NextGen Steel Guitarist Ethan Goore Added to Kapolei

January 22, 2020 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

NextGen steel guitarist Ethan Goore has been added to the NextGen lineup for the 2020 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i on March 21. Ethan is 16 and attends Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy on Hawai‘i Island but will make a special trip to O‘ahu to participate in the festival.

The revised NextGen lineup for the West O‘ahu festival now includes Enosa Lyman, Ikaika Orlando, Hō‘ailona Mahuka, Pono Fernandez, Mālie Lyman, and Ethan Goore. With the exception of Ikaika, all are steel guitar players. Ikaika is an advanced Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i ‘ukulele student and while he will be playing backup for the group he may be featured in a song or two.

Ethan Goore

Ikaika Orlando

The NextGen musicians will appear with Kapolei festival headliners and steel guitar masters Alan Akaka and The Islanders, Jeff Au Hoy, the Bobby Ingano Trio, Kapono Lopes, and Greg Sardinha and Po‘okela. The festival is presented free to the public by Ka Makana Ali‘i and HIMELE.

The March event will be the fourth annual festival at the center. Performances begin at 11 AM and run to 3 PM. at the center's outdoor stage.