What's Going On With HIMELE

August 30, 2026 • Alan Akaka • News

‘UKULELE SUMMIT at WINDWARD COMMUNITY COLLEGE – April 18

While the spotlight was on the ‘ukulele, the organizer Sarah Maisel also featured the NextGEN group on the main stage, which was live-streamed for everyone to enjoy! The audience was captivated as our young artists showcased their remarkable talents. I also had the privilege of leading a steel guitar workshop, and it was an unforgettable experience!

CYRIL PAHINUI KANIKAPILA – April 23

KAUA‘I STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL at KUKUI GROVE CENTER – May 10 "Mother's Day"

We proudly featured remarkable performances from Ken Emerson, Bobby Ingano, Mālie Lyman, Jess Montgomery, Ed Punua, and myself, along with our impressive NextGEN members Kui Joy, Hi‘ipoi Lindsey, and Isaac Woodward. Our exceptional house band, consisting of Kaipo Lindsey, David Woodward, and Helene Woodward, provided fantastic support for all the artists.

The "Hands On" table was a hit, with many attendees eager to take a free lesson from Daniel Tremblay. A huge thank you to everyone who played a role in making this event a resounding success!

KAPĀLAMA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Kapālama Elementary Steel Guitar Program is an after-school program that teaches students about the Hawaiian kīkā kila, or steel guitar.

Principal Ronald Oyama, inspired by Joseph Kekuku–the inventor of the steel guitar–worked with volunteer instructor Daniel "Danny" Tremblay to bring hands-on steel guitar lessons to the school. Music teacher Kayla Wig chose ten students from 4^th and 5^th grade for the first sessions. Daniel provided students with replica steel guitars for practice. They used special tablature created by Alan Akaka. The lessons included how to handle the bar, slide techniques, and traditional Hawaiian songs (mele).

DEBBIE NAKANELUA – May 24

LIVING 808 shoot in The Royal Grove of Helumoa, Royal Hawaiian Center – June 5

Monte McComber invited us to showcase Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week during the KHON TV Living 808 shoot. The talented musicians joining me included David, Isaac, and Schuyler Woodward.

HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL at WINDWARD MALL – June 13

Featured performers included Steve Cheney, Paul Kim, Mālie Lyman, Greg Sardinha & Po‘okela, and me. A special guest group, Nā Kūpuna o Ko‘olau, also impressed the crowd with their captivating performance.

The festival's NextGEN segment highlighted the future of this art form with talented young performers: Kui Joy, Hi‘ipoi Lindsey, Ever Ta‘ala, Isaac Woodward, and Schuyler Woodward.

The House Band, made up of Kaipo Lindsey, David Woodward, and Helene Woodward, supported the performances. The Hands-On table was busy, with Kevin Speyer, Claude Kutaka, and Mark Gaponoff offering free lessons to shoppers.

WAIKĪKĪ STEEL GUITAR WEEK – July 5-12

Highlights:

• Sunday, July 5: The festival opened with a two-hour performance by Alan Akaka & the Islanders at Hula Grill Waikīkī.
• Monday, Tuesday, & Thursday, July 6, 7 & 9: Evening concerts at the Royal Grove stage featured Hawaiian steel guitar masters, NextGEN youth performers, and guest artists, hosted by Alan Akaka and Monte McComber.
• Wednesday, July 8: Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila – The 1^st Annual Amateur Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest was held from 4:30 PM to 7:30 PM, showcasing emerging talents in various divisions.
• Friday, July 10: The 5^th Annual Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival featured performances from notable Japanese artists, streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.



• Saturday, July 11: The main event included a multi-part concert at the Royal Grove, highlighting premier steel guitarists, full bands, and traditional hula.
• Sunday, July 12: The week concluded with Steel Guitar Sunday at Hula Grill in the morning, and in the evening, a finale concert at the Waikiki Beach Walk Plaza Stage, featuring NextGEN steel guitarists and winners of the amateur contest.

The festival bridged generations by connecting traditionalists with youth performers, reinforced cultural ties with Japan, and provided free public access to authentic Hawaiian music heritage.

HO‘OKŪKŪ KĪKĀ KILA - 1^ST ANNUAL STEEL GUITAR CONTEST – July 8

Organized by the Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences and the Royal Hawaiian Center, with invaluable support from the Ke Kula Mele School of Hawaiian Music, this event shines as a hallmark of Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week.

The inaugural Annual Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila lit up the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikīikī, embracing both competitive and non-competitive divisions to welcome players of all skill levels. The first contest featured an inspiring 15 participants.

First Place Winners:

• Keiki Division (Young Talent): Isaac Woodward
• Kupuna Division (Adult and Elder Musicians): Sakae Machida
• Open Amateur Division (Non-professional Players): Pat Sullivan
• "Try" Division (Non-competitive for Newcomers): Exhibition

Judges for the performances included:

Kilin Reece (President of the Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings)

Christo Ruppenthal (President of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association)

Mālie Lyman (Professional Steel Guitarist)

Winners were awarded cash prizes, gift packages, and steel guitar equipment. The first-place winners received a lap steel guitar, generously donated by Kilin Reece. They also earned the prestigious opportunity to perform at the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival Ho‘olaule‘a, as well as at the exciting Grand Finale showcase of the festival at Waikiki Beach Walk.

JOHN TROUTMAN plans to join us for the 2027 Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week and would like to serve as a judge at the Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila.

MAHALO TO HULA GRILL

Heartfelt Thanks to Hula Grill for Their Unwavering Support!

We are thrilled to extend our sincerest gratitude to Hula Grill for their incredible sponsorship and hospitality during this year's Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival. Their support has been vital to our week-long celebration of Hawaiian music.

Beloved Japan TV personality Takagi Boo joined the welcome breakfast, surprising JFESTA members. He was a member of the famous Drifters, a popular Japanese rock-androll band from the 1950s! Even at 93 years young, Boo-chan is still making appearances and sharing his charm.

HSGA HAWAI‘I CONVENTION 2027

Christo Ruppenthal shared that the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association plans to hold its 2027 convention in Honolulu during Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week.

DATES FOR STEEL GUITAR FESTIVALS FOR 2026

August 22 - NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Hana Hou - Ka Makana Ali‘i
October 17 - Maui Steel Guitar Festival - The Shops at Wailea
November 19-22 - Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival - Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection (full moon 11-24)

Suggestion for the future: Moku o Keawe Steel Guitar Festival at Uncle Robert's in Kalapana.

UPDATE ON LINKTREE AND INSTAGRAM

Media Coordinator Michiko Akaka plays a pivotal role in promoting Hawaiian music and preserving traditional Hawaiian instruments through innovative platforms such as Instagram and Linktree. Her strategic management of digital outreach and social media channels effectively connects diverse audiences, both locally and globally.

Through her engaging Instagram content, Michiko highlights community events, youth initiatives, workshops, and festival performances, creating a vibrant hub for students, Hawaiian music enthusiasts, and international followers. The official Linktree serves as a valuable resource, granting immediate access to festival schedules, performances, and important updates about the Hawaiian steel guitar.

Her posts significantly raise awareness of Ke Kula Mele's youth initiatives, particularly the inspiring NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar movement. By showcasing young musicians at statewide steel guitar festivals, she motivates the younger generation to embrace and sustain the legacy of traditional instruments, such as the Hawaiian lap steel guitar.

Moreover, her targeted digital outreach greatly enhances the visibility of HIMELE's statewide events, including the Kaua‘i, Maui, Hawai‘i Island, and Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festivals. With seamless access via Linktree, community members and visitors can readily find event information and enthusiastically support local music.

RECOGNIZING THE NEXTGEN+ MEMBERS

INTEREST IN THE STEEL GUITAR WITH A NEW GENERATION

We're excited to welcome a potential member to NextGEN who is a great-grandson of the legendary vibraphonist Arthur Lyman! Meet 16-year-old Ho‘okūna‘i, who can play several instruments and is excited to be taking lessons on the steel guitar. He is a student at Anuenue, a Hawaiian language immersion school.

HIMELE