CONCERTS: JAN. 16-17

Punk rock band NOFX drops in for shows in Honolulu and on Maui. The band celebrated its 25th anniversary this year; its current lineup includes founding members guitarist Eric Melvin, bassist/vocalist Fat Mike, drummer Erik Sandin and guitarist El Jefe, who joined the group in 1991. NOFX's next album is due next year.
• Maui: 8 p.m. Jan. 16 / The Cellar 744, Lahaina, Maui / 21 and older / $25 / www.hnlnow.com, www.groovetickets.com
• O'ahu: 10 p.m. Jan. 17 / Pipeline Cafe / All ages / $25 / www.hnlnow.com, www.groovetickets.com

CONCERT: JAN. 17

Island fave Kalapana, whose hits include "The Hurt," "Nightbird," "You Make It Hard" and "Naturally," will perform a benefit concert to help send the Saint Louis Center for the Arts' production of "Rent: School Edition" to the 15th annual American High School Theatre Festival in Edinburg, Scotland, part of the prestigious Fringe Festival, in the summer. Kalapana recently released the disc,"Many Classics: Kalapana Plays Their Best."
8 p.m. Jan. 17 / Mamiya Theatre / $95, $125, $150 / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

COMEDY: JAN. 17-18

Nick Swardson brings his brand of comedy to Honolulu for a two-night stand. Swardson also is an actor, with roles in films including "Grandma's Boy," "Malibu's Most Wanted," "The Benchwarmers," "Blades of Glory," "You Don't Mess With the Zohan" and "House Bunny." He has appeared on numerous TV comedy specials and has a recurring role as Terry Bernardino, the rollerskating homosexual prostitute, on "Reno 911!"
Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show at 7 p.m. Jan. 17-18 / Pipeline Cafe / $35 general, $50 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com

CONCERT: JAN. 17

Atherton Performing Arts Studio hosts two concerts benefiting the Hawaii Food Bank, presented by Hawaii Public Radio, ABC Stores, Don Quijote and the Hawaii Industry Food Association. The Jan. 17 concert features the pop, jazz, folk and funk band Clear Sky, fronted by Roshan and Shivani Kumar, with Chuck James and Glenn Collen. The jazz stylings of Rachel Gonzales, Les Peetz, Dean Taba and Stacy Tangonan headline the second concert in the series on Jan. 24.
7:30 p.m. Jan. 17 and 24 / Atherton Performing Arts Studio / $20 / 955-8821

STAGE: JAN. 21-25

The Tony and Olivier award-winning "Translations," by renowned Irish playwright Brian Friel, takes the stage at the Earle Ernst Lab Theatre. It's the story of a small Irish village in the 1830s, and the effects of the British imposing their language on the residents. It's a Hawai'i premiere, directed by UH professor of theater Lurana Donnels O'Malley.
8 p.m. Jan. 21-24, 2 p.m. Jan. 25 / Earle Ernst Lab Theatre, University of Hawai'i-Manoa / Tickets — $14 general, $12 UH faculty and staff, seniors, military, $10 students, $5 UHM students — go on sale Jan. 14 / 483-7123, www.etickethawaii.com

FESTIVAL: JAN 23-24

Ring in the Year of the Ox early at the Chinatown Open House and Night Festival. The Open House, presented by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii, is a two-day event that features food vendors with Chinese ethnic favorites, including jai, gin doi, gau and jook. There will be entertainment from dance groups and a lion dance blessing. On Jan. 24, the Chinatown Merchants Association presents Night in Chinatown Festival. The all-day block party features traditional New Year's arts and crafts, entertainment and a parade along Hotel Street.
6-10 p.m. Jan. 23, 9 a.m.-10 p.m., 4-6 p.m. parade Jan. 24 / Chinatown, Downtown Honolulu / free / www.chinatownhi.com

DANCE: JAN. 23

Celebrate the Mumbai-based movie industry at Bollywood Nights, a benefit for the Pacific Survivor Center. The night will feature music from DJ Sovern-T of Bhangra Bashment, a dance performance by Willow Chang, henna tattoos and prizes. The ticket also includes a South Asian dinner buffet served until 8:30 p.m.
6-10 p.m. Jan. 23 / Pipeline Cafe / advanced: $15 adults, $10 children; at the door: $20 adults, $15 children / 294-5622, www.honoluluboxoffice.com

CONCERT: JAN. 30, FEB. 1, 3

The Hawaii Opera Theatre, which produced "Romeo and Juliet" last year, opens their 2009 Winter Grand Opera Season with Puccini's "Manon Lescaut." The story is about the journey of the title character, Manon Lescaut, who lures lovers across the ocean on a desolate trail of broken promises. It will be presented in Italian with English subtitles, and features Shu Ying Li in the title role, Richard Crawley as Chevalier Des Grieux, and Kelly Anderson as Lescaut.
8 p.m. Jan. 30, 4 p.m. Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 3 / Blaisdell Concert Hall / $29, $42, $58, $85, $120 / 596-7858, www.hawaiiopera.org

CONCERT: JAN. 31

Take a deep breath for The Breathe Concert: Clean Air For Everyone, celebrating the American Lung Association of Hawaii's 80th anniversary. Some of the Islands' top entertainers will perform to help launch a healthier 2009, including Amy Hanaiali'i, Sonya Mendez, Sean Na'auao, Roy Sakuma and the students of the Roy Sakuma Studio, Jake Shimabukuro and more.
7:30 p.m. Jan. 31 / Hawai'i Theatre / 528-0506, www.hawaiitheatre.com

SPECIAL: FEB. 4

The '90s indie/alternative rock band The Presidents of the United States of America makes their Island debut with a concert at Pipeline Cafe. The three-man band released their latest album "Mixed Up S.O.B." last March. The band is best known for their hits "Lump," "Peaches," and their covers of "Cleveland Rocks," as the theme to "The Drew Carey Show," and "Video Called the Radio Star," for Adam Sandler's hit movie "The Wedding Singer."
8 p.m. Feb. 4 / Pipeline Cafe / $25 general, $51 VIP / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com