LOOKING GOOD

Jake scores, with a little help from friends

He's got a ticket to ride, and now he's got the Royal Underground duds to match. Hawaii ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro, 33, will be playing Monday for the queen (yes, that queen, of England) in Liverpool, England. He'll be strumming to The Beatles' “;In My Life”; alongside singer and fellow Hawaii ex-pat Bette Midler, during an annual benefit concert.

For a “;jeans and T-shirt kind of guy,”; Shimabukuro looks pretty snazzy in the Beatle-reminiscent jacket, which he and his mini-entourage found during a recent clothes-shopping jaunt. Help!? Looks like he got it, stylewise.

SAY WHAT?

Ni hao ma? (Very well, thank you)

As China's global clout grows, more Americans recognize that familiarity with the vast country's customs and languages could help them in the business world. That's especially true in Hawaii, where Kapiolani Community College has begun offering pertinent classes at the request of the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Some folks aren't waiting for college, such as the parents signing up their grade-schoolers for Mandarin classes. Fluency may prove fruitful.

TAILGATE APPROVED

Get ready, sports fans, for a big local weekend

So much local sports, so little time.

The University of Hawaii Wahine volleyball team opens NCAA Championship tournament play today (yes, disappointingly, on the mainland and as the 12th seed) against New Mexico. Catch the 3 p.m. match on KFVE or on radio 1420 AM.

For high school fans, Aloha Stadium will be the place to be tonight for the First Hawaiian Bank State Football Championships: 'Iolani vs. Kauai for the Division II title at 4:30 p.m., followed by Kamehameha vs. Kahuku for the Division I title at 7:30 p.m.

Then, of course, there's the big UH football game tomorrow, with the Warriors (6-6) battling to upset Wisconsin (8-3). A win would put UH in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Christmas Eve against former UH coach June Jones and his SMU team. The 6:30 p.m. game will be on ESPN2 and radio 1420 AM.