What's Up!

Local favorite Plantation bon dance Hawai'i's Plantation Village in Waipahu kicks off the obon season with a celebration June 5. Food sales begin at 5 p.m., with dancing and music 6-9 p.m. Obon is the traditional Japanese Buddhist ritual that pays tribute to the ancestral spirits, and families will gather to celebrate throughout the summer. Admission to the Plantation Village event is free. 677-0110.

Dust off your platform dancing shoes because it's time to get down during the '70s Soul Jam. Cool cats can travel back to the decade of glittery funk with hot jams by The Stylistics, The Emotions, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, The Chi-Lites, Carl Carlton and Eddie Holman. Local diva Yvonne Elliman also performs. Tickets are $35 and $45.

• 7 p.m. June 11 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

FESTIVAL: June 11-13

The popular Pan-Pacific Festival — Matsuri in Hawai'i is back in massive proportions with drums, dance, pageantry and parades. Local-boy-turned-sumo-wrestler Konishiki lends a sumo-sized hand to the festivities to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the festival. He performs at the June 11 block party and also appears on one of the parade floats with the Konishiki Kids Club on June 13. Highlights of the festival include a ho'olaule'a June 11 along Kalakaua Avenue with entertainment, craft and activity booths and an international marketplace of ethnic dishes. The colorful parade travels down Kalakaua Avenue June 13, with taiko drummers, modern and traditional dancers and dazzling floats. The festival also includes a weekend of performing arts with cultural concerts and demonstrations by artists, dancers and taiko drummers at venues including the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and Ala Moana Center. Admission to most events is free.

• June 11-13 / various venues / www.pan-pacific-festival.com

CONCERT: June 12

Head for the city and "Talk a Walk in the Country" at the annual concert featuring The Makaha Sons, below, who will be joined by perennial favorites including Amy Hanaiali'i Gilliom and Willie K., Ho'okena, Kapena, Na Palapalai, Three Plus, Maunalua and The Lim Family. Other treats include appearances by Robert Cazimero, Auntie Genoa Keawe, Halau Hula Olana, kumu hula Olana and Howard Ai, Halau Na Mamo 'O Pu'uanahulu and kumu hula Sonny Ching. Tickets: $25 pool, $17 lower terrace, $15 upper terrace and $10 lawn.

• 5 p.m. June 12 / Waikiki Shell / (877) 750-4400, 591-2211

PARADE: June 12

It'll be a treat for the eyes and noses of all when the 88th annual King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade gets under way. Catch sight of vibrant floral floats, statuesque pa'u riders and precise marching bands at this yearly colorful treat. This year's theme is "Na Mo'olelo O Kamehameha I," or "Legends of Kamehameha the Great." An awards presentation as well as the Folklife Festival at Kapi'olani Park follow the parade. At the festival, there'll be arts and crafts demonstrations, food booths, entertainment and displays. Admission is free.

• 9:30 a.m. June 12 / from King and Richards streets to Kapi'olani Park / 586-0333

CONCERT: June 13

Rock to the sounds of the '60s and '70s when three legendary classic rock bands take a tour of the Islands. Canned Heat makes things sizzle with a roster of hits that includes "Going Up the Country" and "On the Road Again." Vanilla Fudge sweetens the deal with hits "You Keep Me Hangin' On" and "Beat Goes On." And Big Brother and the Holding Company (from left, Peter Albin, Sam Andrew and David Getz), best known for giving Janis Joplin her start, is also remembered for songs like "Coo Coo" and "Piece of My Heart." Tickets are $35 advance and $40 on the day of the show.

• 7 p.m. June 13 / Blaisdell Arena / (877) 750-4400

Also: Catch the classic rock sounds at 7 p.m. June 11 at Kona Brewing Co. Brewhouse Oasis on the Big Island. Tickets are $30 advance and $40 at the door. (808) 334-2739. The groups also perform at 7 p.m. June 12 at the Aloha Pavilion at the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua on Maui. Tickets are $30 advance and $40 at the door. (808) 665-7086.

