Open Stage Signups Now Open

August 8, 2024 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

Open Stage performance signups are now open for the 2024 Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani. The event will be presented on November 21-24, 2024, at the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, with the Open Stage program scheduled for Saturday, November 23. The resort is located in Waimea, Hawai‘i, on Hawai‘i Island about an hour north of Kona.

The date of the event was recently changed from November 14-17 to a week later, November 21-24. This year's Experience is again coordinated with the resort's Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a cultura' program at the Eva Woods Cottage which will also be moved to November 23. While the resort's program is usually held on a Saturday adjacent to a full moon, the full moons in November and December happen around the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, requiring the event to be rescheduled away from those dates.

Participants of previous Open Stage performances as well as first-time performers are encouraged to sign up for the Open Stage. This program provides a venue for performers to improve their stage presence and performance experience in front of a live audience. Performers are encouraged to have a 20-25 minute program of audience interaction and music performances. Backup musicians are available if needed.

The Experience will also include visits and presentations to local area schools, a vintage steel guitar exhibit, a public kanikapila jam session and Thursday musical performances at the various locations within the resort. The Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival concert featuring steel guitar artists from Hawai‘i Island, O‘ahu, and Maui will be presented and livestreamed on Friday. A workshop will also be included in Saturday's activities. The resort's Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a cultural program will be presented Saturday evening at the Eva Parker Woods cottage and feature a program of Hawaiian steel guitar.

If you wish to participate in this year's Open Stage program, please complete and submit the Contact Form. Additional information about the festival is avialable at Festival Website.