Steel Trappings

What's Going On With HIMELE

What's Going On With HIMELE

January 29, 2025 • Alan AkakaNews

Kilin Reece offered a free weeklong lap steel building workshop where the students would:

  • Learn the history of Joseph Kekuku and his creation of the Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar
  • Learn about how Joseph Kekuku's invention has had international influence throughout the history of music across numerous genres of music
  • Build a steel guitar and learn how to play it
  • Leave the workshop with a Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar your .ohana to enjoy for years to come.

The program included working in the lo‘i (taro patch).

Bobby Ingano, Joseph Zayac, and I were honored guests at the ho‘ike. Like the Waimānalo Lili‘uokalani Trust project, students learned to assemble a lap steel guitar and were encouraged to design their own fret markings. Parents were invited to assist their children with the building process.

Forest to Frets

MAUI STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL at the SHOPS AT WAILEA - Oct 19

A large crowd gathered at the Shops At Wailea for the Maui Steel Guitar Festival. Featured artists were Joel Katz, Kona Lau, Malie Lyman, Geronimo Valdriz, Bobby Ingano, and myself, with NextGen members Isabella Bertelmann and Makamae Lyu-Napoleon. The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center Cultural Director - Monte McComber, emceed the event.

Grammy award winner Kalani Pe‘a popped in along with Makanokahaku. Both joined Mālie on stage to sing Ho‘onanea. Mālie occasionally performs at Kalani's concerts and invited him to the festival. Makanaokahaku is a blind jazz pianist and vocalist who can speak and sing in Hawaiian.

Maui Steel Guitar Festival Artists

MET TWO MUSICIANS FROM JAPAN

Back in July, I noticed an onlooker watching intently while playing at the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week. When I asked if he played the steel guitar, he nodded. I invited Fujita san, from Kobe, to do a couple of numbers. After the show, Asaeda san, a musician from Hiroshima, approached me, and we chatted. He was surprised that his friend Fujita was there earlier. To my surprise, he told me there is a steel guitar festival in Hiroshima in September, and the two play there together. More on the two later.

HAWAIIAN ISLAND STEEL GUITAR EXPERIENCE at the MAUNA LANI – Nov 21-24

Upon arrival, teams were sent out to do presentations and demonstrations at Kealakehe Elementary and Kealakehe Intermediate and first-time visits to Holualoa Elementary and Konawaena High School. Daniel Tremblay donated reconfigured student guitars to Holualoa and Konawaena. All reported that the presentations were well received.

The Thursday evening kanikapila at the HāLani Restaurant kicked off the weekend with lively music and hula.

The Friday Hovolaule‘a featured artists Konabob Stofer, Devin Nakahara, myself, Geri Valdriz, Kapono Lopes, Dwight Tokumoto, Mālie Lyman, and Ed Punua. Devin debuted as a soloist and is someone to watch for in the future.

A modest yet enthusiastic group attended the Saturday workshop held in Hale I‘ike. The response from the attendees was positive. We received many questions and were able to help individuals improve their skills and techniques.

The Open Stage followed, featuring Barbara Bones, Vickie Van Fechtmann, the NextGen, and Daniel Toft. We had an extra treat when Ken Emerson popped in with his guitar and was willing to do a set.

The music resumed with a packed crowd at Twilight at Kalahuipua‘a. Kimo Kahoano emceed part of the event, and the artists and NextGen did put on an excellent show.

The kanikapila finale on Sunday was a blast with more music and hula. Artists and the NextGen took turns coming up to jam. It was 90 minutes of musical joy.

The festival was a major success, the best one yet, with steel guitar music all weekend long.

Festival School Visit and Concert

Festival Performers

NextGen Performers

DANIEL TREMBLAY

Daniel's contributions to the steel guitar are numerous. He spends much of his free time in Waikiki at the beach and the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort, offering free lessons and teaching the history of the steel guitar to all interested. He distributes the HIMELE brochures and sells the Kika Kila book by John Troutman. He purchases all brochures and books, and all sales and tips are donated to HIMELE. Many mahalos to Danny K. Kila.

JAPAN CONCERT TOUR – DEC 5-15

Hawaiian music has been in Japan for many decades, with the height of popularity in the 60s and 70s. University students formed music groups and competed. After graduation, many climbed the corporate ladder yet continued with their music hobby and frequented Hawaiian-themed establishments. There are many active musicians today, most of who have retired from their jobs and seek Hawaiian music entertainment. These are the ones who filled the seats at all my performances.

Japan Concert Tour

Besides performances, I attended a recital, offered a symposium, and assisted at a music rehearsal.

Shinichi Kakiuchi invited me to a student recital of Hidehiko Ohashi, who has been teaching the steel guitar and .ukulele for many years.

Japan Student Recital

Shinichi Kakiuchi asked if I would conduct a symposium focusing on ear training and learning to play melodies by ear. Shinichi, who is now the new manager for HSGA Japan, holds monthly workshop/practice sessions at Shibuya Buckie to help members expand their technique and skills on the steel guitar. The two men I met at the Royal Hawaiian Center Asaeda San from Hiroshima and Fujita San from Kobe came to attend for the day.

Japan Steel Symposium

On my last full day, I traveled to Hachioji to visit the grave of the president of the steel guitar company Canopus and dear friend Yasu Kamiya, along with his wife, Mariko Seki, and daughter, Eri Kamiya.

Yasu Kamiya Gravesite and Kamiya Family

Later that day, I headed over to Oshiage for a Makana rehearsal to help with Hawaiian songs Kona Kai ‘Opua and Ku‘u Lei Awapuhi.

Makana Rehearsal

KALA‘E CAMARILLO

Found this post on Facebook:

Two years ago my former Principal Ron Oyama shared with me the story of Joseph Kekuku, the local boy that invented the steel guitar in the late 1800s while attending Kamehameha School for boys, which was originally located where Kāpalama Elementary is now located. Ron's vision was for the students of Kāpalama Elementary to learn about the significant history that took place on their campus grounds and then to later go out into the community and share that story. He also envisioned them learning how to play the steel guitar. At the time, I did not know how to play so I started taking lessons online from the steel guitar master Alan Akaka. Soon I was able to learn enough to start teaching my students and eventually we went out into the public to share Joseph's story and the sounds of his invention. Through this journey of learning about Joseph Kekuku, I was blessed to meet Kilin Reece who gifted us with a beautiful steel guitar he built for our haumana to continue to learn on.

Fast forward to today and it's been a full circle moment as I've now moved on to teach kanikapila at Kamehameha, in the same room that Alan Akaka once taught there. Also teaching steel guitar, at the school Joseph Kekuku once attended. Mahalo Ron and Alan for inspiring me to learn the steel guitar!

KAPONO LOPES INVITED TO NAMM 2025

Kapono let me know that he was at NAMM. This is a great venue to see what is available in the music world and a place to meet many people in the industry.

UPCOMING DATES FOR STEEL GUITAR FESTIVALS FOR 2025

February 15 – Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 27-March 1 – Kona Steel Guitar Festival
May 18 – Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
July 7-12 – Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week at Royal Hawaiian Center
July 11 – Japan Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Royal Hawaiian Center
August 16 – Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival "Keiki Kine" at Kahala Mall
October 18 – Maui Steel Guitar Festival at the Shops at Wailea
November 13-16 (NC) – Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience

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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.