GEFFEN RECORDS Fans have a chance to get autographs from the guys from New Found Glory 5 to 6:30 p.m. today at Hawaiian Island Creations, Ala Moana Center.

Yellowcard tops
Kualoa concert

Christmas comes a week early for fans of national recording acts Yellowcard and New Found Glory, as they headline the "Bud Light Surfest" tomorrow at Kualoa Ranch, along with Orange County, Calif. punk veterans The Vandals.

Place: Kualoa Ranch Time: 11 a.m. tomorrow, with free parking at the ranch available, starting at 8:30 a.m. Tickets: $18 advance; $22 at the door (all ages welcome), available online at hicsurfshop.com and blueplanetsurf.com Call: 922-5444 or 266-6730

Yellowcard continues to enjoy the success of its 2003 major label debut, "Ocean Avenue," which yielded mainstream hits with the album's title track and follow-up single, "Only One." The band arrives in Honolulu after two months touring throughout the mainland and Canada.

For New Found Glory, tomorrow's concert marks the second time they've performed in Hawaii. The band headlined the "Warped Inside" tour in 2001, and return this time to promote its latest album, "Catalyst."

Also on the bill are Over It and Rise Against, and former Hawaii residents National Product return home to show how much they've grown since making the move to Southern California in 2002.

Fans will have a chance to meet Yellowcard and New Found Glory during two separate autograph sessions from 5 to 6:30 p.m. today at the Hawaiian Island Creations stores at Ward Villages (Yellowcard) and Ala Moana Center (New Found Glory).

The bands also will take part in a meet-and-greet session with radio station Star 101.9 contest winners, starting at 7 tonight at Club Bliss.

COLUMBIA

---

Goapele in first
isle show

Star-Bulletin staff
features@starbulletin.com

The name of Oakland, Calif.-based neo-soul vocalist Goapele (pronounced gwa-pa-lay) is of South African origin, was her grandmother's maiden name, and translates into English as "to move forward."

Place: Pipeline Cafe, 805 Pohukaina St. Time: 11 p.m. Sunday Tickets: $20, 18 and over Call: 589-1999

That's exactly what Goapele has been doing since she released a self-produced 9-song EP titled "Closer" several years ago, sold 30,000 copies on her own, and then added five songs to create her debut album, "Even Closer," for major label Columbia, which signed her in January.

Imagine a sultry singer-songwriter who evokes comparisons with Erykah Badu, Alicia Keys, Lauryn Hill and india.arie, but doesn't sound like a clone of any of them, and you'll know what to expect when Goapele makes her Hawaii debut this weekend, with openers Pep Line and Kimo & Trace.