The Buzz

DJ Mei-Lwun of San Francisco is back in town to help the Pussycat Lounge celebrate its 6th birthday at Wave Waikiki. See The Night Stuff for details and for a roundup of the late-night activities around town.

Amped up with a new DVD

Local rock band Amplified — from left, Ryan Selzer, Chad Domschke, RickyLee Miller and Kodia Rae — hosts a DVD release party tonight at the Wave Waikiki. Filmed entirely at the club four months ago, the live DVD includes songs that were never recorded. Amplified, which plays original hard rock, has opened for such acts as Everclear, Pepper and Fountains of Wayne. The party happens from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. Cover is $7, for 21 and older. Mixed Nutz opens. 941-0424.

The aquarium is still celebrating

Bruce Asato • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Waikiki Aquarium is turning 100, and it's celebrating in style with a birthday bash from 6:30 to 9 tonight. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. The festivities include a concert under the stars with The Makaha Sons and a mini-tasting fair with samples from restaurants including Roy's, Sam Choy's Diamond Head, Meritage, Kahala Caterers and 12th Avenue Grill. Scrip for food sampling will be sold at the event. And what's a birthday party without cake? Past and present aquarium directors will be on hand during a special birthday-cake presentation. Admission is $28 general, $14 children ages 7-12 and free for those 6 and younger. For Friends of the Waikiki Aquarium members, admission is $20 general and $10 juniors. Proceeds will benefit aquarium programs and exhibits. Reservations: 923-9741, option 3.

Carnival boasts rides, games, entertainment

Advertiser library photo

• 6:30-8:30 tonight: Mr. Vegas and Emirc.
• 7 p.m. Saturday: Keahiwai; 10 p.m. Tapa Groove.
• 7 p.m. Sunday: Koa'uka; 10 p.m. Sean Na'auao.
• 7 p.m. March 26: Three Plus; 10 p.m. Ho'onu'a.
• 7 p.m. March 27: Next Generation; 10 p.m. Opihi Pickers.
• 7 p.m. March 28: Keahiwai; 10 p.m. Natural Vibrations.

Carnival times are 6 p.m.-midnight today and March 26, noon-midnight Saturday and March 27, and noon-11 p.m. Sunday and March 28. Admission is $2 for 12 and older, $1 for ages 4-11 and free for 3 and younger. Special $15 wristbands (good for unlimited rides at designated times) and $18 fun passes (good for one admission and one wristband for unlimited rides) are available through Ticketmaster at (877) 750-4400.

Phone 682-5767 for information.

Taiko Festival at Blaisdell

Tickets are $20 for balcony seating and $30 for floor seating. (877) 750-4400, 949-2255.

Music and food in one place

Love Hawaiian music and Hawaiian food? Enjoy the best of both worlds in one place at the annual great Hawaiian 105 KINE's lu'au and concert Saturday night. Melodies for the night will be provided by Keali'i Reichel, Na Palapalai, Makaha Sons and Na Leo, above. Also on the bill: Mel Cabang, Frank De Lima, Brickwood Galuteria with Imai and Friends, Ike Pono and Anelaikalani. The Hawaiian buffet menu includes lomi-lomi salmon, sweet potato, kalua pig, squid lu'au, chicken long rice, lau-lau, poi, haupia and other local goodies. Lu'au seating is available for $45. There'll be concert-only seating available for $15 upper level and $17.50 loges. The fun begins at 5 p.m. at the Blaisdell Center Arena, with dinner served at 6. (877) 750-4400.

The Asian-themed world of Xentopia is full of club events

Get ready, Honolulu, because Xentopia is coming to town, with a week of festivities to launch World-Asia Television, a New York-based Asian-themed network that's in the works. From Thursday through April 1, it will be nonstop fun at venues around O'ahu, including on the beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort and Spa and Fort DeRussy with concerts, dance parties, fashion shows and celebrity appearances. Among the festivities:

• "Xentopia Live!" features musical artists from the Mainland, Hawai'i and Asia at the main stage on the beach. Opening night at 6:30 p.m. Thursday features kumu hula John Lake and his halau, the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, Gee Yung International Martial Arts Dragon and Lion Dance Association, Jordan Segundo, Polynesian Cultural Center and Halau Hula Olana's keiki dancers. Other artists appearing during the concert series include Kid Capri, Jake Shimabukuro and Makana. Brook Lee emcees. This free event happens at various times from Thursday through March 27.
• "Club Series" are nightly theme parties at clubs around town, featuring something for everyone with hip-hop, reggae, trance or top 40. Playboy model Christina Linehan hosts. A $60 Xentopia club passport allows entrance into all events.
• A welcome party with DJ James Coles takes place 9 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday at the Hard Rock Café. Cover is $10 for 18- to 20-year-olds and $5 for 21 and older. Or head for Volcanoes Nightclub, which will be open 9 p.m.-4 a.m. that same night for Asian Fever. Kaila Yu and SuChin Pak will be in the house. Cover is $15 for 18- to 20-year-olds and $10 for 21 and older.
• On March 26, parties happen from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. at Hard Rock and Don Ho's. Hard Rock hosts SuChin Pak and Pohaku during Hawaiian Style; cover is $10 for 18- to 20-year-olds and $5 for 21 and older. At Don Ho's, Red Degree and Dustin Ngyuen will be guests during the Video Mixx Party. Cover is $5 for those 21 and older.
• The Beach House is throwing a Foam Party from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. March 27 with DJ James Coles, Kid Capri and SuChin Pak. Cover is $12, 21 and older.
• From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. March 28, Pipeline Café hosts the Sexy Xentopian Babes Bikini Contest, along with Kaila Yu and Kid Capri. Cover is $10, for those 21 and older. That same night, Wave Waikiki throws a Wet and Wild party with Iman, April and Dustin Nguyen from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. Cover is $7, for 21 and older.
• Zanzabar is the place to be from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. March 29 for March Madness, with Iman and SuChin Pak in attendance. Cover is $10, for 21 and older.
• From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. March 30, you can choose between the Velvet Lounge and Venus. DJ James Coles and Dustin Nguyen will be at the "Soft and Sexy" lounge; cover is $10 for 18- to 20-year-olds and $5 for 21 and older. Iman and SuChin Pak will be at Venus, the "Best Party on the Planet." Cover is $5 for 21 and older.
• It'll be time for some "She Said, He Said" at Rumours, which will be open from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. March 31, with DJ James Coles and SuChin Pak. Cover is $5, for 21 and older. Zanzabar will also be open 9 p.m.-4 a.m. that night, for Wild Wednesday with Iman and Dustin Nguyen. Cover is $10, 21 and older.
• Xentopia wraps up on April 1 with the Pipeline Café and Wave Waikiki both open from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. At the "Fool's Day Wrap Party" at Pipes will be DJ James Coles and SuChin Pak; cover is $15 for 18- to 20-year-olds and $10 21 and older. At the "Wave Goodbye" party in Waikiki will be Iman and Dustin Nguyen; cover is $5, for 21 and older.
• "Yin and Yang Hookups" is a dating game show hosted by Mitsu Hagiwara that features wacky challenges for the contestants. This free event takes place 3-4 p.m. March 26 and 30 at the main stage.
• The main stage turns into a free dance club during "Eastern Shake," hosted by Joy Bisco. The event happens twice, 3-5 p.m. March 27 and 5-7 p.m. March 30.
• Enjoy dragon-boat races 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. March 28 off Fort DeRussy Beach. Free.
• There'll also be an international modeling search for the new face of WorldAsia. The free open casting call happens 11 a.m.-6 p.m. March 28 on the main stage.
• "TakeOut Comedy" is a stand-up comedy competition hosted by Jami Gong. From 7-9 p.m. March 29, you can witness this free event on the main stage. The preliminary round happens at 9 p.m. tonight at Dave & Buster's Showroom. A $20 cover charge includes two drinks. To enter the comedy competition, call 277-6035.
• The fashion show, "Elements of Style," features Asian fashions and musical performances on the main stage. The free event happens 7:30-8:30 p.m. March 31.
• "Amazing Anime" is the name of the anime film fest offered in conjunction with the Hawaii International Film Festival. The free movie can be seen 8-10 p.m. April 1 on the main stage.
• The Xentopia finale lu'au on the Hilton Hawaiian Village green from 6 to 8 p.m. April 1 also serves as a fund-raiser for the Hawai'i International Film Festival and the Jackie Chan Foundation. There will be Pacific Rim cuisine, Polynesian entertainment and celebrity appearances. Tickets are $150 per person.

Other Xentopia events on the beach include daily yoga classes at 9 a.m., a three-day beach volleyball contest from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day, sumo demonstrations 2-4 p.m. March 27, a children's chess challenge from 1 to 4 p.m. March 28, food and product booths and a fireworks display at 7:30 p.m. March 26.

Schedule is subject to change. www.xentopia.com, 947-7941.

Fisherman Phil (Neil Furukawa) encounters the magic onaga in "Beneath the Ocean Blue."

Tales of the sea

Real-world lessons get the musical fantasy treatment in "Beneath the Ocean Blue," the new 'Ohia Productions show written and directed by Lisa Matsumoto, with music and lyrics by Roslyn. For example, there's the magic onaga that teaches two fishermen valuable lessons about overfishing. And there's the monk seal, spinner dolphins and the humpback whale — all will strut their stuff and teach the audience about the dangers that threaten them. "Ocean," aimed at young people, premieres at 7 p.m. today, repeating at 2, 4 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 2 and 4 p.m. Sunday at Paliku Theatre, Windward Community College. Tickets are $10 general, $5 for children and students. 235-7433, www.etickethawaii.com