Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival Rescheduled for November 6

October 21, 2021 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

The Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival is now rescheduled for November 6, 2021.

The in-person festival, originally scheduled for August 28, was postponed at the last minute due to large gathering restrictions imposed on August 23^rd by Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi in response to the growing number of COVID-19 Delta variant cases in Honolulu. The temporary restrictions were due to expire on September 20 but were extended for another 30 days in response to the shortage of hospital beds.

Says Alan Akaka, HIMELE's chairman of the board, "We have tentatively set for November 6 the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival. And that will be at the Royal Hawaiian Center. It all depends on the COVID pandemic. If the numbers keep on going down and things are safe then we will hold the festival."

"But we'll let you know," continues Alan. "So check out our HIMELE.org website as well as visit us on Facebook for updates."

Programming for the festival will be as previously announced, with performances in two segments. The morning segment will begin at 11 AM and feature steel guitarists Steve Cheney, Kapono Lopes, Jeff Au Hoy, and Greg Sardinha. The morning program will continue to 2 PM, with each artist presenting their own individual program. Hula will also be featured.

The afternoon segment will begin at 4:30 PM and feature performances by steel guitarists Bobby Ingano and Alan Akaka. NextGen keiki steel guitarists Enosa Lyman, Tai Misailidis, Pono Fernandez, and Mālie Lyman will also perform in the afternoon segment. The program will continue to 6:30 PM.

Both segments will be hosted by Kimo Kahoano. Hula dancer Kapuanani Greene will provide hula for both the morning and afternoon programs.

The entire program will be livestreamed on the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week and Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook pages and the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase YouTube Channel as an enhanced Livestream Steel Guitar Saturday event.

This year's Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival is supported by the Royal Hawaiian Center. For additional festival information, see the festival website.