June, 2026 | Steel Trappings

Festival News

June 2, 2026 • Addison Ching • Festivals and Conventions

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

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall

Bobby Ingano will not be participating in this year's Windward Mall festival.

NextGEN Ever Ta‘ala will join the group of performing NextGEN steel guitarists.

A reminder that this festival will not be livestreamed.

NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Hana Hou!

The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine series has been rebranded as the "NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival." This change reflects the emphasis on NextGEN - the Next Generation of steel guitarists and musicians who may become tomorrow's professionals.

The former Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall has been suspended and a new festival will be presented instead at an alternate venue.

The NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Hana Hou! will be presented on August 22, 2026, at Ka Makana Ali‘i shopping center in West O‘ahu. This will be the second NextGEN festival to be offered at that venue this year.

NextGEN Steel Guitarists are a group of "Next Generation" students at Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music who excel in their craft and are selected to represent the school in various public performance functions such as the HIMELE Hawaiian steel guitar festivals held statewide. While the primary focus of the NextGEN branding covers youth steel guitarists, it also embraces Ke Kula Mele youth musicians who excel on other instruments.

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HIMELE Events

`2026 Festivals and Workshops`

Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 19-22, 2026 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island

`2027 Festivals and Workshops`

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
January 30, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
March 13, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:15 PM HST
Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo, Hawai‘i

NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
April 3, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center, Kapolei

Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
May 2, 2027 - 10:30 AM - 2:45 PM HST
Kukui Grove Center, Lihue, Hawai‘i

Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
June 12, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 4-10, 2027
July 5, 6, 8, 2027 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

2^nd Annual Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila - Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest
July 7, 2027 – 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents J-FESTA 2027 - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 9, 2027 – 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 10, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:50 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
August 14, 2027 – 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM HST
Windward Mall, Kane‘ohe

Maui Steel Guitar Festival
October 16, 2027 - 3:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
The Shops At Wailea, Wailea, Hawai‘i

Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 11-14, 2027 – Mauna Lani, Auberge Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island (tentative)

Other Events

`2026 Events`

Steel Guitar Fridays
Every Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī

`2027 Events`

AISGC Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival #
July 22-24, 2027
Winchester Towne Square Community Centre, Winchester, Indiana

Austin Steeel Guitar Fest #
September 30-October 2, 2027
Austin Marriott South, Austin, Texas

* Tentative
# Registration Fee Required

About HIMELE
HIMELE is a Hawai‘i 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that supports music enrichment and education for people of all ages. Our purpose is to educate, promote, and perpetuate Hawaiian music, Hawaiian culture and Hawaiian musical instruments.

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Learning Resources
Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium

Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila

Statewide Festivals
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival
Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
J-FESTA | Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week

Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i – Kapolei
Windward Mall – Kāne‘ohe
NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals

Livestream
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase