GiRL FeST, celebrating its fifth anniversary, has become one of this city's staple annual events. There's the St. Patrick's Day parade and block party, the Hawaii International Film Festival, Honolulu City Lights ... and GiRL FeST.

And every year, the event, which was started in 2003 with the purpose of preventing violence against women and girls through education and art, gets bigger and better, packing in as many concerts, workshops, art shows, films and poetry slams as nine days can handle. And it's a lot to take in — even for the GiRL FeST veteran who plans her (or his — men are allowed, too) year around the fest.

This year's event program is a whopping 20 pages long, and each page is dense with information, which means there's no shortage of stuff to do and see, but if this is your first time doing GiRL FeST, the whole thing could get a bit overwhelming.

Where do you go? What do you see first? How do you see all the good stuff without taking a nine-day leave of absence from work? Consider this your Cliffs Notes to GiRL FeST. We'll tell you everything you need to know ... and then some.

WHAT EXACTLY IS GIRL FEST?

GiRL FeST was founded by Kathryn Xian, who serves as its non-executive director. Xian is also the founder of The Safe Zone Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preventing violence against women.

GiRL FeST is operated annually by The Safe Zone Foundation, which is run by an all-volunteer staff.

GiRL FeST, in an effort to effect social change, incorporates film, music, art, spoken word, dance and a program of lectures, workshops and expert panels that address issues such as body image, identity, empowerment, social change and methods on how to prevent violence in relationships.

WHY GIRL FEST?

Because, according to Hawai'i statistics provided by the Domestic Violence Action Center, the Honolulu Police Department, the Sex Abuse Treatment Center and the Hawaii State Coalition Against Domestic Violence:

• One death per month occurs as a result of domestic violence.

• Between one-third and one-half of the police department's work time is spent tending to domestic violence calls.

• One out of every two girls under age 18 either has been or knows of another girl who has been physically abused.

• One out of five girls under age 18 in Hawai'i has been sexually assaulted.

• There is an average of 25 rapes per month statewide that are reported; less than 28 percent of rapes are actually reported.

WHEN IS GIRL FEST?

The event opens today at 8 p.m. with a full schedule of concerts and performances. It continues through Nov. 15.

WHERE DOES IT ALL GO DOWN?

This is where it starts to get tricky.

GiRL FeST is held in a number of venues all over the city, depending on the event. The launch party will take place at the Honolulu Design Center's Cupola Theatre, and the closing party will take place at Loft Gallery and Lounge in Chinatown.

HOW TO DO IT ALL WITHOUT ACTUALLY DOING IT ALL

As with any festival, the idea is to attend the events that will make you feel like you've seen more than you thought you ever could in such a short amount of time.

• Pick events that have more than one featured performer.

• Go to the lectures by the people who are generating a bit of buzz in their respective circles (and beyond their circles).

• Save festival cinema events for after dark — the best films in any festival tend to be scheduled after 5 p.m., when more of the working population is available to see them.

• If you can manage it, take in a couple of late-night events.

• Make the most of the weekend — really pack it in.

OUR TOP 5 MUST-ATTEND GIRL FEST EVENTS

1. Opening night. The fest opens with the Hawai'i premiere of Carol Chehade's play "My Real Name," a series of monologues that addresses the issue of how people are labeled in life.

Then it's a late-night concert with GiRL FeST regular Jennifer Johns and a long list of other performers, including drummers, musicians and spoken-word poets.

8 p.m.-1 a.m. today at the Cupola Theatre; $10-$20 sliding scale (pay what you can afford), $7 students and seniors; 21/older.

2. "Crying at the Aquarium," a spoken-word performance with actress Amber Tamblyn (of "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" fame) and her partner in poetry, Mindy Nettifee.

The two outspoken women are known for their "shameless" poetry, and aren't afraid to get brutally honest.

8 p.m. Saturday at the Cupola Theatre; $7-$20 sliding scale (pay what you can afford); $5 students and seniors; all ages.

3. Conference on Sex Trafficking: The New Abolitionists.

Maya Soetoro-Ng (yes, she's President-elect Barack Obama's sister) moderates a panel discussion about how sex trafficking affects Hawai'i, and what is being done to prevent it.

4 p.m. Wednesday at the Cupola Theatre, free; all ages.

4. Screening of "The Gits" followed by "Bands Against Violence" concert.

First, watch Kerry O'Kane's documentary on the brutal rape and murder of The Gits frontwoman Mia Zapata. The '90s punk band was at the height of its popularity when tragedy struck, ending the band's existence.

Stick around for a concert by Bari Bari 13 and The 86 List.

7:30 p.m. Thursday at Anna Bannana's; $5-$20 sliding scale (pay what you can afford); 18/older.

5. Closing-night party with The Malcognitas, Kings of Spade (formerly X-Factor) and a secret guest. How intriguing!

9 p.m.-2 a.m. Nov. 15 at Loft Lounge and Gallery; $10-$20 sliding scale (pay what you can afford), $7 before 9 p.m.; 18/older.

View and download a full schedule of events at www.girlfesthawaii.org.