2020 January | Steel Trappings

The 2020 Maui Steel Guitar Festival

Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center Added to Maui Festival

January 21, 2020 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

The Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center venue of the annual Maui Steel Guitar Festival has been added back to the 2020 Maui Steel Guitar Festival program.

The Center venue was originally removed from the 2020 program due to a decrease in the funding allocated by the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. The Board concluded that a festival venue at a shopping destination provides local communities an important opportunity to experience the Hawaiian steel guitar and enjoy the music involving an instrument that is a significant part of Hawaiian music and culture, and that by supporting the festival, the reach of the steel guitar can be expanded to more people of all ages.

Geri Valdriz with Kawika Kamai, Rick Bessen, and Donn Mitsuyuki at the 2019 Center festival

The Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center venue has been an integral part of the Maui Steel Guitar Festival for the past two years, and HIMELE is pleased to continue the tradition. The Board also discussed modifying the program to possibly include youth music groups playing along with NextGen steel guitarists to attract interest from Maui's youth and encourage further study of the instrument.

The Kahului festival will again include a hands-on demonstration table where anyone can learn more about the steel guitar and try out the instrument under the guidance of a steel guitar professional. Artist CDs and other steel guitar related merchandise may also be available for purchase at the table.

Daniel Tremblay, Alan Akaka and a festival guest at the hands-on demonstration

The Maui Steel Guitar Festival event schedule for both The Shops at Wailea and Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center will be posted on the festival website when it has been finalized.

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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 Live YouTube
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

About HIMELE
HIMELE is a Hawai‘i 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.

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Learning Resources
Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium

Statewide Festivals
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival

Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i – Kapolei
Windward Mall – Kāne‘ohe
Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
Keiki Kine at Ka Makana Ali‘i

Livestream
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase