1^st Annual Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila Contest Winners Announced

July 9, 2026 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

The 1^st annual Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest was held on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, as a part of the annual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikīkī.

A total of five contestants competed in the Keiki Division, while five contestants participated in the Kūpuna Division. The Open Amateur Division had two contestants, and a non-compete "Try" Division had three participants.

Judges for the competition phases of the Contest were:

• Kilin Reece, President, The Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings
• Christo Ruppenthal, Professional musician and president of Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association
• Mālie Lyman, Professional musician

The first place winner of the Keiki Division was Isaac Woodward.

The first place winner of the Kūpuna Division was Sakae Machida.

The first place winner of the Open Amateur Division was Pat Sullivan.

Alan Akaka, Kilin Reece, Isaac Woodward, Pat Sullivan, Christo Ruppenthal, Sakae Machida, and Mālie Lyman. pc-Larry Holu

Winners received cash awards and gift bags, a steel guitar as pictured, and opportunities to perform at the 16^th Annnual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival on Saturday and at the Grand Finale on Sunday at Waikiki Beach Walk.