What's Up!

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Local favorite Hoppy times at the Waikiki Aquarium The Waikiki Aquarium is hosting its annual Easter Sea Hunt, 9-11:30 a.m. April 3, featuring an egg hunt for keiki 2-8 years old, fishpond game, crafts and visits with the Easter Bunny. Admission is $7 general, $5 kama'aina, military, students and seniors, $3.50 youths 13-17, free for kids 12 and younger and Friends of the Waikiki Aquarium members. The egg hunt is an additional $5 per child, or free for aquarium members who are pre-registered (deadline is March 25). It's another $2 for the fishpond game. 923-9741, option 3.

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, left, 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 (the March 26 show is sold out) / Pipeline Cafe / (877) 750-4400

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, 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

FESTIVAL: April 2-8

The Hawaii International Film Festival gets into the swing of things with the 7th annual Spring Fling. Presented by Commercial Data Systems, this year's film fest boasts 20 independent feature films from Asia, the Pacific and beyond. At right is a photo from "The Land Has Eyes," a film by Vilsoni Hereniko, about a girl's coming of age in the Fijian island of Rotuma. Tickets are $8 general and $7 children, military, students and seniors. HIFF Ohana member tickets are $6.

• April 2-8 / Signature Dole Cannery 18 Theatres / 528-3456, ext. 40 or www.hiff.org

Also: The HIFF Spring Fling features the Hawai'i premiere of "Sumo East and West" at Sunset on the Beach April 3. Admission is free.

FESTIVAL: April 3

Head out to the country and wish the Dole Plantation Maze a happy 6th birthday at its celebratory bash. There will be keiki crafts, free balloons, a roaming magician, Pineapple Pete, food, a country store and farmers' market. Entertainment for the day includes Hypersquad, Tiare O Polynetia, the Helemano Elementary 'Ukulele Club, Na Kuku Olu Olu I Ka Hula, Waialua High's Uprising Roots and Tehamata. Admission to the party is free. Special offerings for the day include a 2-for-1 admission to the maze and the plantation garden tour, and special fares for the Pineapple Express Train — $5.75 general, $4.50 for children.

• 10 a.m.-4 p.m. April 3 / Dole Plantation, Wahiawa / 621-8408

MIXED BAG: April 3

Calling all teddy bears! Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii sponsors the 7th annual Teddy Bear Round-Up while observing April as Child Abuse Prevention Month. Any kind of teddy bear or stuffed animal is welcome and will be distributed to family shelters, children's hospitals and other organizations throughout the Islands. Local entertainment will be featured and costumed characters such as Winnie-the-Pooh will be on hand to collect bears.

• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 3 / Pearlridge Center Uptown / 951-0200

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.

CONCERT: April 17

Have you ever seen a tiger sing? Here's your chance when the McKinley Alumni Association hosts the 3rd annual Karaoke Challenge for McKinley High School graduates. Former Tigers will be split into black and gold teams and take to the mike to compete for the perpetual trophy. The evening begins with a dinner in the cafeteria, followed by pre-show entertainment, open karaoke for the audience and the program in the auditorium. Tickets are $15, which include dinner, the show and door prizes.

• 4:30-9 p.m. April 17 / McKinley High School / 949-5659

COMING UP:

• David Benoit and Michael Paulo, with the Honolulu Sym-phony Pops, April 9-10, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• Baaba Maal, Senegalese musician, April 10, Leeward Com-munity 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
• GiRL FeST, multimedia festival, May 28-June 5, venues to be announced
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 30-31 at Hawai'i Theatre, Aug. 6-7 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center

BUZZING ABOUT:

Date to circle: This year's 'Ukulele Festival, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. July 25 at Kapi'olani Park Bandstand, will feature an 800-member children's 'ukulele band (getting bigger by the year!), guest artist James Ingram ("Just Once," "Somewhere Out There," "One Hundred Ways") and local faves Ohta-san, Raiatea Helm and the Keale 'Ohana. And whee, it's all free.

Fit for a king: This year's King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade will be held June 12 — the 88th in an enduring series. "Na Mo'olelo O Kamehameha I (the Legends of Kamehameha the Great)" is this year's theme. Kahauanu Lake, recording star and respected kupuna in the Hawaiian community, will be grand marshal. And yes, volunteers are needed — to plan, run the parade and sew lei for the June 11 statue-decorating ceremonies. Call 586-0333.

Laugh it up: Tickets go on sale at 9 a.m. tomorrow for performances by Chicago's famed comedy troupe The Second City. Satire and cutting-edge improv are in store as some of the best sketches from Second City's 40-year history are showcased. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. April 29 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center, 8 p.m. May 1 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets — $20, $25, $30 — will be available at the Blaisdell box office (591-2211), MACC (808) 242-7469, and at Ticketmaster outlets. Charge by phone at (877) 750-4400.

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.