What's Up!

FESTIVAL: April 30

Get ready for a Spam-tastic day when Times Supermarkets, Aloha Petroleum and the Waikiki Improvement Association present the 3rd annual Spam Jam. It's a tasty affair with food booths offering Spam-themed dishes, craft booths, Spam-related memorabilia and the Mr. or Ms. Spam contest. Entertainment stages will be set up in front of the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the Outrigger Waikiki. Entertainers include Inoa'ole, Ho'onu'a, Sudden Rush, Maunalua and Sean Na'auao. Admission is free.

• 4-10 p.m. April 30 / Kalakaua Avenue / 255-5927

FESTIVAL: May 1

Celebrate Children's Day this year at Kodomo no Hi: Keiki Fun Fest, below, a full day of games, demonstrations, cultural make-n-takes, mini craft fair, entertainment, Japanese folk tale stories, koi pond, sword display and food. Kimono dressing will be available for $60 for Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i members, $70 for nonmembers, with photos at an extra cost. Admission is free.

• 10 a.m.-3 p.m. May 1 / Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i / 945-7633

DANCE: May 4-8

The University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Department of Theatre and Dance unveils its spring dance concert, "Spring Footholds: Moving Images," above. The performance features a varied repertoire, including modern dance, digital media technology and original and live music. The works were choreographed by master's and bachelor's candidates. A discussion follows the May 6 concert. Tickets are $10 general, $8 seniors, military, UH faculty/staff and non-UHM students, $3 UH-Manoa students.

• 8 p.m. May 4-7 and 2 p.m. May 8 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre / 956-7655

STAGE: May 6-8

The renowned monks of the Songshan Shaolin Temple, right, head this way from China for an awesome display of martial-arts skill and acrobatic fighting style. The monks will demonstrate their kung-fu expertise through weapons, hand fighting and spear piercings. Tickets: $35-$75.

• 7 p.m. May 6, 2 and 7 p.m. May 7 and 2 p.m. May 8 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506

CLUBS: May 14

DJ Mark Farina is letting loose and embarking on his first Mushroom Jazz tour in three years. The whirlwind worldwide tour makes two stops in the Islands for funky hip-hop grooves and soulful jazzy tunes. DJs G-Spot, Daniel J, IKON and Sovern-T also get in the mix. Tickets are $15 limited pre-sale, $20 after; for 18 and older.

• 9 p.m.-4 a.m. May 14 / Wave Waikiki / (877) 71-GROOVE
• On Maui, Mark Farina spins 10 p.m.-2 a.m. May 13 at Hapa's. For 21 and older. (877) 71-GROOVE.

FESTIVAL: May 14

The Filipino Community Center presents a fun-filled day of culture with the 13th annual Filipino Fiesta and Parade. The parade travels from Fort DeRussy down Kalakaua Avenue to end at Kapi'olani Park for the festival. There the celebration includes Filipino food, arts and crafts, local and international entertainment, a health fair and Regional Village. Admission is free.

• 9 a.m.-5 p.m. May 14 / Kapi'olani Park

CONCERT: May 20

Punahou graduate and two-time Grammy nominee Conrad Herwig returns to the Islands for some sounds of the city. Now based in New York, the jazz trombonist performs alongside former high school jazz bandmate John Kolivas and the Honolulu Jazz Quartet. Tickets: $25 general, $23 Academy of Arts members.

• 7:30 p.m. May 20 / Doris Duke Theatre / 532-8700

CONCERT: May 12-13

It's been a "Long Time Coming" — blues-rock wonder Jonny Lang, right, returns to these shores as part of the Hawaiian Islands Rhythm and Blues Mele. The 24-year-old Fargo, N.D., guitarist will appear with a new band that features drums/percussion, bass, electric violin, mandolin and piano. Tickets: $35, $40 and $55.

• 7:30 p.m. May 12-13 / Pipeline Cafe / 589-1999

The guitar slinger plays on at:

• 7:30 p.m. May 6 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center Castle Theater. Tickets: $35, $40, $45. (808) 242-7469.
• 6:30 p.m. May 7 at Kona Brewing Company on the Big Island. Tickets: $35, $40. (808) 334-2739, (808) 334-1133.
• 7 p.m. May 11 at Kaua'i Memorial Convention Hall. Tickets: $40. (808) 337-9234.

CONCERT: May 26-28

Luminous local favorite Keali'i Reichel, above, joins the Honolulu Symphony Pops for a memorable set of Memorial Day weekend concerts. The performances with the Grammy-nominated artist are the season finale for the Hawaiian Airlines Pops series. Because of high demand for tickets, a third concert has been added. Matt Catingub conducts. Tickets: $30, $40, $50, $60 and $75, with a 20 percent discount for seniors, students and military.

• 7:30 p.m. May 26 and 8 p.m. May 27-28 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / 792-2000, (877) 750-4400

HOT DATES

• May 6-7 20th annual 'Ohana Festival, Saint Louis School
• May 13, 15 Iggy Jang Plays Khachaturian, a Honolulu Symphony concert, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• May 21-22 Sarah Chang, violin, in concert with the Honolulu Symphony, Blaisdell Concert Hall
• May 26-June 19 50th State Fair, Aloha Stadium
• May 28 Eek-A-Mouse, Hard Rock Cafe
• May 28-29 Powerman 5000, Wave Waikiki
• June 3 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Hilton Hawaiian Village Coral Ballroom
• June 18 Salsathon, 5th annual Puerto Rican Cultural and Salsa Festival, McCoy Pavilion
• July 31 Starbucks' 35th annual 'Ukulele Festival, Kapi'olani Park bandstand

BUZZING ABOUT

'Elmo's Coloring Book'

It's never too early to plan: Tickets go on sale April 30 for Sesame Street Live's "Elmo's Coloring Book," which inhabits the Blaisdell Concert Hall for 15 performances June 16-26. Everybody's favorite Sesame Street pals, including Elmo, Zoe, Oscar and Big Bird, travel into their drawings of ancient Egypt, the dinosaurs and a musical junkyard.

Shows are at 7 p.m. June 16; 10:30 a.m and 7 p.m. June 17 and 23-24; and 10:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. June 18-19 and 25-26. Tickets are $11 and $15 and a limited number of premium $19 seats. All tickets on opening night are $11. (877) 750-4400, ticketmaster.com.

Pucker up for KISS Army

Tickets are on sale for a concert by the tribute band KISS Army, scheduled for a gig at 7 p.m. May 28 at Pipeline Cafe.

The band, which, obviously, is dedicated to the music and makeup of the rock band KISS, has appeared on MTV, Fox TV, ESPN, CNN, in Las Vegas and at KISS conventions.

Tickets for the 18-and-older Pipeline show are $22 advance, $45 VIP; available at the Blaisdell box office, Ticketmaster outlets, Panda Travel and BYU-Hawai'i. (877) 750-4400, ticketmaster.com. Doors open at 6 p.m.; Buddhist Priest is scheduled to start things up.

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.