STAGE: SEPT. 15-DEC. 9

"The Lion King," left, stalks into the Blaisdell Concert Hall for an unprecedented 12-week run. The most anticipated show of the season, "The Lion King" is the touring production of the Broadway staple of nearly 10 years and winner of six 1998 Tony Awards. Say hakuna matata to the lavish sets and costumes as elephants, giraffes, lions and more prance on stage, and hum along to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" and "The Circle of Life."

Preview performances: 8 p.m. Sept. 15, 1 p.m. Sept. 16; opening performance: 6:30 p.m. Sept. 16; regular performances: Sept. 18-Dec. 9, with shows at 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays / Blaisdell Concert Hall / Preview tickets: $35.50, $76.50, $88.50; regular tickets: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 6:30 p.m. Sundays: $33, $74, $86; regular tickets: 8 p.m. Fridays, 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, 1 p.m. Sundays: $38, $79, $91; premium tickets: includes souvenir program and VIP merchandise: $156 / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com; group reservations: 593-2468; hotel packages at 13 properties: 866-721-4221.

CONCERT: SEPT. 21

Island Rumours Band — right, Fleetwood Mac founder Mick Fleetwood's local project (he lives on Maui) — made a splash at this year's Diamond Head Crater Celebration with its blues-n-rock sound with Hawai'i flavor. He's rounded up his homegrown all-stars again for a concert at Pipeline Cafe. Fleetwood (drums) tapped Willie K (voice and guitars) and Eric Gilliom (voice and guitars), Raiatea Helm (voice and 'ukulele), Lopaka Colón (voice and percussion) and Gretchen Rhodes (vocals). Also in the lineup are music veterans Rick Vito (voice and guitars) and Lenny Castellanos (bass). Special guests include Yvonne "If I Can't Have You" Elliman and Allen Alexander.

Doors open at 6 p.m., show at 7 p.m. / Pipeline Cafe / $27 general, $75 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

FESTIVAL: SEPT. 22

Kaukahi, below, which took this year's Hoku award for group of the year, headlines this year's Windward Ho'olaule'a — "Homegrown Celebration" — at Windward Community College. Also in the lineup will be food, crafts, keiki games, a silent auction and high-tech Imaginarium shows that take visitors on tours of the universe. Part of the Celebrate Kane'ohe calendar of events, the ho'olaule'a honors "the people and heritage of this community," said co-chair Janis Chun. "The day will showcase WCC's programs and new facilities, local businesses, community groups and entertainers with ties to that side of the island."

9 a.m.-9 p.m. Sept. 22 / Windward Community College / Free /235-7338, www.wcc.hawaii.edu/hoolaulea.

CONCERT: SEPT. 25

Brand New's name may bring to mind perky boy bands, but the outfit, below, is all woe-is-me emo. Check out its Web site (www.fightoffyourdemons.com) to see the shot of two band members in Grim Reaper getups next to a little kid. And don't forget guitar-reverb-filled tunes such as "Good to Know If I Ever Need Attention All I Have to Do Is Die" and "The Quiet Things That No One Ever Knows." Touring its latest CD, "The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me," the band arrives fresh from playing the UK's two biggest music festivals — Reading and Leeds. For those 18 and older.

Doors open at 7 p.m., opening artists at 8 p.m. Sept. 25 / Pipeline Cafe / $27 general, $50 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

STAGE: SEPT. 26

It may be autumn, but Kumu Kahua's Dark Night Production takes a look at a spring tradition with "The May Day Show," which explores the meaning of May Day celebrations. The doctoral dissertation project — a combination of research and performance — features

Annie Lokomaika'i Lipscomb, Ginger Gohier and Aito Steele. The Dark Night Series is a chance for theater groups, playwrights and performance artists to perform their work for the community and are presented when regular season Kumu Kahua shows are not being performed.

7 p.m. Sept. 26 / Kumu Kahua Theatre / Free, but tickets are required / 536-4441, www.kumukahua.org.

CONCERT: SEPT. 26

Aerosmith, Boston's reformed bad boys of rock, will show people how to walk this way at the 85th Maui County Fair, at the Maui War Memorial Stadium. The thin twins of swaggering singer (and father of Liv) Steve Tyler and ax-man Joe Perry wear their former hard partying days on their faces these days, but their energy hasn't waned. Children of the '70s will be coming in from all over the state for this one.

7 p.m. Sept. 26 / Maui Arts & Cultural Center, War Memorial Stadium / $85 and $125 for reserved seats, $65 general admission / 808-242-7469, www.mauiarts.org.

CONCERT: SEPT. 26

Can't wait for the new season of "Lost"? The saga of survivors on a deserted island in ABC's hit series "Lost" comes aurally alive when award-winning composer Michael Giacchino hits town to team up with the Honolulu Symphony Pops. The musicians will play the world premiere of Giacchino's "Lost" score, as Terry O' Quinn, above left, the enigmatic John Locke on "Lost," narrates passages to the music.

7:30 p.m. Sept. 22 / Waikiki Shell / $36, $47, $62, $72, $94 / 792-2000, 524-0815, ext. 245, www.honolulusymphony.com.

CONTEST: SEPT. 28

You just might be one of the first to hear the next Raiatea Helm, as falsetto singers compete for a recording contract with Hula Records at the 13th annual Aloha Festivals Falsetto Contest at the Sheraton Waikiki hotel. Holunape, which took the group-of-the-year Na Hoku Hanohano Award last year, headlines and Harry B. Soria Jr. and Karen Keawehawaii will emcee and assist in this year's induction of the Falsetto Hall of Fame.

7 p.m. Sept. 28 / Sheraton Waikiki hotel, Hawai'i and Maui ballrooms / $25 / 921-4600, www.alohafestivals.com.