COLD CHILLIN' WITH FLAV: Flavor Flav, center, responded to a fan's shouted question moments before Public Enemy took the stage last Friday as the headliners of the Hawaii Hip-Hop Festival at Kapiolani Community College. Public Enemy founder/spokesman Chuck D, second from left, and co-founder Professor Griff, second from right, gave Flav moral support while S1W's Pop Diesel, left, and James Bomb provided security. The group lived up to expectations with an intense 90-minute show that combined positive messages with powerful music and showmanship. Chuck spoke eloquently of the importance of peace and interracial unity, and said that men must treat women as equals. Flav proved himself a serious inspirational speaker in addition to his familiar role as the irrepressible clock-wearing jester of the group. Flav continued to entertain the crowd -- playing drums and "demonstrating" his clock -- while the stage crew was tearing down the set.

YOUNG ARTISTS STEP FORWARD: Natalie Parker, left, and her mother, Sally, drew a capacity crowd Aug. 17 for "Young Artists Helping Young Artists" at Compadres. Parker organized the event as a fund-raiser for the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific that would also give young artists a chance to show and sell their work. The modest $25 admission included heavy pupus and left supporters with plenty of money to spend on the paintings, prints, photos and sculptures.

SUPPORTING YOUNG ARTISTS: Sarah Richards, Joey Caldarone and James Berger (no relation) talked art at Compadres while Berger's daughter, Haley, enjoyed the view. Mark and Leah Bernstein, Richard Turbin, Rai Saint Chu, Peter Gellatly and Kokee Coscina were among the others who enjoyed the art, the great food, and musical entertainment by Kainoa Goo, Chrissy Naruo and Kalaeloa.

CHECKING THEM OUT: Mahie Murakami, second from left, stopped by the Ocean Club Aug. 17 to see how Kalaeloa would do playing for the Ka Mo'i Canoe Club fund-raiser. The duo -- Taz Vegas, left, and Les Harris, center -- did an impressive job. Party organizers April Aiwohi and her husband, Mark, welcomed Murakami to the party.

A BEAUTIFUL 'COPPELIA': John Selya, left, celebrated backstage Saturday with Amanda Schull and Joan Boada after Ballet Hawaii's beautiful production of "Coppelia" opened in the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Schull and Boada were a perfect couple as the leads. Selya touched the heart with his portrayal of a lonely man who believes for a moment that the doll he built has come to life.