Spreading Aloha Spirit Through Steel Guitar at Libraries and Cultural Experiences

February 12, 2026 • Daniel Tremblay • Education and Training

It's been said that when one door closes new doors open. Well for those who know my history losing my place on Waikiki Queen's beach where I played for 7 years led me to new opportunities to share my love of playing and teaching steel guitar.

I have been doing just that at the Cultural Center at the Marriott, Waikiki for more than 2 years on Wednesdays, but I needed to find something more. I leave for New Hampshire in June and there are not many opportunities to play and teach. I happened to go to the library on my trip 3 years ago and asked the Librarian if they had a copy of "Kika Kila" by John Troutman, and she said she did not and what was it about. So I gave her my history of the steel as I have done for anyone who will listen. She asked do you play the Hawaiian Steel guitar. I said yes, and she said could you play for us? So the next day I brought one of my Joseph Kekuku Replica guitars and played. She asked can you play every day for us. I said no but would pick a day and commit to playing then and donated a copy of the book which she put on display and made the book of the month.

I have been doing that now for the last 3 years when I go back to New Hampshire. The library has even given me an honorarium check which I have them make out to HIMELE as a donation. I also on occasion play at open mike nights and on the shore of Lake Winnipesaukee.

This led me to think if I'm doing this in New Hampshire why not in Hawaii when I go back? So I approached the librarian at the Waikiki Library and told her about my adventures in New Hampshire and asked if I might do the same there. She looked into it and said yes. So I played as in New Hampshire and that led to a lesson day as well where I now do lessons on Thursdays at Waikiki 4:30-6:30 pm and at the Moanalua Library on Saturdays 11am-2:00pm. I have many students that come on a regular basis and some have bought guitars from me or I have converted guitars for them.

Dan playing in lobby of Waikiki Marriot

Pounding poi on Kamoauli

One thing leads to another and one day at the Marriott a Captain of a boat that sails out of the Kewalo Basin Harbor asked if there were any cultural practitioners that might want to play on his boat Kamoauli, which is a double wooden hull traditional Tongan catamaran. It is a paid gig and would be on an on-call basis as needed. I said I would be interested so I started soon after.

Kamoauli docked at Kewalo Basin and Dan playing on Kamoauli

I play my steel, give a history of the steel guitar and then give a hands-on demonstration for the passengers. They also get to pound poi, get a history of Polynesian sailing and other cultural and educational experiences depending on the cultural practitioners who happens to be on the sail and passengers get to sample some Hawaiian traditional foods. It's a 2 hour sail to Diamond Head and back. We see many different sea creatures: whales, dolphin, turtles and others on occasion, great fun. All of the money I receive for these sails (about $2,500 last year [2025]) has been donated to HIMELE.

I continue to do the hands-on steel experience at all the steel guitar festivals put on by HIMELE.org and any other opportunity I get. I also conduct school visits and have also had a few weddings and other occasions for which I have played when asked.

I am also working on a project teaching at the Kāpalama Elementary school 4^th and 5^th graders (10 students) to play the Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar on Joseph Kekuku Replica guitars which I donated to HIMELE and are being sold to the Kamehameha School with proceeds going to HIMELE. This is the school where Joseph Kekuku was a student when he invented the Hawaiian Lap Steel Guitar. This is an ongoing project so I will write more on that when I have completed the project

I am writing this to encourage others to consider sharing their knowledge and skill playing steel guitar with others. I feel if I can do this so can others. Check at your local libraries, nursing homes or schools to see if you too can spread the Aloha Spirit, joy and fun of playing this wonderful instrument. Everyone I share the sound, history and hands-on experience with has stated how much they have enjoyed it. It's so rewarding to be able to spread a little joy, happiness and distraction especially during these trying times.

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