What's Going On With HIMELE

January 13, 2026 • Alan Akaka • News

MAUI STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL – October 18

The festival was a great success, featuring an excellent lineup of talent. Every performer sounded fantastic–no exaggeration! I received numerous thanks from audience members who appreciated the event. Monte did an outstanding job as the emcee; his upbeat and energetic style kept the festival on schedule.

The backup band delivered an incredible performance, particularly with their vocals. The band members included Kaipo Lindsey, Dylan Nakahara, and David Woodward.

Unfortunately, we were unable to live-stream the event.

VISIT TO KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS, MAUI CAMPUS

Linda Mentzer and Dan Tremblay visited Kamehameha School on Maui to teach students about the history of the steel guitar and give them a hands-on experience. Teachers Kalei Aarona-Lorenzo and Clark Tuitele were excited to learn about Joseph Kekuku and the steel guitar.

Both classes paid attention, asked great questions, and were thankful for the experience.

The school received a replica of Joseph Kekuku's steel guitar, which they appreciated. One teacher, who owned a Rogue steel guitar, said she wanted to learn to play. When asked which students wanted to learn the Hawaiian steel guitar, many hands went up, indicating a strong interest in learning.

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

Michiko is excited to take on the role of managing communications and coordination for J-FESTA, and she'll be organizing the welcome breakfast too! To help spread the word about HIMELE's events, she has already made some fun Instagram videos highlighting Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week, and she's planning to create even more for our upcoming festivals. Stay tuned for some great content!

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

FERN ELIZARES

"However, I am a kupuna, and at my age, I do not plan to learn to play a Hawaiian steel guitar. So why did I accept it? I was in shock because I never win anything! I want to gift this guitar and the two free lessons to someone else. Kilin mentioned that you might know a student interested in learning to play the Hawaiian steel guitar who is unable to purchase one due to financial constraints. Please let me know if you can help me and if you are a worthy student. We can make arrangements for the handoff of this beautiful guitar."

I am excited to announce that the recipient of this lap steel is the talented 15-year-old Kui Joy from Molokai, currently an 8^th-grade student at Kamehameha Middle School, Kapālama campus. Congratulations, Kui!

HAWAII ISLAND STEEL GUITAR EXPERIENCE at the MAUNA LANI, AUBERGE RESORTS COLLECTION – November 13-16

The evening HāLani kanikapila – We had a great time until the rain started! Thankfully, we were able to resume the performance with Ethan, Schuyler, Isaac, Kaipo Asing, Natan, and David, and the crowd was really appreciative. It was a wonderful experience!

The music and sound at the Ho‘olaule‘a on Saturday were outstanding, showcasing incredible talent. However, the turnout could have been better, possibly due to the early scheduling. It would be great to consider a different timing in the future to attract a larger audience. The event featured talented artists, including Pomaika.i Brown, Ethan Goore, Bobby Ingano, Mālie Lyman, Greg Sardinha, Dwight Tokumoto, Geri Valdriz, and me, all of whom delivered memorable performances.

To our surprise, a couple brought a beautifully decorated cake with a photo of the Akaka/Asher lap steel. How was the cake? ‘Ono!

After the Ho‘olaule‘a, a kanikapila was held at the Queen's Marketplace in Waikoloa Village, drawing a good turnout and providing the audience with plenty of Hawaiian music.

**Workshop:** Although the workshop had a small turnout, it provided an excellent opportunity for Ke Kula Mele students Claire Koenig and Vickie Van Fechtmann to enrich their steel guitar technique. People walking by stopped to watch, and a few ended up at the "Hands On" table with Danny Kila (Daniel Tremblay). He observed many visitors enjoying themselves at the "Hands On" table, where they eagerly tried out the lap steel guitar. He was thrilled to see so many people getting involved! Their participation added a valuable element to the session, demonstrating the potential for growth and engagement in future workshops.

**Open Stage:** The program was a success, attracting a strong audience. We welcomed several talented guest performers, including newcomer Kevin Speyer, Vickie Van Fechtmann, Ethan Goore, Kapono Lopes, and Daniel Toft. NextGEN members Hi‘ipoi Lindsey, Isaac Woodward, and newcomer Charlie Ahuna from Hilo also showcased their skills. Schuyler Woodward provided fantastic U-Bass accompaniment for her brother, Isaac, enhancing the overall performance.

The Sunday HāLani kanikapila was an inspiring gathering as our festival musicians took turns to share their talents. The crowd's appreciation made it a truly uplifting experience!

A heartfelt thank you to Brian Hinokawa of Show Systems Hawaii for elevating our performances with his exceptional sound support. His collaborative spirit and dedication to monitoring sound levels inspire us all.

STEEL GUITAR FRIDAYS AND SUNDAYS

The Royal Hawaiian Center and Hula Grill Waikīkī are proud to reaffirm their commitment to resuming steel guitar programs through 2026. Scheduled to perform at either venues are esteemed artists, including Bobby Ingano, Greg Sardinha & Po‘okela, Nakahara Twins, Woodward .Ohana, and Alan Akaka & the Islanders+. The ‘+‘ designation represents additional artists who will join the Islanders for collaborative jam sessions.

DATES FOR STEEL GUITAR FESTIVALS FOR 2026

February 7 - Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Ka Makana Ali‘i
March 7 - Hilo Steel Guitar Festival - Prince Kuhio Plaza
April 4 - Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine - Ka Makana Ali‘i
May 10 - Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival - Kukui Grove Center or a comprehensive festival that weekend
June 13 - Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Windward Mall
July 5-12 Waikākā Steel Guitar Week - Royal Hawaiian Center
July 10 J-FESTA
July 11 - Waikākā Steel Guitar Festival
July 12 - NextGEN - Waikiki Beach Walk
August 15 - Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine - Kahala Mall
October 17 - Maui Steel Guitar Festival - The Shops at Wailea or a comprehensive festival that weekend
November 19-22 - Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival - Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection (full moon 11-24)

Suggestion for the future: Moku o Keawe Steel Guitar Festival at Uncle Robert's in Kalapana.

J-FESTA INTERNATIONAL CONCERT TOUR 2025

Performed at Birdland, Yokohama's Thumbs Up, Shibuya Buckie, Stage One, Café Mahalo, and Coco Music Studio.

ETHEL NAKADA

SEKI MARIKO

ERI HOKULOA

LION KOBAYASHI

DOCUMENTARY FEATURING THE STEEL GUITAR

Jake Shimabukuro, Mālie Lyman, Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, and Michael Kanazawa

Jake Shimabukuro and Michael Kanazawa are embarking on an exciting documentary project that explores the profound influence of Hawai‘i on modern music. At the heart of this journey is the steel guitar, a magnificent instrument whose rich legacy is lovingly preserved and passed down through the vibrant kanikapila gatherings. This documentary aims to highlight the unique cultural significance of these musical traditions and their lasting impact on the soundscapes we enjoy today.

CHARLIE AHUNA MEETS JAKE