Steel Trappings

Kona Steel Guitar Festival

Kona Steel Guitar Festival Grand Finale

January 19, 2025 • Addison ChingFestivals and Conventions

The 2025 Kona Steel Guitar Festival will feature several steel guitar artists from Hawai‘i and the mainland US. The artist lineup offers a variety of steel guitar artistry, including acoustic and hard body steels, Hawaiian traditional and contemporary music, and even some Country and Western swing.

The 2025 Kona festival will be the last festival offered at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, at least for the time being. The festival will go on hiatus at that venue due to the termination of the annual Aloha Music Camp. The festival has been presented in tandem with the Camp for several years and has provided Campers the ability to extend their steel guitar experience and even participate in the festival's Open Stage performances.

Highlighting this year's festival will be O‘ahu steel guitarists will be Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, Mālie Lyman, and Devin Nakahara. Maui steel guitarist Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz will also join the lineup, as will Hawai‘i Island steel guitarist Dwight Tokumoto.

Also featured in the 2025 festival will be mainland steel guitarists Billy Cardine from North Carolina, Patti Maxine from Northern California, and Colin John who splits his time between Ohio and Hawai‘i. Colin John is well-known for his blues guitar stylings but is also a seasoned steel guitar player.

Mainland steel guitarists
Mainland steel guitarists Billy Cardine, Patti Maxine, and Colin John

Open Stage performance will feature some regular performers and NextGen steel guitarists. The festival will be held at the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa beginning on February 27 and running through March 1. The comprehensive festival will include Thursday visits to local area schools to educate students about Hawaiian music, culture, and the Hawaiian steel guitar. Also featured will be a steel guitar exhibit and hands-on opportunities for festival guests to learn more about the steel guitar and a workshop combining "talk story" with steel guitar techniques. Evening kanikapila will provide festival guests to sing and play along with festival artists in an informal group setting. The highlights of the festival include Open Stage performances on Friday and a steel guitar concert on Saturday that will be presented in two parts as with previous years

Saturday's concert will be livestreamed.

Although the Kona festival will be put on hiatus after the 2025 event, the Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani will continue as usual. This annual festival will be presented in the November timeframe at the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection.

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HIMELE Events
2025 Festivals and Workshops
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 15, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Kona Steel Guitar Festival
February 27-March 1, 2025
(see website for complete program)
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Keauhou, Hawai‘i

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 4, 2025 - 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 7, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 7-12, 2025
July 7-10, 2025 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2025 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 12, 2025 – 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 16, 2025 (tentative)
Kahala Mall, Waialae-Kāhala

Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 18, 2025 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
2025 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts

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


Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 15, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM HST

Kona Steel Guitar Festival
March 1, 2025 Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 7, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2025 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 12, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 16, 2025 (tentative)

Other Events
2025 Events
HSGA Hawai‘i Convention
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
July 9, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM HST (HSGA Hawai‘i Convention Performances) Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival *
July 24-26, 2025
Town Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana

* Registration Fee Required

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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.