SEPT. 21-23

MONTEREY SETS THE MOOD

The Monterey Jazz Festival, held at the city's fairground, is the longest-running jazz festival in the world. The fest will be celebrating its 50th anniversary this year with jazz greats Diana Krall, left, Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins and The Dave Brubeck Quartet.

More than 500 artists perform on nine stages. The event will close with a set from the 50th Anniversary All-Stars, featuring Terence Blanchard, Nnenna Freelon, Benny Green and James Moody.

The event began in 1958, when founder Jimmy Lyons' dream of "the best jazz people in the whole world playing on the same stage" came true. That year, headliners included Dizzy Gillespie, Louis Armstrong, Max Roach and Billie Holiday. Tickets: from $35 per day, $110 for three-day package. www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

SEPT. 3: GET OUT THE GOGGLES

More than 1,000 swimmers are expected to take the plunge on Labor Day for the 38th Waikiki Roughwater Swim, O'ahu's premiere open-ocean swim race. The 2.384-mile race begins at 9 a.m. at San Souci Beach (near the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel) and finishes at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Rainbow Tower shoreline. Awards to age category finishers and two lucky swimmers will win trips to Australia to compete in the Bondi Beach 2K swim in February. Entry fees: $25 for swimmers 18 and younger; $40 adults (fees increase Aug. 24). For winner's tips and information: www.wrswim.com.