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

HAWAI'I ISLAND

Kawaihae, Aug. 18-19, Establishment Day Cultural Festival. The 35th anniversary of the establishment of the Pu'ukohola Heiau as a national historic site is observed with craft exhibitions, hula and "Royal Court" pageantry. (808) 882-7218.

KAUA'I

Lihu'e, July 4, Concert in the Sky. Fireworks spectacular and family fair is an annual fundraiser for Kaua'i Hospice, with tastings from top hotels and restaurants and the largest aerial fireworks show on the island. Tickets now on sale. (808) 245-7277

MAUI

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

O'AHU

Honolulu, June 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 on sale since March. www.sumohawaii.com; (808) 946-1039

Waikiki, Oct. 7, Moloka'i Hoe canoe race. The Moloka'i Hoe Outrigger Canoe Championship, regarded as the men's world championship of long-distance outrigger canoe racing, ends with festivities and excitement shortly after midday at Duke Kahanamoku Beach in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village. www.ohcra.com/molokaihoe/molokaihoe.htm

US MAINLAND

CALIFORNIA

Monterey, Sept. 21-23 Monterey Jazz Festival, 50th anniversary. The Monterey Fairgrounds, site of the first festival 50 years ago, will again host the event; tickets now on sale. 2008 dates: Sept. 19-21. www.montereyjazzfestival.org

San Francisco, June 24-25 Gay Pride festival and parade. www.sfpride.org

Pasadena, Jan. 1 Tournament of Roses, 119th annual parade (8 a.m.) and 94th annual Rose Bowl football game (2 p.m.) is themed "Passport to the World's Celebrations." Find out about tickets and tour packages. www.tournamentofroses.com

LOUISIANA

New Orleans, Mardi Gras, Feb. 5, 2008. The pre-Lent party that has come to characterize New Orleans, includes parades, balls, tours of Mardi Gras World, where the parade floats are constructed and lots of great music, food and drink. Dates vary for Mardi Gras, but it always falls 47 days before Easter each year. www.mardigrasneworleans.com

MISSISSIPPI

Natchez, Sept. 29-Oct. 13, Natchez Pilgrimage Tours. Every year since 1932, the owners of Natchez's historic antebellum homes have thrown open their doors and unveiled their gardens for tourists to enjoy. Additionally, a spring pageant brings to life scenes of Southern life, and there are concerts and theatrical presentations, as well. www.natchezpilgrimage.com; (800) 647-6742

CANADA

Vancouver, British Columbia, Feb. 12-28, 2010, Winter Olympics. Thousands are expected in Vancouver and nearby Whistler; event schedules and ticket sales begin in 2008. www.vancouver2010.com

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, SOUTH AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

Belem, Brazil, mid-October, Virgen de Nazaré Festival. This annual festival on the Amazon's main port city honors a manifestation of the Virgin Mary said to bring good luck; activities include elaborate processions in which statues are carried through the streets. The main procession takes place Oct. 14 this year. www.belemtur.com.br

Port of Spain, Trinidad, Feb. 4-5, 2008, Trinidad and Tobago Carnival. This Caribbean version of Mardi Gras brings together a variety of enthusiastic competitions (Band of the Year, Soca and Calypso Monarch, Carnival King and Queen) and thousands of costumed revelers who party in the streets, literally through the night. www.visittnt.com

NEW ZEALAND SKIING

JUNE

Summertime and the living is ... snowy. New Zealand's ski season is just getting under way, with slopes opening next month. So if you just have to get back on the hill, for skiing or snowboarding, head south. Upcoming openings include Coronet Peak June 9 (www.nzski.com/coronet), Cardrona Alpine Resort June 22 (www.cardrona.com), The Remarkables June 23 (www.nzski.com/remarkables) and Treble Cone June 26 (www.treblecone.co.nz).

JULY 13-22

PHOTO OPS

If you're a photographer, or just interested in travel photography, the Santa Fe Biennial Photography Festival is the place to be July 13-22. The event encompasses photo exhibits at galleries, a show and sale of fine art photography, equipment demonstrations, lectures, workshops, portfolio reviews, guided photo shoots and more. www.photoartssantafe.com

AUG. 31-SEPT. 3

WRITERS CONFERENCE

The newly renovated Wailea Marriott Resort is the site of this year's Maui Writers Conference and Retreat, for which the lineup of author-presenters has recently been announced. Among those appearing: best-selling novelist Scott Turow, National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet W.S. Merwin, journalist Buzz Bissinger ("Friday Night Lights") and Mark Twain biographer Ron Powers. Events include talks, readings workshops, manuscript marketplace, publishing seminars. (808) 879-0061; www.mauiwriters.com; Marriott registration (special room rates) (800) 367-2960