CONCERT: AUG. 29

Up-and-coming musician Justin Nozuka will headline Star 101.9's Summer Wrap Party on Labor Day weekend.

The Japanese-American guitar-aficionado was born in New York and raised in Toronto. Along the way he picked up an acoustic guitar and developed a soulful blend of R&B and folk.

His hit "After Tonight" has been on Star 101.9's top 10 list for weeks.

7 p.m. Aug. 29 / Pipeline Cafe / $20 presale, more at the door / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

CONCERT: AUG. 14-23

The boys of Rebelution, left, hit the road for a mini roots rock reggae concert tour around the islands. The tour starts on Kaua'i, then on to Maui, heads to the Big Island for two performances and ends in Honolulu, where they will be joined on stage by Natural Vibrations and Pacific Sound Outernational. The Santa Barbara band broke through last year with the release of its album "Courage to Grow," which debuted at No. 7 on Billboard charts and was awarded iTunes' Editor's Choice for Best Reggae Album 2007.

CONCERT: AUG. 16

Hawaiian Hall of Fame artistic director Ku'uipo Kumukahi joins her colleagues Kimo Stone, Dr. Isaac Akuna and Joe Winchester for a concert at the Atherton Performing Arts Studio. The quartet will perform songs from the 2008 Na Hoku Hanohano Award album of the year, "Na Lani 'Eha," showcasing the music of royal composers David Kalakaua, Lili'uokalani, Miriam Likelike and William Pitt Leleiohoku.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 16 / Atherton Performing Arts Studio, Hawai'i Public Radio / $20 general, $17.50 HPR members, $10 students / 955-8821

FESTIVAL: AUG. 17

Musicians, such as award-winning Ledward Ka'apana, below, will perform at the 26th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival. The statewide festival finally makes its way to Honolulu and celebrates the "O'ahu Style" with performances by some of slack-key's finest. Festival will also be televised on KITV and OC16, and streamed live at www.slackkeyfestival.com.
11 a.m.-6 p.m. Aug. 17 / Kapi'olani Park and Bandstand / Free / 226-2697, www.slackkeyfestival.com

COMEDY: AUG. 20-24

Returning to the Islands is comedian-turn-actor Mike Epps, right, and he brings his funny stuff for five performances. Best known for his roles in "Next Friday," "Resident Evil: Apocalypse," "Talk to Me," and his most recent film "Welcome Home, Roscoe Jones," Epps' next project is portraying the iconic comic Richard Pryor in his upcoming biopic. Last year he also served as the host of the newly revived HBO Def Comedy Jam, the same show he made his national debut on in 1995.
8 p.m. Aug. 20, 10 p.m. Aug. 21-24 / Cirque Hawaii Showroom / $20, $25, $30 /922-0017

ETC.: AUG. 23

Cans of Spam, Campbell's Soup and more will be transformed at the third annual Canstruction Competition, in which groups will creatively construct giant sculptures. The public can vote for their favorites via food donations (to be donated to Hawaii Foodbank) during the two-week display throughout Pearlridge Center's Uptown. The event is presented by The American Institute of Architects, Honolulu Chapter. Winners will be announced Sept. 7.
8 a.m.-2 p.m. Aug. 23 / Pearlridge Center, Uptown / Free admission; canned food donations encouraged / 488-0981

STAGE: AUG. 24

Cultural identity is the main theme in "LooChoo nu Kwa: Children of LooChoo," an Okinawan
music and dance presentation. The story is about a Hawaiian-Okinawan grandson returning home for his grandmother's funeral, where he is flooded with memories of his grandparents and regrets not knowing more. The show is produced by Ukwanshin, a nonprofit troupe dedicated to preserving and perpetuating Okinawan performing arts.
2 p.m. Aug. 24 / Mamiya Theatre / $25 general, $20 seniors 60 and older and children 12 and younger / 550-8457, www.ukwanshin.org/blog

ETC.: AUG. 28

Raise a glass and let out a "Kampai!" at The Joy of Sake 2008, featuring more than 300 sakes and visiting brewers from Japan. The event is the largest sake-tasting in the United States and celebrates the art of brewing. Food from Nobu Waikiki, Yoshi's from San Francisco, Chai's Island Bistro, Epic, Tokkuri-tei and more will be served to complement the sake.
6-8:30 p.m. Aug. 28 / Hawai'i Convention Center / $80 / 739-1000, www.joyofsake.com

CONCERT: AUG. 30

Just when you thought the summer couldn't get any hotter, the Hot Club of Hulaville heats up Doris Duke Theatre with a concert. The group performs songs reflecting Paris street life, including tangos and ballads that showcase the sultry musical combination of Sonny Silva on guitar, Duane Padilla on violin, Pierre Grill on accordion, David Chiorini on bass and vocalist Erin Sujan Kim.
7:30 p.m. Aug. 30 / Doris Duke Theatre, Honolulu Academy of Arts / $25 general, $20 Academy members / 532-8700

CONCERT: AUG. 30

No microphones, unamplified, just the soulful sounds of Hawaiian music, old-fashioned style, at the Ka Himeni Ana 2008 contest. The concert, presented by Hawaii Music Hall of Fame, features Hawai'i's up-and-coming musicians competing for monetary prizes and a recording contract with Hula Records. Serving as judges are: Haunani Apoliona, Nina Keali'iwahamana and Bill Kaiwa. The contest will also feature a performance by Manoa Voices, last year's winner. Marlene Sai hosts.
7 p.m. Aug. 30 / Hawai'i Theatre / $6, $10, $15, $20, $25, $30 / 528-0506, www.hawaiitheatre.com

CONCERT: SEPT. 6-7

The Honolulu Symphony opens the Halekulani Masterworks 2008-09 season with international superstar André Watts, right, for a night in the world of Brahms. Watts, a Grammy award-winning classical pianist, has been performing with some of the world's most prestigious orchestras and conductors since the age of nine. The all-Brahms program — Academic Festival Overture, Third Symphony and Second Piano Concerto — will be under the direction of Andreas Delfs.
8 p.m. Sept. 6; 4 p.m. Sept. 7 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / $19-$70 / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com