Festival Will Feature Eight Steel Guitar Legends
November 23, 2019 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions
Steel guitarists for the Special Edition Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival ho‘olaule‘a have been announced by HIMELE Chairman of the Board Alan Akaka. Separately, open stage participants were also announced by HIMELE Vice-Chairman Addison Ching.
The Friday evening ho‘olaule‘a will feature Hawai‘i Island steel guitarists Iaukea Bright, Pomai Brown, and Dwight Tokumoto in individual performance segments. Geromino "Geri" Valdriz from Maui will also perform, as will O‘ahu steel guitarists Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, Kapono Lopes, and Greg Sardinha. Backup will be provided by veteran festival musicians Adam and Kaipo Asing.
Saturday's Twilight at Kalahuipua'a program will feature "talk story" by Kahu Hanai Danny Akaka, Jr., and incorporate steel guitar performances by some of Friday's featured steel guitarists as well as NextGen keiki steel guitarists from Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i School of Hawaiian Music.
This year's Saturday Open Stage program will include performances by Heu‘i Bandmann from Kaua‘i, Shinichi Kakiuchi from Tokyo, Japan, and Hawai‘i Island steel guitarists Vickie Van Fechtmann, Laurie Kali and Daniel Toft. Troy Keoho and his group will also perform, as well as Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i Makua and NextGen steel guitarists and musicians.
The festival will also include steel guitar workshops, public kanikapila sessions, and hands-on opportunities for festival guests to try out the steel guitar under the guidance of a steel guitar professional.
The festival program will be posted on the festival website when it is finalized.
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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
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Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo, Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine
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Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
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Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
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Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents J-FESTA - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
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Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
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Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
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Maui Steel Guitar Festival
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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
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2026 Events
Steel Guitar FridaysEvery Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
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January 5, February 2, March 2, April 6, May 4, and June 1, 2026 – 10:00 AM - Noon
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AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival #
July 23-25, 2026
WInchester Towne Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana
* Tentative
# Registration Fee Required
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