February Showcase To Feature All-Star Kanikapila Band

February 22, 2021 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

February's Livesteam Steel Guitar Saturdays presentation by the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase will be extended an additional hour as a virtual kanikapila for viewers. The Showcase will be livestreamed on Saturday, February 27, beginning at 3 PM Hawaiian Standard Time.

The kanikapila will follow the first two hours of Showcase steel guitar performances. February's featured artists are steel guitarists Jeff Au Hoy and Kapono Lopes. Both will be accompanied by musicians Adam Asing on bass and Kaipo Asing on guitar.

All viewers are invited to grab their favorite instrument and their He Mele Aloha"Blue Book" and play along with Showcase musicians and special guests during the third hour of the broadcast. Special kanikapila song requests can be submitted to mele@hawaiiansteelguitarfestival.com for consideration.

Alan Akaka, chairman of event producer HIMELE, says that the kanikapila band will include Showcase steel guitarists Jeff Au Hoy on the steel guitar and Kapono Lopes on guitar. Also joining the band will be Greg Sardinha on ‘ukulele. Alan will play the bass for the group. Also included in the kanikapila band will be special guest Mālie Lyman on the steel guitar. The band is an example of the versatility of many steel guitarists since all band members are also steel guitarists in their own right.

Bobby Ingano who sometimes "sits in" with featured Showcase steel guitarists, and regular musicians Adam Asing and Kaipo Asing are unable to participate in the kanikapila due to a prior engagement.

The virtual kanikapila will be an added feature to most Showcases through June, 2021, and may be extended depending on pandemic restrictions in effect at that time.