Long weeks of anticipation are ending for Bruno Mars fans this weekend as the two-time Grammy-winner and his "hooligans" play three shows in Blaisdell Arena. Mars opened the three-nighter on Friday and his fans got everything they’d been waiting for.

Mars hit all the high falsetto notes on cue, busted out some "old school" dance moves along with the slick contemporary choreography, switched it up several times on guitar and played drums as well.

Mars and his "hooligans" took the stage shortly before 10 and worked nonstop for almost 90 minutes. Two large video screens gave most of the audience a close-up view of the action. A large backdrop displayed an assortment of real-time video and recorded clips.

The set list included most of his most popular work. "Just The Way You Are," his Grammy Award-winning pop hit, was one of the highlight numbers; it quickly became a spontaneous audience singalong. He introduced "When I Was Your Man" as "the hardest song I’ve ever had to write or sing" and made it the most melancholy and depressing spot in the show.

The show has a few surprises that will not be revealed here, but Mars’ fans probably know what they are. Although professional photographers were not allowed in the arena, there were so many smartphones in use throughout the performance that big chunks of the show are probably already on YouTube.

And although Honolulu is the umpteenth stop on a tour that began almost a year ago, Mars did a bit more to acknowledge his birth place than the basic "We love you, (insert name of city here)!" shout-out that almost every concert artist does in almost every town they play.

Most notably, he changed the lyrics of "Billionaire" to mention Zippy’s and "the cover of MidWeek." The MidWeek reference was something of an inside joke for Hawaii residents old enough to remember that Mars was on the cover of MidWeek, with Glenn Medeiros and Melveen Leed, back in the early ’90s when he was performing as "the world’s youngest Elvis."

Hawaii also got something special with the two opening acts. Mars’ father, Pete "Dr. Doo Wop" Hernandez, whose group, the Love Notes, opened the 2010 Bruno Mars concert here, did it again Friday but in a bigger way.

This time Hernandez and the Love Notes were reinforced with a full Latin band for a first-time blending of traditional doo-wop with Latin rhythms. Hawaii has known Hernandez for years as a do- wop artist but he showed on Friday that he is also a charismatic Latin percussionist who can give Sheila E. a good run for her money.

Old-time Love Notes Felix Almestica Bonet and Mike Baker — members of group during its heyday at the Esprit Lounge in the Sheraton Waikiki — distinguished themselves as vocalists.