Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience Program Announced

September 20, 2024 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

The concert program for the 2024 Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani has been announced. The 2024 event will be held on November 21-24, 2024, at the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, located on the Kohala Coast of Hawai‘i island.

The ho‘olaule‘a concert will be presented on Friday, November 22, beginning at 4:00 P.M. This year's featured steel guitarists include Alan Akaka, Pōmai Brown, Kapono Lopes, Mālie Lyman, Devin Nakahara, Ed Punua, Dwight Tokumoto, and Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz. NextGen steel guitarists Hi‘ipoi Lindsey, Isaac Woodward, and Tai Misailidis will also participate.

The Experience will begin on Thursday with visits to local area schools. Teams of festival musicians will give presentations on Hawaiian culture and the Hawaiian steel guitar, present a brief musical concert, and later offer students opportunities to try out the instrument under the guidance of the festival musicians.

The resort's HāLani resturant will feature Hawaiian Thursday evening steel guitar entertainment from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM by festival musicians.

The Friday concert will be held in the resort's ballroom. The concert will be livestreamed on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase's Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.

Saturday's activities include a workshop, a steel guitar exhibit, and Open Stage performances. The Open Stage program begins at 11:30 AM and will be livestreamed.

The resort's Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a cultural program will be held at the Eva Parker Woods cottage on Saturday evening and will feature Hawaiian steel guitar performances by festival musicians and NextGen steel guitarists.

Sunday's activities include steel guitar entertainment at the resort's HāLani restaurant from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM.

Hands-on opportunites for festival guests to learn more about and experience the Hawaiian steel guitar will be offered at various times throughout the festival in the Hale I‘iki area and in the ballroom during the concert.

As a benefit to local residents, the resort will offer complimentary self parking throughout the festival to guests driving in for the festival.

Support for this year's festival comes from Hawai'‘i State Foundation for Culture and the Arts (SFCA), the Laurence H. Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation, and Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection. NextGen steel guitarists are provided additional support from Breezy Ridge Instruments, Ltd., (John Pearse strings and accessories) and Hawaiian Airlines (air transportation.)

Additional festival information, event schedules, and a resort map are available at the festival website.