This Halloween season there will be lots of spooky-looking, kabuki-looking people around Honolulu. Not only is "Spooky Kabuki" the theme of the annual Honolulu Theatre for Youth gala, Le Masquerade, it is also the look of the theater's new play, "Obake."

Kabuki makeup is an ideal way to look ghoulish for Halloween. Since the makeup really IS the costume, all you need is a black kimono or cape with black leggings or even a black T-shirt with black jeans and you're good to go. A wild black wig, of course, will make the look go right over the top.

But how do you do that makeup?

We tagged along to a practice session with cosmetician Nathan Wade and owner/stylist Paul Brown of Paul Brown Salon in Ward Centre. Wade was making up Tim Bostock, chair of HTY's "Spooky Kabuki" event, and his wife, Melanie Holt, who is chairing the silent auction.

"The point of the kabuki makeup is to remove all traces of the human and start with a white base, and then add colors to create a specific essence of a character," Nathan Wade explained. The white obliterates characteristic features, especially lips and eyebrows. In Japan, white skin has always been associated with aristocracy.

How do you remove the pancake makeup? Wade recommends pure jojoba oil (or nearly any other oil you like, as well as cold cream and Noxema). "The oil will melt the makeup and then you can use a regular cleanser to get it all off," he explained.

As for the hair, Brown took a worn-looking wig and "teased it up like crazy," he explained. A zillion shots of hair spray later, the wigs were kabuki-ready.

Sound like too much work for you? No worries. Hair and makeup artists from the Paul Brown Salons will be on hand at "Spooky Kabuki" to assist with guests' obake hair and makeup. There will also be a "yakuza tattoo station" in case you want to show some illustrated skin. You get to keep your pinky.

WHERE TO WEAR IT

An abbreviated list of Honolulu Halloween events where you can show off your costume:

"Bollyween," a Bollywood-inspired costume party, 8 p.m.-midnight Oct. 31, Cupola Theater, Honolulu Design Center; 237-5462, www.honoluludesigncenter.com

"Nosferatu," a fundraiser for the Hawai'i Theatre, 7 p.m. Oct. 31, Hawai'i Theatre; $10; www.hawaiitheatre.com

"Freak Fest," an adult (21 and over) party at Bar 35 and Indigo in Chinatown, 9 p.m. Saturday; $10

"Halloween Fun Day and Horse & Rider Costume Contest," a keiki-friendly fundraiser for the Paniola o Ko'olauloa 4-H Club. See horse and rider in costume, 9:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Gunstock Ranch; www.gunstockranch.com

Reach Paula Rath at paularath@aol.com.