Do It: Nick Swardson, Rick Benjamin, Na Hoku Hanohano Awards

FRIDAY-SATURDAY

>> Comic knows how to work roller skates and crop tops

Party down with Nick Swardson at The Republik this weekend.

The actor/comedian made a name for himself with his recurring role as the flaming, roller-skating Terry Bernadino in “Reno 911!” He has comic observations and stories about boozing and substance abuse to share, as in his “Blackout Morning” skit, a soundtrack of a man waking up after an allnight bender listening to messages on his phone.

The craziness extends to real life. In Adam Sandler’s “Sandy Wexler” (the third Sandler project he’s worked on), Swardson portrayed a bumbling daredevil — “a low-rank Evel Knievel,” as he told Conan O’Brien — and tried to do his own stunts. Ignoring the advice of the pyrotechnics expert, he let himself be lit afire and waited a few extra seconds as the fire engulfed him. “It was hot. Really hot,” he said. And after all that, he wound up injuring his knee falling off a karaoke stage.

The Minnesota native found his niche early, getting into acting and improv at age 16 and appearing in HBO’s U.S. Comedy Arts Festival at age 20. He’s appeared on several Comedy Central specials and had his own series, “Nick Swardson’s Pretend Time,” which ran for two seasons. Swardson also performs 7 p.m. Sunday at Kauai Community College. $35-$45. Visit bampproject.com for details.

FRIDAY-TUESDAY

>> Enjoy local talent as Hokus honor the best in isle music

This weekend the 40th Annual Na Hoku Hanohano Awards ceremony focuses attention on Hawaii’s music industry. Surrounding that awards show, presented at 7 p.m. Saturday by the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts at the Hawai‘i Convention Center (watch it from home on KFVE or online at K5thehometeam.com), Mele Mei events celebrate Hawaii’s musical talent at various venues.

Enjoy a slate of local entertainers and musicians at a free event at the Waikiki Hula Mound, beginning at 6 p.m. Friday.

On Sunday, choose among three events: Acoustic trio Kaiao, winner of the Ka Himeni Ana competition in 2013, performs at the Halekulani’s House Without a Key from noon to 2:30 p.m.; the Na Mele no na Pua outdoor concert features Na Mea Ho‘okani at Waikiki Beach Walk, 5 to 6 p.m.; and at the Kani Ka Pila Grille at the Outrigger Reef, Keauhou performs from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and Maunalua from 7 to 9 p.m.

Also part of the Mele Mei series will be an appearance by local favorite Willie K at Blue Note Hawaii at 6:30 and 9:30 p.m. Tuesday. That’s the only one with a cost: $21.25 to $45. All other events are free.

SATURDAY

>> Silent movies and their tunes come to stage

Silent movies get a turn at live, authentic presentation this weekend when Rick Benjamin returns to town. The conductor specializes in American music from the 1870s to 1930s, and has discovered a treasure trove of original music written for silent movies.

His presentation here three years ago amused audiences, who were fairly rolling in the aisles laughing at Buster Keaton, pictured, Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd and their films. The silent stars will be featured once again, with screenings of Lloyd’s last short, “Never Weaken” (1921), Keaton’s “The Playhouse” (1921) and Chaplin’s classic “Easy Street” (which, though made in 1916, contains references to current issues like bullying and drug abuse).

The evening also includes Hawaiian music from the 1920s.

If you can take your eyes off the screen for a moment, you might want check out percussionist Jordan Schifino at work. He’ll be the busiest of the musicians, switching from instrument to instrument to create a panoply of “cartoon-style” sounds.

Among the instruments he’ll be using are the slide whistle, siren, taxi horn and the flexatone, a hand-held instrument that creates a twangy sound — “It’s really cool for someone falling on a banana peel, or a clumsy motion of sorts,” Schifino said. “That’s kind of the backbone of our instrument family, the different sound effects that we interact with … endless instruments, different usages.”

SUNDAY

>> Kenny Endo, Abe Lagrimas and friends unite for an eclectic jam

Taiko master Kenny Endo, who has expanded the repertoire of his instrument by leaps and pounds, returns with his innovative Kahilu Quintet on Sunday, in a venue that should provide a spiritual dimension: the 102-year-old Shingon Shu Hawaii temple.

“It’s the first time they’ve ever had a concert there,” Endo said. “When I lived in Japan, sometimes we would perform inside temples, and acoustics were usually pretty nice. We’re going to try to keep it as natural as possible.”

Endo is taking advantage of a visit by notable musician Abe Lagrimas Jr., a former local now based in Los Angeles. Lagrimas, who plays ukulele, vibes and drums, joins locals Todd Yukumoto (sax and flute), YiChieh Lai (guzheng) and Patrick Oiye (shamisen). The group toured together during Endo’s 40th-anniversary performance two years ago and will perform some of Endo’s tunes, including solo works.

The pieces have elements of both Western and Eastern music, since Endo does much of his composing on a Japanese flute, while Lagrimas figures out the harmony on the vibes. “It’s kind of an interesting combination, mixing the Asian and Western instruments, but each person that I usually perform with in this contemporary context is very versatile and understands the Western concepts of tuning and improvisation as well as the Eastern concepts,” Endo said.