Mo’Nique brings her big laughs

The Original Queen of Comedy Mo’Nique and Friends will perform March 26 at Blaisdell Arena.

The show, presented by Capone’s Productions, features the voluptuous stand-up comedian, known for her sarcastic wit. Other performers are Tone-X and Rodney Perry.

Mo’Nique got a boost early in her career with appearances on HBO’s "Def Comedy Jam," "Showtime at the Apollo" and "Snaps." Her big break came in 1999 when she landed her own sitcom on UPN, "The Parkers." Her movies roles include "Baby Boy," "Soul Plane" and "Phat Girlz."

In 2009 she began hosting her own talk show on BET, "The Mo’Nique Show." Her role as an abusive mother in the 2009 film "Precious" won her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Tickets can be purchased at the Blaisdell Box Office, online at Ticketmaster.com and at all Ticketmaster outlets. For phone orders, call Ticketmaster at 800-745-3000.

Waikiki Shell has new ticket kiosk

Tickets for all events at the Blaisdell Center and the Waikiki Shell may now be purchased by credit card at a new ticketing kiosk on the mauka side of the Waikiki Shell box office.

Will-call tickets purchased by credit card over the telephone or online can also be picked up at the new kiosk, according to the city.

The automated kiosk is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Aiea student films her culture

"Okinawa: The Struggle to Preserve Our Identity," a video documentary by Aiea High School senior Carly Namihira, will premiere at an event that also features traditional Okinawan performers at 6 p.m. Jan. 30 at the Hawaii Okinawa Center, 94-587 Ukee St., Waipio Gentry.

Event organizers said Namihira was inspired to make the film by her active involvement in Okinawan culture and her experience as an exchange student on Okinawa. Her great-grandparents immigrated to Hawaii from Okinawa in the early 1900s.

The event is a fundraiser for the Hawaii Okinawa Center, home of the Hawaii United Oki-nawa Association. Entertainment includes musical performances, traditional and contemporary Okinawan dance, taiko performances and a shishimai (lion dog) performance by Young Okinawans of Hawaii Shishimai Group.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $8 for students; children 8 years old and younger are free. Call 676-5400 or e-mail huoa@huoa.org.

Kumu hula share art at free event

Ten of Hawaii’s most respected kumu hula will share their art, knowledge and unique style of hula kahiko with high school students at a free, daylong festival Feb. 26 at Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute in West Oahu.

The Fifth Annual Lei o Lanikuhonua Hula Festival, sponsored by the James and Abigail Campbell Family Foundation, the James Campbell Co., Lanikuhonua Cultural Institute and Hawaiian Airlines, is a noncompetitive event for hula students at all experience levels.

Participating kumu hula are O’Brian Eselu, Olana Ai, Coline Aiu, Kawai Aona-Ueoka, Sonny Ching, Nalani Kanaka’ole, Kimo Keaulana, Twyla Mendez, Hokulani Holt-Padilla and Leialoha Amina.

The festival is limited to the first 300 students to sign up by Friday’s deadline. Lunch will be provided. For more information or to register, contact Annette Kealoha-Park at 674-3270 or AnnetteK@jamescampbell.com.

Send in photos of Hall & Oates

Daryl Hall and John Oates, rock and soul pioneers who have topped the charts eight times in a career spanning more than 30 years, are coming to Honolulu for a March 5 show at Blaisdell Arena.

Fans in Hawaii have followed the duo since their early days, and island acts such as Kalapana and Cecilio & Kapono have covered Hall & Oates songs locally.

If you have photos from the duo’s previous visits to Hawaii, please e-mail them to TGIF editor Elizabeth Kieszkowski at ekieszkowski@staradvertiser.com or mail a copy to TGIF, 500 Ala Moana Blvd. Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813. Please do not mail original photos, as they cannot be returned. We might post your photos online or feature them in the Star-Advertiser.