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

IN THE ISLANDS

HAWAI'I ISLAND

Kona, Aug. 6-10, 48th Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Teams from around the world compete to catch the biggest fish — and to enjoy food, drink and fish stories. www.hibtfishing.com; (808) 329-6155.

KAUA'I

Po'ipu, March 23-24, Prince Kuhio Festival. The Grand Hyatt Kaua'i Resort and Spa hosts a cultural festival in honor of Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana'ole with ceremonies and pageantry, hula, entertainment, concluding lu'au. www.kauaifestivals.com; (808) 240-6369.

MAUI

Kapalua, April 5-8, Celebration of Culture and the Arts. Themed "E Ola Ka Mana" ("Life of the Spirit"), this 15th annual Hawaiian festival at The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, will commemorate the 20th anniversary of the preservation site on the property where Hawaiian dead are interred. Special events include "The Queen's Story," a drama/hula presentation based on the life of Queen Lili'uokalani; the annual Saturday lu'au, this year featuring the music of Uluwehi Guerrero and kanikapila-style after-hours concerts Friday and Saturday featuring the Lim Family. Held annually on Easter weekend. www.celebrationofthearts.org.

O'AHU

La'ie, May 16-19, 15th annual World Fireknife Dance Competition. Although invented in contemporary times, the fireknife dance has come to symbolize Polynesian spectaculars of the hotel-show variety; this competition showcases the best. www.polynesia.com; (808) 293-3333.

Honolulu, May 19, Diamond Head Crater Celebration. Second annual revival of the '70s tradition; headlined by Earth, Wind & Fire, with Mick Fleetwood's Island Rumour band, Santana's Gregg Rolie, Yvonne Elliman. Tickets ($125, $135, $150, $175) on sale at Waikiki Shell and Blaisdell box offices and via ticketmaster.com or (877) 750-4400. www.cratercelebration.com.

Honolulu, Jun 9-10, Grand Sumo Tournament of Hawaii. Forty top wrestlers from Japan will clash for the Honolulu Mayor's Cup and the Hawai'i Governor's Cup in the Blaisdell Arena. Tickets go on sale at the end of March. www.sumohawaii.com; (808) 946-1039.

NORTH AMERICA

ALASKA

Anchorage, March 3-13, Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. "The Last Great Race on Earth," from Anchorage, in south-central Alaska, to Nome on the Bering Sea coast, each team of 12-16 dogs and their musher cover more than 1,1,50 miles in 10-17 days. www.iditarod.com.

CALIFORNIA

Monterey, Sept. 21-23 Monterey Jazz Festival. The Monterey Fairgrounds, site of the first festival 50 years ago, will again host the event. Tickets go on sale March 30. 2008 dates: Sept. 19-21. www.montereyjazzfestival.org.

FLORIDA

Key West, Oct. 19-28, Fantasy Fest. Themed "Gnomes, Toads and White Rabbit Tea Parties," this campy multiday, multi-event metrosexual celebration includes a costume parade sponsored by Captain Morgan rum, a headdress ball, a street fair, a pet masquerade (featuring cross-dressing animals and their look-alike owners), a fancy dress party, a toga party and more. www.fantasyfest.net.

KENTUCKY

Louisville, April 21-May 6, Kentucky Derby Festival. Two weeks of events, many of them free, lead up to the 133rd running of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 5, including an immense fireworks display, sporting competitions, a marathon, concerts and the elegant Derby Ball. www.kdf.org and www.kentuckyderby.com; festival hotline: (502) 540-1127.

TENNESSEE

Nashville, June 7-10, Country Music Association Music Festival and Fan Fair. Annual event allows fans to get up close and personal with country stars who appear at meet-and-greets, and almost constant concerts — day, night and late night. (800) 262-3378; www.cmafest.com.

CANADA

Toronto, Ontario, Aug. 17-Sept. 3, Canadian National Exhibition. Affectionately known as TheEx, this annual, family-friendly event is part carnival, part expo, part circus bringing together an aerial acrobatics and ice-skating show, performances by "The Human Cannonball" military displays, an air show, a daily parade and a dog show. (416) 393-6300; www.thex.com.

CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

MEXICO

Mexico City, May 15-31, Festival de Mexico en el Centro Historico. Annual celebration of theater, music, dance and other arts, including the gastronomic arts, takes place in the capital, with performances and exhibits in the city's squares, patios, palaces, cloisters and temples; one of the largest festivals in Latin America. www.fchmexico.com (Spanish language site).

EUROPE

BRITAIN

Wimbledon, England, June 25-July 8, Wimbledon Tennis Fortnight. The All England Lawn Tennis & Croquet Club hosts the queen of tennis tournaments in Wimbledon, 20 minutes outside London. www.wimbledon.org.

ITALY

Venice, June 10-Nov. 21, The Venice Biennale. Extending from early summer into fall in odd years, the Biennale celebrates contemporary arts — the visual arts, dance, theater, film and music, with hundreds of events and performances.www.labiennale.org.

ASIA AND THE PACIFIC

CHINA

Various cities, Sept. 10-30, FIFA Women's World Cup 2007. Sixteen of the world's best women's soccer clubs compete for the world title. www.fifa.com.

NEW ZEALAND

Christchurch, Nov. 11-18, New Zealand Cup Week. This week of activities kicks off the New Zealand horseracing season, but horseracing isn't the only attraction; the rather unusual lineup includes fashion shows, an agricultural fair, food events and more. www.nzcupandshow.co.nz.

Reach Wanda A. Adams at wadams@honoluluadvertiser.com.