Program | Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival

Festival Program

Click here to see the Festival's Event Schedule

Festival events and locations are subject to change. Any changes will be posted here as they become available.

Thursday Steel Guitar Entertainment — HāLani Restaurant

Festival musicians will provide steel guitar entertainment at the resort's HāLani Restaurant from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

Friday Festival Ho‘olaule‘a Pageant — Ballroom Foyer

Friday's ho‘olaule‘a will begin at 4:00 P.M. and will feature eight steel guitar masters in separate programs for your enjoyment. The emcee will be Kimo Kahoano. The ho‘olaule‘a will be livestreamed.

Featured Steel Guitarists

This year's featured steel guitarists include Alan Akaka, Kapono Lopoes, Mālie Lyman, Ed Punua, Konabob Stoffer, Dwight Tokumoto, and Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz.

Friday Kanikapila — Ballroom Foyer

Friday's kanikapila will follow the festival ho‘olaule‘a and will be held in the Ballroom Foyer. The Kanikapila is open to the public. Guests can bring an instrument and play along with festival musicians or just come and enjoy the music. If your instrument requires amplification bring along a battery-powered amplifier.

Saturday Workshop — North Lanai/Hale I‘ike

A "Learn to Play" workshop and an open talk story will be conducted on Saturday morning beginning at 9 A.M. in the Hale I‘ike area.

Saturday Open Stage Performances — Hale I‘ike

Saturday Open stage performances are scheduled to begin at 11:30 A.M. and will feature guest artists and performers. These 30-minute playing sessions will showcase steel guitarists and Hawaiian music groups from all over the world. The event will be livestreamed.

NextGen Steel Guitarists

NextGen (Next Generation) Steel Guitar students of Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i School of Hawaiian Music will perform for festival attendees' enjoyment during the Open Stage and Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a programs.

Saturday Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a — Eva Parker Woods Cottage

Each month during the full moon, music lovers bring blankets and folding chairs to the oceanfront lawn at the Eva Parker Woods Cottage. Musicians gather on the lanai (porch) to talk story and play their favorite tunes. The stage is humble but the talent is world-class. For over two decades, the Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a concert series has served as a Who's Who of Hawaiian music.

The festival's Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a program will include steel guitar talk story and performances by festival and NextGen steel guitar artists.

Sunday Breakfast Entertainment — HāLani Restaurant Lawn

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

Saturday Steel Guitar Exhibit — North Lanai/Hale I‘ike and Ballroom

An exhibit featuring vintage and contemporary lap steel guitars will be presented at the North Lanai/Hale I‘ike. 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 on Saturday beginning at 10:00 AM. The exhibit will be moved to the ballroom during Friday's main concert at 4:00 PM.

Steel Guitar Hands-On Opportunities — Hale I‘ike at various times

Festival guests will be offered hands-on opportunities to experience the steel guitar under the guidance of steel guitar expert Daniel Tremblay.

Festival Information and Sales - North Lanai/Hale I‘ike

Sales and information tables wil be set up in the North Lanai/Hale I‘ike area. Festival merchandise including publications, Hawaiian music CDs, and steel guitar accessories will be available for purchase. Stop by and say "Hello" to Linda Mentzer.

For the convenience of festival guests, sales and information tables will be temporarily set up in the Ballroom during Friday night's ho‘olaule‘a concert.

The Festival Poster

2023 Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience Poster

The 2024 Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience poster features pictures of the master performers superimposed on a silhouette of a Gibson EH-150 steel guitar. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.