CELEBRATION: JULY 4

Celebrate Independence Day with some classic all-American hot rods, hot dogs and good ol' apple pie at the first Hot Rod Picnic & Parade. Ten classes, from motorcycles and trucks to hot rods and muscle cars, compete for People's Choice votes. There will be manufacturers and vendors from the Mainland and Hawai'i, keiki activities and music.

10 a.m.-4 p.m. July 4 / Aloha Stadium / $5 general, free for 4 and younger / www.hotrodpicnic.com.

HISTORY: JULY 6

The beginning of July marks another historic anniversary in America — the Battle of Gettysburg. To commemorate the biggest battle ever fought on U.S. soil, the Hawai'i Historic Arms Association presents the 12th annual Battle of Gettysburg Civil War Memorial Shoot, featuring reenactors dressed in Civil War uniform and firing antique muskets and percussion revolvers. And attendees can learn about Hawaiian and Asian soldiers, and taste homestyle food of the era.

9 a.m.-1 p.m. July 6 / Koko Head Shooting Complex, rifle range / Free / 395-6884.

SHOWROOM: PREVIEWING JULY 8

"Waikiki Nei," a multimedia extravaganza, will bring dazzle to the Waikiki show scene when it begins preview performances July 8, leading to a July 15 launch, at Level 4, the renovated fourth-floor showroom at the Royal Hawaiian Center. Roy Tokujo is producer of the show, which tracks Hawaiian history and lifestyles from the monarchy period to the present. Level 4 will transform into a mammoth nightclub and ultra lounge after the show, to add luster to the nightclub scene.

6 p.m. July 8 / Level 4, Royal Hawaiian Center / Repeats 6 p.m. Tuesdays through Sundays, 8:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Fridays-Sundays / Platinum seating, $99 adults, $70 children 3-11; gold seating, $79 and $59; silver seating, $69 and $49; bronze seating, $49 and $29; free for babies 2 and younger, if held by adult (kama'aina rates: platinum, $80, $75; gold, $69, $55; silver, $59, $45; bronze, $39, $25) / 931-6100.

STAGE: JULY 11-27; EXTENDED RUN, JULY 31-AUG. 3

Take a walk down the yellow brick road with Dorothy (Kalia Medeiros, below) and her friends as Diamond Head Theatre presents "The Wizard of Oz" as its season finale. Memorable songs such as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "If I Only Had a Heart" fill the tale of the girl who finds herself lost in a fantastical world that's menaced by the Wicked Witch of the West. Rob Duval directs. The show has already been extended through Aug. 3.

Premieres 8 p.m. July 11; repeats 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays, 4 p.m. Sundays (matinees: 3 p.m. July 19 and 26) through July 27; extended run: 8 p.m. July 31-Aug. 1, 3 and 8 p.m. Aug. 2, 4 p.m. Aug. 3 / Diamond Head Theatre / $12, $22, $32, $42; discounts for children 2-18, seniors 62 and older, military, college students / 733-0274, www.diamondheadtheatre.com.

DANCE: JULY 12-13

Halau from Japan and Hawai'i come together to celebrate all things hula at the seventh annual Hula Ho'olauna Aloha. The event kicks off with an exhibition of solo, group wahine, group kupuna and keiki hula, as well as musical performances by Pomaikai Keawe Lyman, Mahela Sai and Pilioha. The festival's hula competition will be held the next day: Japanese halau will compete and be judged by some of the Islands' top kumu hula.

Exhibition, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. July 12 / Ala Moana Centerstage / Free, open to the public.

Competition and exhibition, 3-9:30 p.m. July 13 / Waikiki Shell / Free for participating halau, their friends and family, and those with valid U.S. or military ID / 347-2012, www.hoolauna.com.

NATURE: JULY 18-20

"Orchids for Everyone!" is the theme of the Kaimuki Orchid Society's annual orchid show, featuring miniature Japanese village displays, plant sales and garden shop, educational workshops, orchid re-potting (one plant per person), and, of course, orchid, oshibana, ikebana and bonsai displays. There will also be giveaways and a silent auction.

9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 18-19 and 9 a.m.-3p.m. July 20 / Kalani High School gym and cafeteria / $2 general, free for seniors and children / 265-9498.

CONCERT: JULY 19

Booming beats and a whole lotta love take over Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park at the 10th annual Summer Island Massive Love Festival, with three stages and more than 20 DJs from Orlando, New York City, Los Angeles and Hawai'i. There will also be giveaways and full bars open for the 21-and-older crowd.

8 p.m.-4 a.m. July 19 / Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park / 18 and older / $25, $30, $35 advance; $40 at the door (VIP: $75 advance, $100 at the door) / www.groovetickets.com.

CONCERT: JULY 20

Get your groove on and feed your musical soul at The Best of the '70s Soul Jam, a concert showcasing The Stylistics, whose hits include "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and "Betcha By Golly Wow"; The Chi-Lites ("Oh Girl," "Have You Seen Her"); and, returning from last year's Soul Jam, The Three Degrees ("When Will I See You Again").

7 p.m. July 20 / Blaisdell Arena / $49 / 877-750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

CONCERTS: JULY 25-26

New Zealand's Katchafire, below, headlines the KCCN FM100 Birthday Bash, performing each night of the two-night spectacle. The Bash, now in its 18th year, features some of the top local entertainers: