2024 April | Steel Trappings

Festival News

April 2, 2024 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

Here is the latest news about HIMELE's steel guitar festivals and events.

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival

The performer lineup for this year's abbreviated festival at Kukui Grove Center on May 5 in Lihue include Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, Jess Montgomery, Malie Lyman, Ed Punua, and Greg Sardinha. NextGen Hi'ipoi Lindsey, Enosa Lyman, Makamae Lyu-Napoleon and Isabella Bertelmann will also perform. Emcee will be Monte McComber

Plans for next year's festival include a complete festival at a new venue in addition to an abbreviated festival at the Kukui Grove Center. The complete festival will include school visitations, an open stage, a vintage steel guitar exhibit, hands-on steel guitar opportunities, a comprehensive ho‘olaulea concert, and nightly public kanikapila.

Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani

This year's Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani will be held on November 4-7, 2024 at the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection and include the resort's monthly Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a cultural program that will feature the Hawaiian steel guitar. The full festival will again include school visitations, Open Stage, workshops, a vintage steel guitar exhibit, performances at the resort's HaLani restaurant and other venues, a full concert, and public kanikapila jam sessions. Hands-on steel guitar experiences will also be offered.

The main concert on Friday will be livestreamed.

Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival

This year's Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival on July 12 is taking shape. So far six steel guitarists and/or steel guitar groups have signed on, including Kiyoshi "Lion" Kobayashi.

The Japan-Hawaiian steel guitar festival will be held on Friday, July 12, 2024 as a part of the annual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week. The event will be livestreamed.

KSGF HISGF JHSGF

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HIMELE Events

`2026 Festivals and Workshops`

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 28, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST (Rescheduled)
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
March 7, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM HST
Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine
April 4, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 10, 2026 - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 13, 2026 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST *
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 5-11, 2026
July 6-9, 2026 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents J-FESTA - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 10, 2026 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 15, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST *
Kahala Mall, Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 17, 2026 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 19-22, 2026 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island

`2026 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts`

Facebook Live YouTube
All broadcasts originate from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 28, 2026 – 11:00 PM - 3:00 PM HST (Rescheduled)

Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
March 7, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Ka Makana Ali‘i
April 4, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 13, 2026 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST *

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival (J-FESTA)
July 10, 2026 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 15, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST *

Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 20, 2026 - Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM HST
November 21, 2026 - Open Stage Performances – 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM HST

Other Events

`2026 Events`

Steel Guitar Fridays
Every Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Steel Guitar Sundays
January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, and June 1, 2026 – 10:00 AM - Noon
Hula Grill Waikiki, Waikīkī

AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival #
July 23-25, 2026
WInchester Towne Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana

* Tentative
# Registration Fee Required

About HIMELE
HIMELE is a Hawai‘i non-profit corporation that supports music enrichment and education for people of all ages. Our purpose is to educate, promote, and perpetuate Hawaiian music, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian musical instruments.

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Learning Resources
Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium

Statewide Festivals
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival

Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i – Kapolei
Windward Mall – Kāne‘ohe
Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
Keiki Kine at Ka Makana Ali‘i

Livestream
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase