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.