Already happening is Sam Choy's Diamond Head's (449 Kapahulu Ave., 732-8645) second annual Shrimp Festival, which will run through Jun. 12.

"June marks the start of the shrimp harvest season," said Sam Choy's co-owner James Lee. "With more daylight, shrimp grow larger. So, we should have some sizeable pieces during the festival."

During the two-week event, chef Aaron Fukuda will prepare such entrees as truffle-scented misoyaki jumbo shrimp ($26.95), prosciutto-wrapped black tiger shrimp combined with a filet of beef ($29.95), bay-shrimp-stuffed pork chops ($28.95), and a shrimp sampler of crab-crusted Australian prawns, shrimp-chip-crusted black tiger shrimp and Asian-style seared jumbo Texas white shrimp ($31.95).

"We'll do another shrimp festival at the Breakfast, Lunch & Crab location later in the summer," Lee said. "It'll probably be some time in August before kids go back to school."

Dixie Grill (404 Ward Ave., 596-8359 and 99-016 Kamehameha Hwy. in Aiea, 485-CRAB) patrons will get down and dirty during the crab shack's annual "Crabfest," which starts Wednesday and runs through all of June.

"But, they don't have to worry because bibs will be provided," joked director of operations Jim Hamachek. "And, just in case, we'll even put down some butcher paper and a roll of paper towels."

During the monthlong festival, the crab-themed menu will feature such appetizers as crab-stuffed shrimp and fried green tomatoes with Creole-style blue crab sauce, as well as assorted salads and sandwiches. Prices range from $9 to $12.

Main highlights include pan-roasted Dungeness crab with Creole rice ($22), colossal king crab platter with more than a pound of giant Alaskan king crab ($42) ; and the "Trash Can O' Crabs" ($64), featuring a heaping mound of barbecue Dungeness crab, steamed snow crab and soft shell crab that's enough for two to three people.

Daily specials will be available: Mondays will feature all-you-can-eat barbecue Dungeness crab from 3 to 6 p.m.; Wednesdays will offer deep-fried shrimp and corn-meal-crusted soft shell crab ($19); $4 beer-battered crab cakes will be available on Thursdays; and, on Fridays, guests can order the soft-shell-crab-and-shrimp etouffee ($18).

During the weekend, the festival specials will be a combination plate of chargrilled rib-eye steak and snow crab ($26) on Saturdays and crab-stuffed Na1wlins BBQ salmon ($16) on Sundays.

Toward the end of June, the 14th Annual Taste of Honolulu will take place on the Honolulu Civic Center grounds, Fri., Sat. and Sun. Jun. 24, 25 and 26.

Restaurants participating in this year's three-day orgy of food and drink will include Brew Moon, Canoes at the Ilikai, Ciao Mein, The Colony Steak & Seafood, Dave & Buster's, Down To Earth, Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, Gyu-Kaku, Hapa Grill, Highway Inn, Hong Kong Harbor View Restaurant, Kevin's Two Boots, Marians Island Wide Catering, Mediterranean Garden Deli, Musashi, Neptune's Garden Restaurant, Prince Court, The Shack,

Shanghai Bistro, Top of Waikiki, 21 Degrees North, The Willows, Yakiniku Hiroshi and The Mandalay.

"I do this from my heart," said Larry Chan, formerly of Eastern Garden and owner of The Mandalay, which will open in October. "Even though the restaurant isn't open yet, I still wanted to do what I could to help out Easter Seals."

Gates will open at 5 p.m. on Fri., Jun. 24 and at 11 a.m. on Sat. and Sun., Jun. 25 and 26. Admission is $3.