels and prices are available for $100-$15,000. Portions of the proceeds go to Goodwill Industries of Hawaii and VSA Arts Hawaii Pacific.

• 7:30 p.m. Aug. 21 and 5:30 p.m. Aug. 22 / Leeward Community College Theatre / 783-2296

STAGE: Aug. 29

The second Hawaii World Invitational Chinese Lion Kings Competition, right, roars into Honolulu with national champions from Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong plus teams from China, San Francisco and Hawai'i. The teams will take the art of Chinese lion dancing to a new high by performing in a traditional fashion as well as on poles 5-8 feet above the ground. Tickets: $15-$55.

• 1 p.m. Aug. 29 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

STAGE: Sept. 2-12

The "World Famous" Lipizzaner Stallions trot their way into Honolulu, as part of their 34th anniversary tour. These elegant and majestic creatures have a lineage that goes back to the Spanish and Arabian stallions of Andalusia and the Sahara, with the first being bred in Carthage more than 2,000 years ago. Once almost exclusively the property of the royal and military aristocracy, the stallions were saved from extinction by Gen. George S. Patton during World War II. The noble and gifted stallions perform nimble routines in a family-friendly feature event, with music and choreography sure to awe the masses. Tickets: $19.50, $24.50 and $35. Children 12 and younger and seniors 60 and older receive discounts of $2. Discounts of $5 are also available for groups of 15 or more.

• 7:30 p.m. Sept. 2-4, 9-11; 2:30 p.m. Sept. 4-5, 11-12; and 6 p.m. Sept. 5 /Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

BUZZING ABOUT:

'Island Idol'

It's a song contest, a la "American Idol," 5-10 p.m. Aug. 22 at the Ocean Club at Restaurant Row. Besides the vocal showcase with celebrity judges, "Island Idol" includes free pupu, door prizes, a silent auction and no-host bar. Admission is $10 pre-sale through the sponsoring Central YMCA (401 Atkinson Drive), $15 at the door. It's for those 21 and older. Want to sing? Register online at www.islandidol.org or at the Central YMCA. It's a benefit to raise funds for YMCA programs. And relax, Simon, Paula and Randy are not likely to attend.

Garden of delights

Bring the whole family to the grand opening of the Children's Garden at the Urban Garden Center in Pearl City, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 28. Attractions include hands-on crafts, educational activities, door prizes, a mini produce/plant sale and tours of themed gardens such as the Pizza Garden, Animal Garden, Worm Tunnel and others. It's free. The Urban Garden Center is at 955 Kamehameha Highway; enter through the diamondhead side of The Home Depot parking lot. 453-6050.

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.