2023 Maui Steel Guitar Festival Canceled

August 12, 2023 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

HIMELE announces the cancellation of the 2023 Maui Steel Guitar Festival due to the devastation caused by recent wildfires across Maui, affecting the Lahaina, Maui Upcountry, and Kihei areas.

The festival was scheduled for October 14 at The Shops at Wailea and October 15 at the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center. While still several months away, HIMELE feels that a celebratory festival is inappropriate as Maui residents are focusing on rebuilding and adjusting to a new "normal."

According to HIMELE director Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz who lives on Maui, "The news is only focusing on the tourists trying to get off the island but the locals who live here are really suffering. Many homes were destroyed and many more people are displaced and without work. They are staying with ‘ohana, in their cars, or at the shelters. The parking lots at Walmart, Target, and Costco are packed with people just hanging out with no place to go. You still cannot get into Lahaina and some parts of Kula. The devastation was unexpected and is a complete shock."

Geri continues, "Although the Maui Steel Guitar Festival is two months away, many issues regarding infrastructure will be unresolved, and mourning from loss will still be tender."

Geri and his wife are safe and have not been adversely affected by the fires.

HIMELE feels that the island of Maui needs time to heal, to rebuild infrastructure, and allow residents to adjust to their new reality. For these reasons, the 2023 Maui Steel Guitar Festival is being canceled, with hopes to return the festival to Maui in 2024.

The Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and The Arts, one of HIMELE's supporters, has provided a list of resources for those affected by the wildfires and for others who wish to assist in whatever way they can.

TRACK DOWN YOUR LOVED ONES

Red Cross Hawaii Headquarters: 808-734-2101
Red Cross Maui (Local): 808-244-0051
Restoring Family Links: 844-782-9441

REPORT A LOST PET

Maui Humane Society: 808-877-3680 EXT. 3
https://www.mauihumanesociety.org/services/lost-found-pets/file-a-lost-or-found-report/

DONATE

Hawaii Community Foundation MAUI STRONG FUND
Hawaii Salvation Army
Kakoo Maui Fund
Aloha United Way
Maui Mutual Aid:
Maui Food Bank
Narest Foodland
Hawaii Restaurant Association (assisting with evacuees on Ohau)

DROP OFF LOCATIONS

• Sparky's Restaurant, 385 Hoohana St., Suite 5C, Kahului
• Ho‘omana Barbell, 1826 Koahu St., Wailuku
• Pā‘ia Bay Coffee Bar, 120 Hāna Hwy., Pā‘ia
• Hi-Tech Store, 425 Koloa St., Kahului
• Maluhia Collective, 1960 Main St., Wailuku
• Boba Bar Pā‘ia, 2 Baldwin Ave., Pā‘ia
• Anytime Fitness Pukalani, 24 Kiopa‘a St., Makawao
• Lumeria Maui, 1814 Baldwin Ave., Makawao
• Maui War Memorial Complex