Kapolei Festival Kicks Off 2019 Series
October 23, 2018 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions
The first Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival for 2019 will be held at the Ka Makana Ali'i shopping mall in Kapolei on Saturday, February 16, 2019. The festival kicks off at 11 A.M.
The 2019 festival will feature Alan Akaka, Jeff Au Hoy, Bobby Ingano, Kapono Lopes, and Greg Sardinha. Next Generation steel guitarists and musicians Pono Fernandez, Malie Lyman, and Joey and Tai Misailidis will also appear in the program which is expected to run through 3 P.M.
Kapono Lopes
Photo by Helemano Lee
Kapono Lopes and Jeff Au Hoy at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki
Photo by Daphne Rice
This will be Kapono Lopes' first appearance at a Hawaiian steel guitar festival. He will also be featured at other HIMELE steel guitar festivals throughout the State in 2019.
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali'i will also include a demonstration table where festival guests can learn more about the Hawaiian steel guitar and have hands-on experiences with the instrument under the guidance of a steel guitar expert.
While normally held in March, this year's festival date was switched with the 2019 Kaua'i Steel Guitar Festival. That event was moved to March to accommodate the hotel's renovation project which is expected to be completed mid-February. The 2019 Kaua'i festival will be held on March 1-2, 2019, instead.
All HIMELE steel guitar festivals are supported in part by the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawaii and by the National Endowment for the Arts. For a complete listing of the 2019 festivals, please see www.himele.org.
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2026 Festivals and Workshops
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘iFebruary 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
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 FridaysEvery 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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Ka Makana Ali‘i – Kapolei
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Keiki Kine at Ka Makana Ali‘i
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