BUST OUT THE PIRATE DUDS, MATEY

This city's queen of darkness, DJ Nocturna, is throwing the second annual Pirates Ahoy! event tonight and this one's going to be bigger than the last one, thanks to an appearance by goth culture superstar Voltaire.

How to describe Voltaire ... let's see: Take one part folk singer, one part comic book creator, one part animator and all parts dark, creepy and self-proclaimed "something wicked," add a Gypsy guitar, sculpted facial hair (you know the kind) and a puffy shirt and — voila! — Voltaire! He is, of course, more resistant to labels than we're making him sound, but you get the idea.

His animation work has been featured on MTV, The Cartoon Network, USA and the Sci-Fi Channel, and his music ... well, his music needs to be experienced firsthand.

The event doubles as a pirate costume contest. Arrrrgh.

Voltaire / NextDoor / 43 N. Hotel St. / 7:30 p.m. tonight / $25 / www.djnocturna.com; www.voltaire.net

HURTS SO GOOD

"The Hurt Locker," an under-the-radar indie film about a bomb squad stationed in Iraq, is being hailed as one of this year's top 10 films. Some call it an Oscar contender. Directed by Kathryn Bigelow, it stars Jeremy Renner (pictured), Guy Pearce, and Evangeline Lilly of "Lost." It opened last week in select theaters.

SHOOT AND BURN

The next installment of Honolulu's amateur film competition, Showdown in Chinatown, happens this weekend. Get a team together and make a short film, or just watch other people's films at 8 Saturday night at NextDoor. For details on making a film, visit www.showdowninchinatown.com.

THE COURTSHIP OF CORAL

Watch the rice coral spawn at the Waikiki Aquarium's Summer Lovin' event 8-10 p.m. Thursday ($16). It sounds naughty, but it's really just good clean family fun. Learn about the courtship habits of other marine mammals, too. Scandalous!

FREE STUFF ON YOUR PLATE

Spend $10 at Genki Sushi and they'll strike one plate of sushi from your bill. Free sushi? Yep, every Tuesday at participating Genki Sushi locations. For more information, visit www.genkisushiusa.com or call one of the seven islandwide locations.

PURPLE REIGN

The three-day annual orchid show kicks off today with lots of pretty flowers.

Kalani High School / 9 a.m-6 p.m. today, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday / $2

EH, MISTAH MAYAH!

The Honolulu Advertiser's Lee Cataluna's popular play "Da Mayah" is being revived at Kumu Kahua Theatre ($5-$16, 536-4441, www.kumukahua.org). Catch it this weekend and next.

WHERE THERE IS LOVE

The 11th annual Love Festival ($30, 18+, www.oospot.com) happens from 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. Saturday at Wet'n'Wild Hawaii water park, with three stages of live music and DJ sets.