Vintage
1934 Rickenbacher Model A-25
June 22, 2016 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers
The Frying Pan lap steel guitar was manufactured by Rickenbacher Electro from 1932 until [...]
More Magnatone Part I-1
June 27, 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers
What started out as a one-time pictorial on mother of toilet seat (MOTS) covered amplifiers has [...]
More Magnatone Part I-2
July 4, 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers
By the mid '50s, MOTS had lost its appeal, as had Hawaiian music, so Magnatone discontinued its [...]
1937 Rickenbacher B6
July 30, 2016 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers
In 1909, Belgium chemist, L.H. Bakeland devised a resin that hardened into a tough, dense [...]
More Magnatone Part II-1
August 3, 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers
While the focus of this series (see Jan., Feb., and March '98 VG) has been MOTS amplifiers [...]
1955 Fender Champion
September 12, 2016 • Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz • Instruments and Luthiers
Long before Leo Fender built the Telecaster and Stratocaster guitars, he built Hawaiian lap [...]
More Magnatone Parts II-2 & III
October 1 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers
An early wood-bodied single-neck is pictured in Hawaiian Steel Guitars and the Great Hawaiian [...]
More Magnatone Parts IV and V
November 15, 2016 • John Teagle • Instruments and Luthiers
While all the other MOTS models had wood beneath their coverings, an advanced/experimental model was released ca. '51 that used a [...]
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2025 Festivals and Workshops
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna LaniNovember 13-16, 2025
Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Waimea, Hawai‘i Island
2025 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts
All broadcasts originate from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani
November 14, 2025 – 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM HST - Ho‘olaule‘a concert
November 15, 2025 – 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM HST- Open Stage Performances
2026 Festivals and Workshops
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week - July 5-11, 2026
July 6-9, 2026 – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST (Nightly Concerts)
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
July 10, 2026 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
2025 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Livestream Broadcasts
All broadcasts originate from the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel.
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival (J-FESTA)
July 10, 2026 – 2:30 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Royal Hawaiian Center Presents Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival
July 11, 2026 – 11:00 AM - 2:30 PM and 4:00 PM - 6:30 PM HST
Other Events
2025 Events
Steel Guitar FridaysEvery Friday – 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikīkī
Steel Guitar Sundays
July 6, August 3, September 7, October 5, November 2, December 7, 2025 – 10:00 AM - Noon
Hula Grill Waikiki, Waikīkī
* Registration Fee Required
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HIMELE is a Hawai‘i 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
Statewide Festivals
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
Maui Steel Guitar Festival
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
Kona Steel Guitar Festival
Community Festivals
Ka Makana Ali‘i – Kapolei
Windward Mall – Kāne‘ohe
Keiki Kine – O‘ahu
Livestream Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase