Steel Trappings

Instruments and Luthiers

More Magnatone
More Magnatone Part I-1
June 27, 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers

What started out as a one-time pictorial on mother of toilet seat (MOTS) covered amplifiers has [...]

More Magnatone
More Magnatone Part I-2
July 4, 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers

By the mid '50s, MOTS had lost its appeal, as had Hawaiian music, so Magnatone discontinued its [...]

Andy Volk
Bill Hardin - Part 1
July 7, 2016 • Andy Volk • Instruments and Luthiers

This article is about the career of luthier Bill Hardin, from his early days with Dobro to the founding of Bear Creek Guitars. It's a [...]

Geri's Vintage Steels
1937 Rickenbacher B6
July 30, 2016 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers

In 1909, Belgium chemist, L.H. Bakeland devised a resin that hardened into a tough, dense [...]

More Magnatone
More Magnatone Part II-1
August 3, 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers

While the focus of this series (see Jan., Feb., and March '98 VG) has been MOTS amplifiers [...]

Andy Volk
Bill Hardin - Part 2
August 18, 2016 • Andy Volk • Instruments and Luthiers

Hardin's days of hitting the swap meets and the flea markets in search of 25 or 50-dollar Hawaiian- [...]

Geri's Vintage Steels
1955 Fender Champion
September 12, 2016 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers

Long before Leo Fender built the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, he built Hawaiian lap [...]

More Magnatone
More Magnatone Parts II-2 & III
October 1 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers

An early wood-bodied single-neck is pictured in Hawaiian Steel Guitars and the Great Hawaiian [...]

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HIMELE Events
2026 Festivals and Workshops
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 28, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST (Rescheduled)
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
March 7, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM HST
Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine
April 4, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 10, 2026 - 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 13, 2026 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST *
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 5-11, 2026
July 6-9, 2026 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents J-FESTA - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 10, 2026 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2026 – 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 15, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST *
Kahala Mall, Honolulu, Hawai‘i

Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 17, 2026 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 19-22, 2026 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island

2026 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 28, 2026 – 11:00 PM - 3:00 PM HST (Rescheduled)

Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
March 7, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Ka Makana Ali‘i
April 4, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 13, 2026 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST *

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival (J-FESTA)
July 10, 2026 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 15, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST *

Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 20, 2026 - Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM HST
November 21, 2026 - Open Stage Performances – 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM HST

Other Events
2026 Events
Steel Guitar Fridays
Every Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Steel Guitar Sundays
January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, and June 1, 2026 – 10:00 AM - Noon
Hula Grill Waikiki, Waikīkī

AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival #
July 23-25, 2026
WInchester Towne Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana

* Tentative
# Registration Fee Required

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About HIMELE
HIMELE is a Hawai‘i 501(c)(3) 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.