Grab your guy or gal and celebrate Hula's Bar & Lei Stand's eighth anniversary, from 5 p.m. today at its second-floor perch in the Waikiki Grand Hotel (134 Kapahulu Ave., 923-0669). The premier gay hangout knows how to party hearty — Makana sings and strums from 6 to 8 p.m., with kau kau catered by Paniolo Beachside Grill. The festivities will benefit the Honolulu Gay and Lesbian Cultural Foundation, sponsors of an annual film festival. Details: www.hulas.com.

— Wayne Harada

VIDEO GAME CONSOLE MADNESS

Gamers, get your plan of action ready

Two new video game systems arrive this week: Sony's PlayStation 3 on Friday and Nintendo's Wii on Sunday.

Those in search of a PlayStation 3 ($500-$600), will face stiff odds: Consumers will be fighting over about 400,000 PS3s, with 1 million promised by the end of the year, almost absurdly below the expected demand. Experts advise the most straightforward option is to plan to stand in line at one of the stores that will sell the system.

The lines for the Wii (pronounced "Wee"; $250) should be shorter and the supply larger — Nintendo hopes to have 1.2 million or so available right away and about 2 million by year-end But Nintendo still projects that demand will outstrip supply. Want one? Set your strategy now.

— USA Today

FINAL WORD

"Fifty years from now, people will be bowing to Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker, just like the impressionist painters. ... The Americans don't even know what they have come up with."

Tony Bennett | in Billboard