Steel Trappings

Kanikapila Feature

Livestream Kanikapila To Feature Special Guests

May 13, 2021 • Addison ChingFestivals and Conventions

The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Kanikapila on May 15, 2021 will feature several special guests among the event's musicians. Kanikapila steel guitarists and musicians Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, Greg Sardinha, Adam Asing, and Kaipo Asing will be joined by three other musicians. Kapono Lopes is unable to participate due to a prior commitment.

George Kuo, Gary Aiko, and David Finch
George Kuo, Gary Aiko, and David Finch

George Kuo

George is known as one of Hawaii's premiere Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar artists playing in the traditional nahenahe (sweet, soothing) style, bridging today's generation with the older generations. He has won several Na Hoku Hanohano Awards recognizing his contribution to Hawaiian Music.

George learned from legendary slack key figures such as Ray Kane, Aunty Alice Namakelua, Tommy Solomon, Sonny Chillingworth, Atta Isaacs, Gabby Pahinui, Uncle Fred Punahoa, and Papa Kauhi. "That was a real rare opportunity to be with those old masters," he says.

More information about George can be found on his website.

Gary Aiko

Gary is one of Hawaii's premier baritone vocalists but also plays several musical instruments. He was the bass player for the Keawe 'Ohana. In recent years, Gary has reduced his public performances but can be seen on occasion with his 'ukulele at family gatherings and kanikapila.

His performance career spans several decades, much of it performing with his mother, Hawaiian legend Genoa Keawe, and later with the Kewae 'Ohana. He has appeared just about everywhere in Hawai'i, almost every major showroom in and out of Waikīkī. Gary has performed all over the world, Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Brazil as well as many cities in the continental U.S., the most memorable being in New York City at Carnegie Hall.

See more at Gary's website.

David Finch

David is a professional fiddler, a versatile musician who plays many instruments. Originally a student of classical violin, he became enamored with the passion and fun in Old-Time and Bluegrass music. He became hooked and over the next decade learned from many great fiddlers and musicians he met while winning fiddle contests across the U.S.

David has played beside artists as diverse as Alan Cumming, Serj Tankian, Tony Bennett, Kylie Minogue, Amanda Palmer, Justin Vivian Bond, and Dee Snider from Lincoln Center in NYC to the Castro Theatre in San Francisco. Most recently he can be seen/heard in the PBS special "Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs."

Information about David can be found at his website.

Showcase
Archives

February, 2025
January, 2025
December, 2024
November, 2024
October, 2024
September, 2024

Complete Issue Archive
Complete Series Archive


Categories
Education and Training
Entertainment
Equipment
Festivals and Conventions
Instruments and Luthiers
News
Steel Guitar History
Authors
Author Index
HIMELE Events
2025 Festivals and Workshops
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 15, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Kona Steel Guitar Festival
February 27-March 1, 2025
(see website for complete program)
Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa, Keauhou, Hawai‘i

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 4, 2025 - 11:30 AM - 3:30 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 7, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 7-12, 2025
July 7-10, 2025 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2025 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 12, 2025 – 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 16, 2025 (tentative)
Kahala Mall, Waialae-Kāhala

Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 18, 2025 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i
2025 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts

Facebook LiveYouTube
All broadcasts originate from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.


Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
February 15, 2025 – 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM HST

Kona Steel Guitar Festival
March 1, 2025 Ho‘olaule‘a concert – 12:00 Noon - 3:00 PM and 5:00 PM - 8:00 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 7, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2025 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 12, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall
August 16, 2025 (tentative)

Other Events
2025 Events
HSGA Hawai‘i Convention
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
July 9, 2025 – 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM HST (HSGA Hawai‘i Convention Performances) Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival *
July 24-26, 2025
Town Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana

* Registration Fee Required

Copyright ©2021 by Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences, Inc., and Cyberventures Unlimited.Terms of Use

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.