KOKUA FESTIVAL
Saturday Jan 3 - 10am to 6pm
A benefit concert for The Kokua Hawaii Foundation featuring Jack Johnson, Amy Hanaialii Gilliom & Willie K, Michael Franti & Spearhead, Makana and DJ Logic will be held at the beautiful Kualoa Ranch (Windward Oahu). The Kokua Festival will offer an eclectic mix of live music, local food and merchants, and activities for all ages, while promoting environmental awareness in a fun and tropical atmosphere. For information call 237-8515.

2000 DRAGONS: DON ED HARDY
Wednesday Jan 7 to 31 – call for times
Don Ed Hardy, a classically trained painter and internationally famous as one of America’s greatest tattoo artists, will have an art show at the Honolulu Academy of the Arts. The show will feature “2000 Dragons” which is an impressive 500-foot-long, 4-foot-wide painting on plasticized paper celebrating dragons from the point of view of various Asian traditions. For more information call 532-8700.

PARTY IN CHINATOWN
Saturday Jan 10 - 9am to 10:30pm
The kick-off to start celebrating the Chinese New Year (Year of the Monkey) will be held on Maunakea Street in Chinatown. At 4:00 p.m. a parade will start from the State Capitol Grounds and head onto Hotel St where it will finally end at River St. Food, fun and the entertainment stage will be on Maunakea Street. For more information call 595-6417.

CHICAGO & AMERICA IN CONCERT
Saturday Jan 10 - 8pm
The Grammy-award-winning rock group Chicago and special guest America will be in concert at the Blaisdell Arena. For information and tickets call 877-750-4400.

HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS STARLIGHT BALL
Saturday Jan 10 - 7pm
This black-tie affair is the inaugural social event of 2004. Dance by the light of the moon, dine on a lavish array of delectable cuisine and enjoy a martini and wine bar all in a world class art setting. For reservations and more information call 532-8700.

BOB & RON’S 5K & 1K KEIKI RUN
Sunday Jan 11 - 7am
Mid-Pacific Road Runners Club presents a 5K run at Kapiolani Park. The route makes almost two loops of the park, starting at Waikiki Shell and finishing at Marathon finish line. 1K Keiki Challenge will be run at the completion of the 5K and will go out and back from Marathon finish line. For more information call 395-7154.

NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL IN MOILIILI
Sunday Jan 11 - 9am to 4pm
The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii will present its 12th Annual New Year’s Festival. The all-day affair will include a variety of cultural exhibits, entertainment, food booths, and craft demonstrations. Validated parking will be available at the Japanese Cultural Center. For more information call 945-7633.

SONY OPEN GOLF TOURNAMENT
Monday Jan 12 to 18 - call for times
The 2004 Sony Open in Hawaii will present a week of golf activities at the Waialae Country Club. The activities will include a Million Dollar Shot golf contest, Dream Cup Pro-Am, Pro-Junior Golf Challenge, Sony Open in Hawaii Pro-Am and the official PGA Tour tournament competition. For more information and tickets call 523-7888.

TONY BENNETT LIVE
Wednesday Jan 14 - 8pm
Tony Bennet, known to the world for his golden voice and a career that spans forty years of jazz, will be at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. For more information call 591-2211.

JOB QUEST
Wednesday Jan 14 – 10am to 3pm
Job Quest 2003, now in its seventh year, will be held at the Blaisdell Center. Recruiters from over 80 local businesses, mainland organizations, military branches, and governmental agencies will be accepting applications for available job positions. Job positions vary from entry-level to management. Attendees should dress appropriately for a job interview, bring several copies of their resume, and have a positive attitude. For more information call Mary 536-7222.

ALOHA GYMFEST
Friday Jan 16 to 18 - call for times
Aloha Gymfest is a sanctioned USAG meet that traditionally attracts top teams from Hawaii, the U.S. mainland and countries like Japan, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Now in its 28th year, Aloha Gymfest is the longest continuously held gymnastics competition in the USA. It will be held at Kailua High School. For more information call 235-6866.

SALSA IN PARADISE
Thursday Jan 15 to 19 – call for times
The 2nd Annual “Salsa in Paradise” will be held at the Hyatt Regency, Waikiki Resort & Spa. The event will feature some of the biggest names in Salsa from all over the world! There will be a Salsa luau, beach party, pajama party, and Salsa workshops. For more information call Nancy 941-5216.

CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATION
Friday Jan 16 & 17 – call for times
Celebrate the Chinese New Years at the Mun Fa Cultural Plaza, Beretania and Maunakea Streets. There will be lots of entertainment, lion dance, food booths, pageants and more. The Chinese Cultural Plaza on Beretania at River Street will be open to the public and is transformed into a festival bazaar. China-town open house & Lion dance will be at 6:30 p.m. on Friday; Chinatown New Year Celebration will be from Noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday. For more information call 533-3181.

HONOLULU SYMPHONY
Saturday Jan 17 & 18 - 8pm
Maestro Matt Catingub has created a Magical Musical Tour of your favorite songs by The Beatles, featuring local star Glen Medeiros and some favorite guest stars. Roll over Beethoven, as the Honolulu Symphony Pops transforms into Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. For more information call 792-2000.

BRUNCH ON THE BEACH
Sunday Jan 18 - 9:30am to 1:30pm
Crews from the city of Honolulu transform Kalakaua Avenue into a charming Hawaiian outdoor cafe with astroturf, tables, chairs and bright blue umbrellas. It’s Brunch on the Beach where thousands of residents and visitors come together in the spirit of aloha to enjoy the best Hawaiian entertainment and brunch delicacies at incredibly low prices. For more information call 523-2489.

DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. PARADE
Monday January 19 - 9am
Join the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Ho-liday Coalition for a parade in honor of the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The parade will start from Magic Island at Ala Moana Park and proceed through Waikiki to Kapiolani Park. For more information call 395-4612.

JEFF LINSKY AND FRIENDS
Friday January 23 - 7:30pm
Hailed as one of the great finger-style guitarists of our time and justly known as a master of improvisational technique, Jeff Linsky returns for a night of Latin rhythms, jazz standards, and just plain fun with music at the Doris Duke Theatre at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. For information call 532-8700.

MAKAHA SONS
Friday Jan 23 - 8pm
The Polynesian Cultural Center welcomes the Makaha Sons with kumu hula Keith Awai and Sunday Mariteragi and their halau for a Hawaiian celebration of song and dance in honor of the PCC’s first kumu hula, the late Sally Wood Naluai. For tickets and more information call 800-367-7060.

ALA WAI CHALLENGE
Sunday Jan 25 - all day
This all day event will take place at Ala Wai Community Park and will feature Hawaiian sporting events including ancient Hawaiian games, outrigger canoe race, and food booths accompanied by Hawaiian entertainment. For more information call Jeff 923-1802.

SQUARE & ROUND DANCE FESTIVAL
Tuesday Jan 27 to Feb 1 – call for times
The 39th Annual Aloha State Square & Round Dance Festival will be held at the Ala Wai Golf Course Club House. Dancers from Pacific Rim, U.S., Europe, and Canada join in the fun of Square & Round Dancing with National Callers and Cuers. Evening dan-ces, and morning and afternoon work-shops are all part of the festival. For more information call David 456-8465.

JIMMY BUFFETT IN CONCERT
Wednesday Jan 28 – 8pm
Jimmy Buffett and the state of mind called “Margaritaville” will be featured on stage at the Waikiki Shell. For tickets and information call 527-5400.