A guide to events worth planning a trip around. Events are listed by location first, and then date. For a comprehensive calendar, see www.honoluluadvertiser.com/travel

IN THE ISLANDS

BIG ISLAND

Hilo, Aug. 18, fourth annual Hawai'i's World Heritage Festival. Hawai'i's World Heritage Festival features the cultures of the Islands' immigrants and includes a mini fashion show. It's at Mo'oheau Park and Bandstand, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., on the Hilo Bayfront. 808-933-9772.

KAUA'I

Lihu'e, Aug. 1-4, The Kaua'i Music Festival. This annual event is a four-day celebration of the art of songwriting. Festival participants can learn the craft from some of the best songwriters in America as well as consult, one-on-one, with award-winning songwriters, Grammy-winning producers and top A&R (artist & repertoire) and other music industry people. It's at the Hilton Kaua'i Beach Resort; www.kauaimusicfestival.com.

Kapa'a, Aug. 4 and 5, Heiva I Kaua'i Ia Orana Tahiti. This event at Kapa'a Beach Park is an international Tahitian dance competition with solo and group performances and traditional and contemporary Tahitian drumming competitions. Vendors will have an array of items from south and western Pacific islands for sale. Admission is $5 a day at the door. Children age 6 and under are free. 808-822-9447.

LANA'I

Lana'i City, Aug. 18, Lana'i Art Center Performing Arts Program. Presented by the Lana'i Art Center, this free annual event features live performances from Hawai'i's premiere musical groups at Dole Park in the city's main town. 808-565-7503.

MAUI

Pu'unene, Aug. 4, fifth annual Maui Sugar Plantation Festival. This event showcases the cultures that came to work on the Islands' plantations. It's at the Alexander and Baldwin Museum, 3957 Hansen Road, corner of Mokulele Highway (Route 311/350) and Hansen Road. 808-871-8058.

Kahului, Aug. 10-12, Heiva I Mau. This event at the War Memorial Gym is an international Tahitian dance competition with solo and group performances and a traditional contemporary Tahitian drumming competition. The event will also feature multicultural exhibitions, dancing, singing and crafts. Vendors will have an array of items from south and western Pacific islands for sale. 808-250-0737.

Lahaina, Sept. 14-15, Taste of Lahaina and Best of Island Music Festival. Grazing event with restaurant sampling, beer and wine garden, children's play area, continuous live music; 5-10 p.m. Lahaina Recreation Park II; fee for adults, but children younger than 12 free. www.visitlahaina.com; Lahainatown Action Committee, 808-667-9175; 888-310-1117.

MOLOKA'I

Kaunakakai, Aug. 9-11, Na 'Opio Hana Pa'a. This three-day event is a series of cultural workshops open to all youth — local or visitors. The workshops will run throughout the week, leading up to the main event in which youth can display or demonstrate the cultural elements that they participated in. The events occur in various locations; call 808-553-4227.

US MAINLAND

ARIZONA

Phoenix, March 2008, Festival of the West. Western music, cowboy poetry, movie screenings, Western film celebrities, shooting competition, chuck wagon cookin' competition, Western art, cowboy collectibles, retail show. www.festivalofthewest.com.

CALIFORNIA

Monterey, Calif., Sept. 21-23, Monterey Jazz Festival, 50th anniversary. The Monterey Fairgrounds, site of the first festival 50 years ago, will again host the event, for which tickets go on sale March 30. Dates for 2008: Sept. 19-21. www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

Pasadena, Calif, Jan. 1, Tournament of Roses. The event, featuring the 119th annual Rose Parade and 94th annual Rose Bowl football game, is themed "Passport to the World's Celebrations." Find out about tickets and tour packages at www.tournamentofroses.com.

FLORIDA

Key West, Oct. 19-28, Fantasy Fest. Themed "Gnomes, Toads and White Rabbit Tea Parties," this campy multi-day, multi-event metrosexual celebration includes a costume parade, a headdress ball, a street fair, a fancy dress party, a toga party and more. www.fantasyfest.net.

CANADA

Niagara on the Lake, Ontario, now-Oct. 27, Shaw Festival. Ten plays in overlapping runs in three theaters make up this annual theatrical festival that celebrates the works of George Bernard Shaw and includes plays of other masters. www.shawfest.com.

EUROPE

GREAT BRITAIN

London, Aug. 26-27, Notting Hill Carnival. In the historical neighborhood made famous in America by the Julia Roberts-Hugh Grant film, Caribbean immigrants imported the Carnival tradition in the 1960s, and it's been going strong ever since. With a masquerade parade, steel-band competition and music from calypso to samba, it's said to be Europe's largest street festival. http://www.mynottinghill.co.uk/nottinghilltv/carnival1.htm.

OCT. 7

MOLOKA'I HO'E

The 41-mile Moloka'i Ho'e canoe race is regarded as the men's world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe racing. It's exciting to watch the teams racing to the finish around midday on race day, which is Oct. 7 this year, at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. More than 1,000 paddlers are expected to compete. Afterward, there are awards ceremonies and festivities. www.ohcra.com/molokaihoe/molokaihoe.htm.

AUG. 3-5

ROCK FEST

The Lollapalooza rock festival, Aug. 3-5, presents three days of live music in Chicago's Grant Park. Headliners are Pearl Jam, Muse and Daft Punk. Other highlights include Iggy & the Stooges, Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals, Interpol, Modest Mouse, The Roots, Kings of Leon, Yeah Yeah Yeahs and Snow Patrol. Once a touring festival, the event now takes place only in Chicago. Two-day passes are $100. www.lollapalooza.com.