Festival News

December 29, 2024 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

Here is the latest news about HIMELE's steel guitar festivals and events.

2025 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Dates Announced

HIMELE has released dates for Hawaiian steel guitar festivals in 2025. Some dates are tentative, pending approval from the hosting venue. All confirmed dates are subject to change.

Heading off the 2025 Hawaiian steel guitar season will be the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i on Saturday, February 15. This festival will be held later in the day, from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM.

The Kona Steel Guitar Festival will be held on February 27 through March 1. This comprehensive festival will include school visits, a steel guitar exhibit, workshops, hands-on steel guitar opportunities, Open Stage performances, and a ho‘olaule‘a concert. The Kona festival will go on hiatus after the 2025 event due to the termination of the Aloha Music Camp.

Both the Ka Makana Ali‘i and the concert portion of the Kona festival will be livestreamed on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook page and YouTube channel.

A one-day Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival will be held at the Kukui Grove Center on Sunday, May 4.

The Hawaiian steel guitar festival at Windward Mall will be held on Saturday, June 7.

The 2025 Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week will be held during the week of July 7-12 at. All performances will be presented at the Royal Hawaiian Center's Royal Grove stage.

One-hour evening concerts will be presented on Monday through Thursday from 5:30 PM to 6:30 PM. The 2025 Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar festival will be held on Friday, July 11, and the 2025 Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival will be held on Saturday, July 12. Both festivals will be livestreamed.

An added feature to the 2025 Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week will be concert performances by participants of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association (HSGA) Hawai‘i Convention. These performances will be presented on Wednesday, July 9, from 11:00 AM - 4:30 PM.

The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall is tentatively scheduled for August 16.

A one-day Maui Steel Guitar Festival will be held at The Shops at Wailea on October 18.

The Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani is planned for the late November timeframe. Festival dates will be announced when they become available.

All festivals are free, open to the public, and are made possible through funding provided by the Hawai‘i State Foundation for Culture and the Arts, the Laurence H. Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation, private contributions and by support provided by event venues.