What's Up!

Advertiser Staff

LOCAL FAVORITE: Young musicians in the spotlight

"A Celebration of Excellence: The Legacy Continues," featuring the Hawai'i Youth Symphony I in a concert paying tribute to Louis Vuitton's 150 years in business, takes place 4-6 p.m. April 4 at the Hawai'i Theatre. Guest artists include concert pianist Lisa Nakamichi, the Hawaii State Ballet, and drummer Sango, who will premiere a new composition by Neil McKay. It's a benefit for the Hawai'i Youth Symphony Association. Tickets are $15 and $20 general, $10 students and seniors (includes theater restoration fee). 528-0506, www.hawaiitheatre.com.

FESTIVAL: March 20

Drum roll, please: The Hawaii International Taiko Festival will soon bring in booming performances for the sixth year in a row. Presented by the Honolulu Japanese Junior Chamber of Commerce Cherry Blossom Festival, the event features the female taiko group Hono Daiko, left, from Ishikawa, Japan, and the locally renowned Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble. Tickets are $20 balcony seating and $30 floor seating.

• 7:30-9:30 p.m. March 20 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400, 949-2255

CONCERT: March 20

Tasty grinds and entertainment are on the menu for this year's Great Hawaiian 105 KINE Luau. Performers include Keali'i Reichel, right, Na Leo Pilimehana, Makaha Sons and Na Palapalai. Food choices include lomi lomi salmon, kalua pig, squid lu'au, chicken long rice, lau lau, haupia and poi. Tickets for table seating on the arena floor are $45, which includes the dinner buffet and entertainment. Concert-only tickets are $17.50 for the loges and $15 in the upper level.

• 5 p.m. March 20 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

CONCERT: March 25

Underground hip-hop duo People Under the Stairs bring back the sounds of old. Thes One and Double K throw down jazzy loops, funky breaks, soulful scratching and laid-back humor. MC Trace and Kimo James also appear, along with Omega 6. Tickets are $12 advance, for 18 and older.

• 9 p.m.-4 a.m. March 25 / Wave Waikiki / 941-0424

CONCERT: March 26-27

A favorite of MTV's popular "TRL" show, Dashboard Confessional has added an additional show for its Island fans. Fronted by singer/songwriter Christopher Carrabba, right, and joined by Sunny Day Real Estate's Dan Hoerner, the band's emocore style and alternative sound has garnered a cult following. Claims to fame include "Hands Down," "Screaming Infidelities" and "Rapid Hope Loss." Tickets: $20.

• 7 p.m. March 26-27 / Pipeline Café / (877) 750-4400

CIRCUS: March 25-28

Turn your attention to the center of the ring because the world's largest animal-free circus is coming to town. Instead of lions and tigers and bears, the Moscow State Circus boasts acrobats, magicians and clowns. Add to the mix an 11-member Russian teeterboard act, the world-famous Wallenda family and a motorcycle daredevil team, and it promises to be a night of theatrical feats and boundless energy. Tickets are $20 general, $25 preferred seating and $30 VIP seating. Children 12 and younger are free with coupons available at participating retail outlets.

• 7 p.m. March 25; 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 26; 1, 4 and 7 p.m. March 27-28 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

Also, catch the circus at:

• Maui War Memorial Gym and Stadium, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. March 12; and 1, 4 and 7 p.m. March 13-14
• Kaua'i War Memorial and Convention Hall, 1, 4 and 7 p.m. March 20-21
• Hilo Afook-Chinen Auditorium, 1, 4 and 7 p.m. April 3-4
• Kekuaokalani Gymnasium in Kona, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m. April 6-7

STAGE: March 26-April 11

Diamond Head Theatre knows it don't mean a thing if it ain't got that "Swing!" So it's breaking out the big band sounds of the '30s and '40s for its upcoming musical with a full onstage orchestra and fast-paced swing dancing. Tickets: $12-$42, with discounts for full-time students, active-duty military and seniors 62 and older.

• 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays and 4 p.m. Sundays March 26-April 11 / Diamond Head Theatre / 733-0274

CONCERT: April 1-3

Grammy-award winning pop queen Jody Watley is heading this way for a three-night gig. Her self-titled debut solo album in 1987 garnered such hits as "Don't You Want Me" and "Some Kind of Lover." Followup albums include "Larger than Life," "Affairs of the Heart" and "Flower." Tickets: $20 advance pass (good for all three nights) or $23 on the day of the show.

• 8:30 p.m. April 1-3 / Gussie L'Amour's / 836-7883

CONCERT: April 2

Get ready to rrrrrumble when D-Child Entertainment presents the Battle of the R&B Heavyweights. Sexy seducer Ginuwine, above, R&B crooner Avant, smooth quartet Jagged Edge and soul singer Keke Wyatt come together for this concert. "American Idol" contestant Jonah Moananu is the opener. Tickets: $49-$59.

• 7:30 p.m. April 2 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

DANCE: April 2-3

The celebrated Iona Contemporary Dance Theatre presents a restaging of "Hawaiian Myths and Legends." Award-winning choreographer Cheryl Flaharty directs this stunning visual and energetic work, which is an interpretation of the cultural mythology of the Islands. Former Iona dancer David DeBlieck returns to the company this season as a guest artist and co-choreographer, offering up aerial performances and dancers suspended by silk. Other collaborators in this production include contemporary Hawaiian playwright Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl and composers Melinda Caroll and David Kauahikaua. Tickets range from $25 to $40, with student, senior and military discounts available.

• 8 p.m. April 2 and 3 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

MIXED BAG: April 15-18

The First Hawaiian International Auto Show once again showcases new 2004 models with sports cars, luxury models, sport utility vehicles and new trucks among the mix. Admission is $7 general, $5 seniors and military, $4 children ages 7-12 and free for children 6 and younger. Discount coupons will be available at First Hawaiian Bank branches on O'ahu, participating McDonald's restaurants, participating new car dealers and at www.autoshowusa.com.

• Noon-10:30 p.m. April 15-16, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m. April 17 and 10 a.m.-7 p.m. April 18 / Hawai'i Convention Center / www.autoshowusa.com.

Coming up ...

• " Yo Quiero Opera!" punk rock meets opera, March 20, McCoy Pavilion
• "Battle of the R&B Heavyweights," with Ginuwine, Avant, Jagged Edge, Keke Wyatt, April 2, Blaisdell Arena
• David Benoit and Michael Paulo, with the Honolulu Sym-phony Pops, April 9-10, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Baaba Maal, Senegalese musician, April 10, Leeward Community College Theatre
• Na Palapalai, April 23, Hawai'i Theatre
• May Day Concert with The Brothers Cazimero, May 1, Waikiki Shell
• Toto, with the Honolulu Symphony Pops, May 7-8, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Kumulipo II, May 8, Hawai'i Theatre
• Finch, emo/punk/pop/rock band, May 22, Pipeline Café