2017 Festival Program

Click here to see the Festival's Event Schedule

Friday and Saturday Festival Ho'olaule'a Pageants - Milo Tree Lawn

Friday's ho'olaule'a will begin at 4:00 P.M. and will feature keiki Next Generation steel guitarists and five other steel guitar masters in separate programs for your enjoyment. Friday emcees will be Alan and Danny Akaka. Saturday's ho'olaule'a will begin at 3:45 P.M. and feature seven different steel guitar masters. Saturday's emcee will be Iaukea Bright.

The following is a tentative program schedule and is subject to change.

Friday
4:00 PM	Emcee
4:30 PM	Next Generation Steel Guitarists
5:10 PM	Konabob Stoffer
5:50 PM	Iaukea Bright
6:30 PM	Dave "DK" Kolars
7:10 PM	Sonny Lim
7:50 PM	Alan Akaka and The Islanders

Saturday
4:10 PM	Emcee
4:30 PM	Alexis Tolentino
5:10 PM	Dwight Tokumoto
5:50 PM	Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz
6:30 PM	Greg Sardinha
7:10 PM	Pomai Brown
7:50 PM	The Bobby Ingano Trio

Featured Steel Guitarists

• Alan Akaka
• Iaukea Bright
• Pomai Brown
• Bobby Ingano
• Dave "DK" Kolars
• Sonny Lim
• Greg Sardinha
• Konabob Stoffer
• Dwight Tokumoto
• Alexis Tolentino
• Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz

Next Generation Steel Guitarists

Four "Next Generation" Steel Guitar students of Ke Kula Mele Hawaii School of Hawaiian Music will perform for festival attendees' enjoyment. These steel guitarists age 12 and 13, will be accompanied by members of the Ke Kula Mele Ensemble.

• Malie Lyman
• Joey Misailidis
  

Workshops

Steel guitar workshops including Steel Guitar 101, Filling In the Gaps, Chiming, Acoustic Steel Construction, and a Talk Story Session With the Masters will be offered. A Hawaiian Cultural Experience including demonstrations on lauhala weaving, feather lei making, coconut basket weaving, and similar disciplines, will also be offered on Saturday morning.

Open Stage Entertainment

Saturday Open stage sessions are scheduled for 10:30 A.M. - 2:45 P.M., and feature guest artists and performers. These 30-minute playing sessions will showcase steel guitarists from all over the world. If you are interested in performing on the open stage, please fill out the contact form to sign up.

• Daniel Toft
• Shinichi Kakiuchi
• Mark Alan Mendes
• Jack Aldrich
• Troy Keoho
• Ke Kula Mele Steel Guitarists and Ke Kula Mele Ensemble

Sunday Brunch Entertainment

Guests of the Mauna Lani's Sunday brunch will enjoy music from a kanikapila-stype jam session by participating steel guitar masters and other musicians.

Steel Guitar Exhibit

An exhibit featuring vintage and contemporary lap steel guitars will be presented at the festival. The instruments are from the instrument collections of Hawai'i-based steel guitarists appearing at the festival.Come and see this wide assortment of steel guitars.

The Proclamation

Hawai'i County mayor Harry Kim issued a proclamation declaring November 10-12, 2017, as Hawai'i Steel Guitar Appreciation Days. See the proclamation here.

The Festival Poster