MIXED BAG: June 17-19

The 15th annual Honolulu Gay Pride celebration is preparing for another stellar event with a parade, lu'au, festival, dance and Gay Pride contest as part of the festive mix. This year's theme is "Pono — Kaulike — Ha'aheo" ("Truth — Justice — Pride"). The fun kicks off with a Mr.-Miss-Ms. Gay Pride Contest, 6-11 p.m. June 17 at Fusion Waikiki (pictured are last year's winners, Raymond Vactor, Tiana, and Pamela Vessels). Tickets are $10, which includes pupu, dancing and show. The festivities continue June 18, with a Pride Lu'au, 5-9:30 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion. Tickets are $30 advance, $35 at the door. The last day of the celebration starts off with a Pride Parade at 10 a.m. from Ala Moana Beach to Kapi'olani Park. Afterward, join in the Pride Festival, noon-5 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion. Admission is $3. The three-day event ends with a Pride Dance, 5-9:30 p.m. at McCoy Pavilion. Tickets are $3 at the door. Proceeds from the celebration benefit The Center's new Student Scholarship Fund.

• June 17-19 / various venues / 951-7000

STAGE: June 17-20

Expect giggles galore when Joe Moore and Pat Sajak team up again on stage, this time for "The Honeymooners: The Lost Episodes." Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton come back to life for more laughs and gaffes during this limited-run engagement. Jim Hutchison directs. Tickets: $17.50, $27.50 and $37. There is a $3 discount for seniors and $5 discount for Manoa Valley Theatre 2003-04 season subscribers, PBS Hawai'i member cardholders and Hawai'i Theatre Center members.

• 8 p.m. June 17-18, 4 and 8 p.m. June 19 and 4 p.m. June 20 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

STAGE: June 17-27

3 ... 2 ... 1 ... blastoff! Sesame Street Live is back and it's out of this world! After a spaceship lands on Sesame Street, the lovable gang of Big Bird, Elmo, Bert and Ernie, Cookie Monster and Zoe joins forces to tell two Martians how to get, how to get back into outer space. On opening night, all seats are $11. Tickets for subsequent shows are $11, $15 and $19.

• 7 p.m. June 17; 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. June 18, 24-25; 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 19-20, 26-27 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / (877) 750-4400

CONCERT: June 18

Rock like Roth when the Atomic Punks head for Hawai'i for a tribute show to early Van Halen. Go back to the time of David Lee Roth with the California-based Punks, as they churn out an explosive likeness to the legendary hard-rock band. Tickets are $19; for 18 and older.

• 7 p.m. June 18 / Pipeline Cafe / (877) 750-4400

COMING UP:

• GiRL FeST, multimedia festival, May 28-June 5, venues to be announced
• Red Shark Awards, slam poetry, Kapi'olani Community College
• Warrior Society Pow Wow, June 5-6, Kapi'olani Park
• Don Carlos, Natural Vibrations, DJ Skribble, June 10, Volcanoes Nightclub
• Band Camp, with headliner Pepper, June 11, The Beach House
• Hawaiian Humane Society's Petwalk, June 20, Magic Island and Ala Moana Beach Park
• Taste of Honolulu, June 25-27, Civic Center grounds
• "Under a Tropic Moon: 100 Years of Hapa Haole Hula," June 26-27, Hawai'i Theatre
• 'Ukulele Festival, July 25, Kapi'olani Park bandstand
• Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 30-31 at Hawai'i Theatre, Aug. 6-7 at Maui Arts & Cultural Center

BUZZING ABOUT:

Wanted: short films: The annual 'Ohina Short Film Showcase, scheduled for October at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts, is looking for entries. Films should not be longer than 30 minutes; entries less than 10 minutes are encouraged. The entry fee is $10; the deadline is Aug. 6. Forms are available at Blockbuster locations on O'ahu; call 428-0100 or visit www.ohina.org.

Home again: Skyline, the very popular club event with free pupu, massages and music, is heading back to the Hanohano Room of the Sheraton Waikiki. There was some confusion about a name change, a date change, etc., but beginning June 5 it's the big show every first and third Saturday of the month, 9 p.m.-2 a.m. (for those 21 and older). Enjoy the view.

Swing thing: The 11th Annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival, July 30-31 at the Hawai'i Theatre, will assemble national names such as Lalo Schifrin, Ken Peplowski and Eric Marienthal, and local faves Melveen Leed, Jimmy Borges, Keahi Conjugacion, Ginai, Gabe Baltazar (Sr. and Jr.) and Andrea Young. The fest journeys to Castle Theatre at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Aug. 6-7.

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.