Eddie Vedder announced at Pearl Jam's epic tour-ending Blaisdell Arena show in December that it'd be a long time before the band returned to the Hawai'i stage.

He might still be right.

But on April 21 and 22, at least two-sixths of Pearl Jam will play live here again as Vedder and Waimanalo native Kenneth "Boom" Gaspar join the lineup of Jack Johnson's fourth annual environmentally conscious Kokua Festival benefit.

Besides Johnson, Vedder and Gaspar, the festival's lineup this year will feature up-and-coming singer/songwriter Matt Costa, Ernie Cruz Jr. and the Girlas. And for the first time in its brief history, Kokua Festival will bypass a Maui stopover this year and do two Waikiki Shell dates.

Tickets are $40 for general admission and lawn, $50 reserved seats, $125 in the seated pit area, and $20 general admission for children 3-12. Children under 3 are free.

Tickets will be available exclusively to Kokua Hawaii Foundation members starting Tuesday. Memberships are available at online at www.kokuahawaii foundation.org.

Tickets for the public will be available on Jack Johnson's Web site at www.jackjohnsonmusic.comon Feb. 10, on Myspace, at www.myspace.com/kokuafestival on Feb. 15 and at all Ticketmaster outlets starting Feb. 17.

A start time for the show was not announced.

All proceeds from both concerts go to the Kokua Hawai'i Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Jack and Kim Johnson to support environmental education programs in Hawai'i. The funds raised from the Kokua Festival will be used to further support school recycling on O'ahu, sponsor field trips and curriculum, and develop the new farm-to-school program 'AINA in Schools.

The Kokua Festival will also be the first MySpace LIVE event of 2007.

MySpace LIVE at The Kokua Festival will broadcast the concert for viewers as well as feature behind-the-scenes MySpace Video footage and interviews with Jack and Friends.

Additionally, a one-hour special on the 2006 Kokua Festival will air on the National Geographic Channel in 50 countries starting April 1. That edition's live lineup featured Johnson, Willie Nelson, Ben Harper, Paula Fuga, Henry Kapono, ALO and a surprise appearance by Damian Marley.

Reach Derek Paiva at dpaiva@honoluluadvertiser.com.