What's Up!

April film premieres April 2: "Hellboy," "Home on the Range," "The Prince & Me, "Walking Tall" April 7: "Johnson Family Vacation" April 9: "The Alamo," "Ella Enchanted," "The Girl Next Door," "The Whole Ten Yards" April 16: "Connie and Carla," "Kill Bill, Vol. 2," "The Punisher" April 23: "13 Going on 30," "Man on Fire" April 30: "Envy," "Godsend," "Laws of Attraction," "Mean Girls" (left)

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. Below is a photo from "Touching the Void," one of the featured films. 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.

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

CONCERT: April 10

Senegal native and spiritual pop singer Baaba Maal, left, is bringing beautiful music to the Islands via his 34-date world tour. Born into a fisherman's caste in Western Africa and despite his parents' hopes that he become a lawyer, Maal went on to follow the music in his heart to become a pillar of the African music world. His unique sound ranges from pure traditional grooves to pulsating vibrant fusion. Tickets are $25 general, $20 military, seniors, students and UH faculty and staff.

• 7 p.m. April 10 / Leeward Community College Theatre / 944-2697, 956-8246

Also: Maal performs April 7 at Kahilu Theatre on the Big Island, April 8 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center, and April 9 at Brigham Young University-Hawaii.

STAGE: April 17-May 15

Honolulu Theatre for Youth wraps up its 2003-2004 stage season with two plays. "Pacific Tales for Young People" is based on last season's popular "Hawai'i Tales for Young People," except this time the interactive plots are based on stories from around the Pacific. The play is recommended for ages 3 and older. "The Little, Little Red Riding Hood Show" delves deeper behind that fairy tale classic and focuses on the little girl's relationship with her mother. This story is recommended for ages 5 and older.

Both will be shown at McCoy Pavilion, Ala Moana Beach Park. Admission to each show is $12 generals, $6 youths and seniors, free for children 2 and younger, although a ticket is required. American sign-language-interpreted shows are at 11:30 a.m. May 1 for "Tales" and 4:30 p.m. May 15 for "Red Riding Hood."

• "Pacific Tales for Young People," 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. April 17, 24 and May 1 and 8 / "The Little, Little Red Riding Hood Show," 1:30 and 4:30 p.m. April 17, 24 and May 1, 8 and 15 / 839-9885

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

CONCERT: April 23-25

Imagine the ultimate rock tribute concert and you'll get "Rock Legends," left. This event celebrates the success of classic bands The Beatles, ABBA and Queen with renditions of timeless songs such as "Yesterday," "Dancing Queen" and "We Will Rock You." Forty members of the Honolulu Symphony will accompany the tribute performers. Tickets range from $35 to $65. The Advertiser is a sponsor.

• 8 p.m. April 23-24 and 2 and 7:30 p.m. April 25 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400

FESTIVAL: April 23-24

The 2nd annual Waikiki Spam Jam street festival is back with more Spam than ever. The event kicks off with the making, unveiling and eating of the world's longest Spam musubi. The first night features a Spam Jam concert and comedy revue at 6 p.m. at All Star Hawaii; admission is free if you bring a can of Spam, which will be donated to the Hawaii Foodbank. The street party happens on the second day, with Spam dishes prepared by local chefs. Two stages of entertainment, hula performances and craft tents also are in store. Admission is free.

Noon-1 p.m. April 23 and 4-10 p.m. April 24 / Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Kalakaua Avenue / 545-4195, www.waikikiimprovement.org

COMING UP:

• David Benoit and Michael Paulo, with the Honolulu Sym-phony Pops, April 9-10, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• "Blast to the Past," Iolani School family fair, April 16-17, Iolani School
• 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:

New blink dates: You already know that the much-anticipated, sold-out blink-182 show scheduled for April 3 was postponed because drummer Travis Barker hurt his foot. The new dates are Oct. 1 at Blaisdell, Oct. 2 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Coming attraction: Hawai'i's own Dwayne Johnson, better known as The Rock, stars as a retired U.S. Special Forces soldier whose hometown has wasted away with crime, drugs and violence in the new film "Walking Tall." It opens nationwide April 2.

Hot stuff: Salsa fans, get ready for a new venue to dance the night away. The new Topa Showroom in the Topa Financial Center (745 Fort Street Mall, formerly known as the Amfac Building) will host "Salsa Fever," featuring the band Son Caribe and special guests Aloha Brazil, 8 p.m.-2 a.m. April 3. Tickets are $15 general, $12.50 advance, available at Harry's Music, Cheapo's in Puck's Alley, Jelly's in 'Aiea, PC Bang & Internet Café in Mililani and Mercado de la Raza on Beretania Street.

Three for the show: If laughter is a cure-all for workaday blues, check out "Laugh 'Til You Cry," a Secretary's Day event, from 11 a.m. April 21 at the Palace Showroom of the Ohana Reef Towers Hotel. It features three stand-ups: Frank DeLima, Andy Bumatai and Paul Ogata. Hey, ask the boss to spring for the fun-fest. Tickets: $39.50; call 923-7469 or 922-6408.

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.