AFTER FAILING to make the nationally televised finals the last two years, Hawaii hip-hop dance team Hype 5-0 represented the Aloha State well in recent months during the fifth season of MTV's “;Randy Jackson Presents: America's Best Dance Crew.”; Despite tough competition and a slight disadvantage due to the time difference between the mainland and Hawaii, the seven-member crew comprising former Hypersquad dancers finished in third place last week.

“;It's been amazing since the first day we got to the stage,”; Hype 5-0 member Josh Ulep said by phone from Los Angeles on Monday. “;Even though we've been here a long time, we still wake up in the morning ... and can't believe we're on 'ABDC.' It's a dream come true.”;

While the crew came off a bit corny during their first performance in the finals on Feb. 18—rocking aloha shirts and grass skirts was not the best look—they showed a great deal of maturity during the ensuing weeks. This columnist was particularly impressed by their performances during the “;Usher Challenge”; and “;Illusion Challenge”; episodes; their “;Last Chance Challenge”; performance, which didn't matter because they had already been eliminated, was another favorite. It's definitely a good thing whenever hula is incorporated into mainstream dance and shared on national television.

“;We just wanted to bring back the Hype 5-0 that everyone saw in the regionals,”; Ulep said. “;Basically, in regionals we started off with Hawaiian dance, but it was more fun, not serious. But with this one we wanted to do the same thing but take things a little more seriously.

“;We're all so proud to be from Hawaii, so we kind of wanted to give back. ... We wanted to show we haven't forgotten where we came from.”;

Hype 5-0 also had to deal with two big hurdles on the show: Hawaii fans, who were forced to watch each episode on a three-hour delay, had only two hours each week to call in or text their votes in support of the crew (once daylight saving time ended, that voting window shrank to just 60 minutes), and this season was the first to feature a crew that wasn't actually from the U.S.

“;I won't say that they're not good, just because they're not from America,”; Ulep said of Canada's Blueprint Cru, who faced off against California's Poreotix yesterday in the finals. “;But I have no idea how they got on the show. ... I'm guessing 'ABDC' wants to go international (with the show), so they're trying to test the waters by allowing a foreign crew to come on the show.”;

Having been on the mainland since January, Ulep said that all the members of Hype 5-0 were anxious to reconnect with family and friends, but that they would be staying a bit longer because they've “;been getting a lot of calls and stuff.”; Following an encore performance with the other West Coast crews on “;ABDC”; last night, they plan to stay in California for a few days; Ulep also mentioned there is interest from fans in Florida and the Philippines, as well.

Congrats to Ulep and fellow Hype 5-0 members Brittnie Aguilar, Marc Duey, KC-Kay Kalahiki, Allen-Charles Pascual, Jonathan Ramones and William Soares III on a job well done ...

CONCERT NEWS: 2003 Roosevelt High School graduate Bruno Mars returns home for a pair of performances at LEVEL4 Nightclub on April 23. Better known as Peter Hernandez during his high school years, he moved to California and made a name for himself as a songwriter for artists like Flo Rida, Adam Levine, Gym Class Heroes and Matisyahu; he's also the featured guest on B.o.B.'s hit single “;Nothin' on You.”; Doors open at 7 p.m. for an all-ages show; party people 21 and over are welcome at 10:30 p.m. for a repeat performance. Tickets are $25 at the door ... The same night at Pipeline Cafe, former “;Pimp My Ride”; host Xzibit headlines “;The Ferrari 5000 Party,”; presented by D Boy Productions and Island Swag Entertainment. The evening will also serve as a CD release party and video shoot for California-based rapper Samoan Irok; DJ Fingaz and Diego Brown are also scheduled to be there, as are local rappers Big Mox, Krystilez, Mic 3, K-9 and Blood Brothers. Pre-sale tickets are $25 and $50; call 216-7685 or visit www.hsblinks.com/29d ... Take a trip back to the '80s on May 7 when Tommy Tutone and former Missing Persons lead singer Dale Bozzio perform at Pipeline. Doors open at 7 p.m. for the 18-and-over crowd; pre-sale tickets are available now for $25 and $50. Call 589-1999 or buy online at pipelinecafehawaii.com ...

CHINATOWN PICKS: After spending the last year rocking crowds every weekend at after-hours venue the Asylum, a hui of local house DJs return to their former stomping grounds at NextDoor tonight. “;Revive”; is a new monthly party that will feature sets by resident DJs Zane, Ira, Willis Haltom and Loic Tambay; production/DJ duo SoundSex will also be on hand. Doors open at 9 p.m. tonight; cover is $10 at the door ... Local indie rockers the Deadbeats also kick off a new monthly gig at thirtyninehotel this weekend. Described as having a “;charismatic, neighborly optimistic approach on life,”; the band combines “;jazzy-hip-hoppy-funky-rocky-super-dopetronical beats and charmingly lucid lyrics”; during their performances. Doors open at 9 p.m. for the 21-and-over crowd ... Camera Obscura descends on LOFT Gallery and Lounge tomorrow for the second annual “;Batcave”; masked ball, starting at 9 p.m. DJs Nocturna, Angst and Jet Boy will be joined by guest tribal fusion belly dancer Sabrina Fox during the party, which pays homage to masquerade balls made popular in Europe during the 16th century. Cover is $10 at the door; for more info, visit www.djnocturna.com ...

WEEKEND PICKS: Local entertainer Junior Kekuewa Jr. returns to Waikiki this weekend after a brief hiatus. “;Junior 'LIVE' in Waikiki”; takes place in the Ainahau Showroom at the Princess Kaiulani Hotel, with performances by Kekuewa, Samjam Spencer and special guests. Call 847-2964 for ticket prices and reservations ... Former Hawaii residents Randy Wong and Abe Lagrimas Jr. are in town this week for performances with exotica group the Waitiki 7. The Boston-based band performed at Gordon Biersch on Wednesday; they'll headline at Fresh Cafe tonight at 9 p.m. Tickets are $20 general admission, $10 for students and military; call 550-8457 or 688-8055 for info ... Promoters Tantriq Entertainment, Architechs Hawaii and the Vertical Junkies have teamed up to host “;Drama,”; a new monthly party at the Honolulu Design Center. Doors open at 9 p.m. tomorrow for those 21 and over, with DJs XL and Delve on the turntables and three different areas to lounge in. E-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for VIP bottle service and guest list access ...

”;In the Mix”; drops Fridays in HILife. Contact Jason Genegabus by e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).