What's Going On With HIMELE

October 13, 2025 • Alan Akaka • News

STEEL GUITAR FRIDAYS at the ROYAL HAWAIIAN CENTER

HULA GRILL "STEEL GUITAR SUNDAY" – July 6

WAIKIKI STEEL GUITAR WEEK – July 6-12

The week kicked off on Sunday, July 6, at the Hula Grill with its inaugural Steel Guitar Sunday, followed by one-hour evening performances Monday through Thursday featuring Alan Akaka & the Islanders, Mālie Lyman, Masami Sato & Makana from Japan, and the NextGEN.

The Saturday Ho‘olaule‘a featured Steve Cheney, Geronimo Valdriz, Greg Sardinha & Po‘okela, Christo Ruppenthal, Lion Kobayashi, Makana, Bobby Ingano, Malie Lyman, and me. Our guest emcee was Kimo Kahoano.

NOTE: Unfortunately, we were unable to live-stream this event.

Mahalo to our sponsors Royal Hawaiian Center, Hawai‘i State Foundation for the Culture and the Arts, Lawrence H. Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation, Hula Grill Waikīkī, Big Island Candies, and John Pearse Strings.

WELCOME MICHIKO AKAKA as the coordinator for J-FESTA (aka Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival)

Michiko will be in charge of communications and coordination for J-FESTA, including the welcome breakfast. To help promote HIMELE's events, she produced videos on Instagram of the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week and the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - "Keiki Kine".

To view videos, go to Instagram and search for HIMELE, jfestabyhimele, and Ke Kula Mele.

NOTE: The J-FESTA name is already taking hold in Japan. A J-FESTA Yokohama International 2025 concert is scheduled for December, organized by the Steel Guitar Renaissance Management Committee.

HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL "Keiki Kine" at the Kahala Mall – August 16

CREEDE MUSICAL ARTS COLLECTIVE – August 29-31

Activities included: Concerts in various locations, music jam sessions, barn dance, instrument petting zoo, and morning music yoga.

YOUNG AT HEART w/John Berger
NextGEN at the WAIKIKI BEACH MARRIOTT RESORT – September 7

NextGEN members Thang Nguyen, Hi‘ipoi Lindsey, Ever Ta‘ala, Isaac Woodward, and Schuyler Woodward did a special performance at the Waikiki Beach Marriott. John Berger later interviewed them for an article titled "Young At Heart".

The [Star-Advertiser] article: Alan Akaka's Hawaiian music school teaches skills and history

NORCAL CONCERT TOUR – September 25-30

When Kyle said he had been taking lessons for six months, the audience was stunned. He then played "Haole Hula" and finished off with "Beyond the Reef". Justin played a few songs on his steel, followed by Mikiya, who did an interesting rendition of "China Boy", a song recorded by Sol K. Bright and the Hollywaiians. When not on the steel, Justin played the ‘ukulele and Mikiya played an upright bass. My set was more of a kanikapila, with everyone taking turns doing a pa‘ani. It was a blast! Patrick wants me to come twice a year to do more steel guitar concerts. How could I turn him down?

NORCAL SYMPOSIUM 2025 – September 28

COMING SOON

DATES FOR STEEL GUITAR FESTIVALS FOR 2025

October 18 - Maui Steel Guitar Festival at the Shops at Wailea
November 13-16 - Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience

HARA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

Sunday, November 23, at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel's Monarch Room from 10 am. Honorees include Alan & Danny Akaka, Andy Bumatai, Bruddah Walter ‘Aipolani, David Kauahikaua, the Kanaka‘ole ‘Ohana, Kelly Boy DeLima, The Pandanus Club.