A guide to events worth planning a trip around. Events are listed by location and then date.

IN THE ISLANDS

BIG ISLAND

KONA, JULY 13-15

Rock'n Reel Hawaiian Open. Two days of great fishing on the calm Kona coast waters. The Hawaii Big Game Fishing Club hosts two evenings of food and entertainment. Pacific Rim Fishing Supplies is donating merchandise for prizes with drawings at every radio roundup and additional drawings during the evening functions. www.hbgfc.org.

MOLOKA'I

KALUA KOI, JULY 29

Moloka'i to O'ahu Paddleboard Race. The Quiksilveredition Moloka'i to O'ahu Paddleboard Race is considered the world championship of longdistance paddleboard racing. Paddleboards are streamlined boards ranging from 12 to 17 feet, designed to ride open-ocean swells. The boards are arm-paddled in a prone or kneeling position. The annual race from Kalua Koi on Moloka'i to the beach at the Maunalua Bay Beach Park is around 32 miles. The race starts at 7 a.m. Stand-up division starts at 8 a.m. (808) 638-8208.

U.S. MAINLAND

CALIFORNIA

PALM SPRINGS, AUG. 23-29

The Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films. America's biggest and best festival of short films, features more than 350 new shorts from around the world. Comedy, romance, action, sci-fi, thrillers, animation, documentaries and more take center stage on the big screen for seven days of screenings, discussions, seminars and parties. Industry interest in the event is strong and first-prize winners become eligible for Oscar consideration by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Tickets on sale tomorrow. www.psfilmfest.org.

SANTA MONICA PIER, UNTIL AUG. 30

Twilight Dance Series. Performances range from Latin jazz and pop to hip-hop and the blues. Highlights this year include Arrested Development, Los Lobos and Patti Smith. 7:30-9:30 p.m. Thursdays only. Free. www.twilightdance.org.

ILLINOIS

CHICAGO, AUG. 30

Herbie Hancock. Virtuoso jazz pianist Herbie Hancock performs at 7:30 p.m., at Orchestra Hall for the opening night of the 2007 Chicago Jazz Festival. His band for the show features drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, bassist Nathan East and guitarist Lionel Loueke. Tickets: $11-$56. www.herbiehancock.com.

AUSTRALIA

Melbourne, August, September, "A Taste of Slow Australia." Forget fast food. The Melbourne Food and Wine Festival's winter sibling "A Taste of Slow Australia" celebrates the antithesis of fast food, offering two weeks of classes, dinners, discussions and tasting opportunities, culminating in the Slow Food Weekend at the Abbotsford Convent, Melbourne, Sept. 9-10. www.atasteofslow.com.au.

EUROPE

BRITAIN

LONDON, THROUGH FEB. 3

"Hockney on Turner." At Tate Britain, a rare opportunity to see some of JMW Turner's most spectacular works. Usually outnumbered by his grand oil paintings, around 150 of Turner's beautiful watercolors are displayed, giving a comprehensive view of the artist's astonishing use of watercolor, his techniques and his influences. At the heart of the exhibition another British artist, David Hockney, presents his own selection of Turner's unique colour studies or "beginnings" and also provides commentary on the artist's techniques. Free.

JULY 7-8

HULA FESTIVAL

Japan and Hawai'i join together for the sixth annual Hula Ho'olauna Aloha. The weekend fest presents local and Japanese halau at Ala Moana Center, followed by a hula competition between visiting Japanese halau at The Royal Hawaiian hotel.

The event begins Saturday with a chant by kumu hula Kawaikapuokalani Hewett at Ala Moana Center, and halau performances from Japan and Hawai'i on Centerstage from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Guests also include Pilioha, Hoku Zuttermeister and Nathan Aweau.

The festival continues with a competition among Japanese halau from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday at The Royal Hawaiian hotel. Hawai'i kumu hula, including Kapiolani Hao, Sonny Ching, Noenoelani Zuttermeister Lewis, Leimomi Ho, Aloha Dalire, Ellen Castillo and Les Pang, will judge the competition. Royal Hawaiian seating is limited to halau friends; grass seating for those with a Hawai'i ID.

www.hoolauna.com, 347-2012 (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.)

OCT. 1

CHINA NATIONAL DAY

China National Day, first celebrated in 1949 when the People's Republic of China was founded, is celebrated each Oct. 1 in China with a dramatic flag raising in Tiananmen Square, an official reception in the Great Hall of the People, Chinese opera performances, streets decorated with lanterns and many other events. Crowds — locals and tourists — gather at dawn (or sometimes even camp out overnight) to find a good viewing place to see the guards march out and raise the flag. Flag souvenirs are hot sellers. The event is celebrated throughout China, including Shanghai and Hong Kong (where fireworks and horse racing are features). www.gochina.about.com.

Reach Chris Oliver at coliver@honoluluadvertiser.com.