What's Going On With HIMELE

July 15, 2024 • Alan Akaka • News

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival at the Kukui Grove Center

The Kaua‘i festival was a success with artist after artist displaying their artistry for a very receptive and appreciative audience. Kukui Grove's Marketing Manager Melissa McFerrin Warrick booked a couple of radio interviews and media coverage so our event received quite a bit of publicity.

The lineup featured Bobby Ingano, Mālie Lyman, Jess Montgomery, Ed Punua, Greg Sardinha, and myself. NextGen members were Isabella Bertelmann, Hi.ipoi Lindsey, Enosa Lyman, and Makamae Lyu-Napoleon.

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall

The Windward Mall festival was also a success with featured artists Steve Cheney, Mālie Lyman, Greg Sardinha, Bobby Ingano, myself and NextGen members Makamae Lyu-Napoleon, Isabella Bertelmann, Ever Ta‘ala, Hi‘ipoi Lindsey, Isaac Woodward and Tai Misailidis.

The crowd filled the seats, benches and second floor railing.

Claude Kutaka and Kevin Speyer offered free steel guitar lessons. Jim and Emi Dowiat videoed the entire festival.

Upcoming Dates for Steel Guitar Festivals for 2024

Upcoming Steel Guitar Club Conventions and Workshops

Queen Lili‘uokalani Center in Waimanalo

Kilin Reece's Kealakai Center For Pacific Strings along with the Lili‘uokalani Trust launched "Forest To Frets," a lap steel building course tailored towards At Risk elementary aged children on the Windward Side mostly from Waimanalo. I was invited to speak and offer a short lesson on the steel. A few weeks later I was invited to attend a pa‘ina celebrating the end of the program with families invited. The photos below are some of the instruments on display.

The keiki were encouraged to design creative fret markers. At the end of dinner the keiki grabbed their instruments, sat by their families and together played Hene Kou Aka the song I taught a few weeks earlier. Raiatea Helm of Lili‘uokalani Trust and I chatted about producing a series of short instructional videos so the keiki could continue their studies on the steel guitar.

Visit to Kāpalama Elementary

Bobby Ingano and I attended a presentation on Joseph Kekuku and the origin of the steel guitar in a packed cafeteria. Kumu Kala‘e Camarillo and his music students presented their research on Joseph Kekuku with a slideshow followed by a performance of Henehene Kou Aka with 11 year old Preshea on the steel.

Kala‘e who joined my Windward Community College steel guitar course in January was proficient enough to help Preshea put on a very good performance. Bobby and I followed by speaking to all the students and playing a couple numbers.

Forest to Frets

There's talk about a new course offering at Windward Community College called "Forest To Frets" piloted by Kilin Reece. If approved this steel guitar building program will be scheduled to begin in Spring 2025. The 2 phase program will include building then learning to play the steel.

Other Great News

Leilani Kahoano
I will be meeting Leilani Kahoano at some point about a program she wants to do at the Waikīkī Beach Marriott Resort featuring the steel guitar with monthly performances. Daniel Tremblay presently offers steel guitar lessons to guests.

She would like the monthly programs to feature the NextGen and any others who want to play. The program will be 2-3 hours and she will work with management on a donation to HIMELE.

From Barbara Bones

Isaac (Maluhia Castillo) organized a gathering to have some steel fun…We recognized we could use some rhythm support. A little uke and Isaac brought his stand up bass. 3 of them play bass. L to R – Maluhia, unknown, Barbara, Tristan, Kilipaki Vaughan.

Ed. Note: What's Going On with HIMELE is a periodic feature that will include exerpts from the Chairman's Report submitted by HIMELE's Chairman of the Board to HIMELE's Board of Directors.