ONE OF Honolulu's biggest supporters of the local rock/punk scene has stepped up to the plate once again, as Hawaiian Express Records' Jason Miller prepares to launch a new website, 808photovault.com, on Sunday.

“;The goal of 'The Vault' is to provide a place for talented local photographers to gather and share their images of live music,”; Miller wrote on the site's temporary home page. “;Some of the photos inside date back to the early 1980's!”;

According to Miller, the nonprofit website will feature hundreds of images to start, with even more added in the future as additional photographers find out about the project. One longtime friend, Judith Setzler, has provided the lion's share of images so far; Miller also noted former Hot Licks Guitars manager Carlos Barrientos III is the photographer behind the oldest images available to date on the site.

A sneak peek earlier this week showcased more than a dozen pages of photos, each one broken down into 16 different shows. Setzler has images from concerts by Anthrax, the Beastie Boys, Dance Hall Crashers, Danzig, Moetley Cruee and Reel Big Fish, among others; Miller's wife, Marina Miller, also provided a number of photos.

While not everything in the archive is poster-worthy material (remember, a lot of these photos were taken with film cameras before digital photography made it easy to snap away and cherry-pick the best shots later), it sure is a lot of fun to relive the memories of shows I went to back in the day—and even a few I missed while finishing my college studies in Los Angeles.

It's also worth noting that Miller is doing this out of love for the scene and not in hopes of capitalizing financially off the images. Kudos to him for helping make Hawaii's concert history accessible to the masses ...

WHILE ONE website looks to the past, another will focus on the future as Brown Bags to Stardom celebrates the winners of its “;Music Video Challenge”; tomorrow in Waikiki.

According to BBTS producer Johnny Kai, the music video contest is the “;toughest music contest in Hawaii,”; since participants must submit a fully produced music video in addition to writing and recording their own original song.

“;It's a combination of creative thinking, musical skill (and) teamwork in producing a video with actors and high-tech computer and video (equipment),”; Kai said.

This year, videos were separated into eight categories—best music video, best editing and graphics, best song, best arrangement, best mix, best performance, best male and female vocalist and best group—and voted on by a panel of judges. A ninth category (most popular music video) will be selected via popular vote on the BBTS website. Winners in all categories will receive a studio recording microphone worth $100.

Bands competing in the challenge include Pearl City High School's Just Us and Semi Sweet, Campbell High School's Mystikal Vibez and Smooth Groove, Farrington High School's Soul Vibe and Uluvale Girls, Waipahu High School's Unique Blend and Waianae High School's Mystical Rhythm.

Winners will be announced tomorrow from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel; tickets are $30 and include admission to an all-ages dance party that will follow from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tickets for the dance party alone are also available for $10. Visit brownbagstostardom.com to purchase online ...

WITH THE University of Hawaii at Manoa and Hawaii Pacific University both holding commencement exercises over the next few days, local party promoters have transitioned into “;grad party”; mode with their latest offerings.

Tonight at Bonsai, for example, “;Oasis”; presents its “;Summer Kickoff Party”; with $3 Coors Light bottles and DJs Betty, Flykid, Technique and Flip on the turntables. Doors open at 10 p.m. and VIP bottle service is available.

Tomorrow, the UH-Manoa chapter of the American Marketing Association will partner with Potent Productions for “;Climax at the Hyatt”; at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. More than 1,500 people attended last year's graduation party, and even more are expected in 2010 as a poolside Patron bar will serve complimentary cocktails from 10 to 11 p.m. DJ Ill Phil will provide the tunes for this one; cover is $15 at the door.

And tomorrow at Ka Restaurant and Lounge at Ward Centre, a “;Graduation Party Massive”; will take place with no cover from 9:30 to 10:30 p.m. with a college ID. Call 593-7885 to reserve a VIP table ...

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