Waiting in the wings

With a new 'N Sync album in stores next week and follow-up efforts from Britney and the brothers Hanson due in coming months, teen fever shows no signs of breaking any time soon.

Elysa Gardner profiles a few new contenders for teen-idol stature.

HOKU
Full name/age: Hoku Ho, 18
From: Honolulu
Sound/image: A baby Baby Spice - giggly but sassy, and a staunch girl-power advocate
Claim to future fame: The daughter of singer Don Ho, Hoku contributed the song Another Dumb Blonde to the film soundtrack of Snow Day earlier this year. It has since become a gold single, top 10 pop hit, and MTV favorite, and will be featured on Hoku's self-titled debut album, due April 18 on Geffen Records.
In her own words: "There's a lot of fun songs on my album. It's kinda tongue-in-cheek - it's not all serious. A lot of stuff on the album is just meant to be, like, I'm having a good time."
Early influences: Mariah Carey. "Her first album launched my whole, like, I'm gonna be a singer for real (ambition)," and "the classics, like Nat King Cole and Etta James."
Favorite old pop star: "I really like Lauryn Hill. And I'm, like, a total Sting fan. He's not afraid to use, like, those random drum beats that don't sound like anything. He looks at music for what it is, which is an art."
Coolest experience so far: "When (my video) debuted on (MTV's) TRL (Total Request Live), and then was No. 10 the next day, that was, like, the highlight of my life."
Goals: "To speculate on the future is so, like, weird, because I didn't even expect to be here. I was in college studying business, but I was failing. I guess I just want to expand my horizons in every direction."
Who rules, Britney or Christina? "Oh, gosh. They are both amazing. I honestly have great respect and admiration for both artists."