Events
| HIMELE EVENT SCHEDULE |
|---|
NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival HANA HOU at Ka Makana Ali‘i |
Here is a more detailed description of the events and activities that HIMELE produces, sponsors, or collaborates with others to present. All festivals are co-presented by HIMELE and festival venue partners who provide major support for the events. Please see our Support Us page to see who else supports the festivals and to learn how you can become a supporter of our events.
HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival is a series of steel guitar festivals presented at community venues on O‘ahu and are focused towards local audiences. Festivals are presented at Windward Mall in Kane‘ohe on O‘ahu's Windward side, at Ka Makana Ali‘i in Kapolei on O‘ahu's Leeward side, and at Kahala Mall in East O‘ahu beginning in 2019.
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i is usually held in Kapolei on O‘ahu's West side during February.
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall is usually held at Windward Mall in Kane‘ohe, O‘ahu on the second weekend of June to celebrate King Kamehameha I Day.
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
NEXTGEN HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals are held at various venues on O‘ahu throughout the year including Ka Makana Ali‘i amd Kahala Mall. This festival features youth steel guitar players ages 9 through 18 from Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i School of Hawaiian Music.
NExtGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
J-FESTA - JAPAN-HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Royal Hawaiian Center and HIMELE present J-FESTA - the Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival as a part of Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week. The festival features evening ho‘olaule‘a programs from 5:30 PM - 9 PM Friday showcasing visiting steel guitar players from Japan. All performances will be presented at the center's outdoor Royal Grove stage.
Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
WAIKĪKĪ STEEL GUITAR WEEK and FESTIVAL
The Royal Hawaiian Center and HIMELE present Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week including the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival during the second week of July, immediately preceding the annual ‘Ukulele Festival Hawai‘i. The event features nightly, one-hour steel guitar performances Monday-Thursday, an Open Stage program on Saturday afternoon, and evening ho‘olaule‘a programs from 5:30 PM - 9 PM Saturday. All performances will be presented at the center's outdoor Royal Grove stage.
Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week and Festival
KAUA‘I STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival is held annually in April. A Friday-Saturday event is held at the Sheraton Kaua‘i Coconut Beach Resort in Kapa‘a and a Sunday event is held at the Kukui Grove Center in Lihue.
Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
MAUI STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Maui Steel Guitar Festival has presented the Hawaiian steel guitar to Maui audiences since 2008 through collaboration with Arts and Education Group. Now produced and presented entirely by HIMELE, the festival will continue to present steel guitarists from Maui and worldwide to Maui audiences at two venues. A Friday-Saturday event is held at The Shops At Wailea, and a Sunday event is held at the Queen Ka‘ahumanu Center in Kahului. The Maui festival is usually held in October.
Maui Steel Guitar Festival Maui Steel Guitar Festival
HILO STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Hilo Steel Guitar Festival is held in March at the Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo, Hawai‘i, and brings the steel guitar to Hilo and surrounding communities in East Hawai‘i.
Hilo Steel Guitar Festival Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
KONA STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Kona Steel Guitar Festival brings the steel guitar to Kona and surrounding communities in West Hawai‘i. Due to the discontinuation of Keola Beamer's Aloha Music Camp that followed the festival, the Kona festival has been put on hiatus until further notice.
Kona Steel Guitar Festival Kona Steel Guitar Festival
HAWAI‘I ISLAND STEEL GUITAR EXPERIENCE featuring the
HAWAI‘I ISLAND STEEL GUITAR FESTIVAL
The Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience, incorporating the Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival and the Mauna Lani's Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a program, is held in the November-December timeframe at the Mauna Lani, Auberge Resorts Collection, Kamuela, Hawai‘i, on Hawai‘i's West side.
Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR SHOWCASE
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase presents live streamed steel guitar performances via the Showcase's Facebook page.
The Showcase was created as an alternative to live festival performances which were suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. During the pandemic, showcases were presented at least monthly and featured artists that also participated in HIMELE's live steel guitar festivals.
Three showcases were offered: Livestream Steel Guitar Saturdays featured two steel guitar masters and NextGen Keiki performers. Livestream Kanikapila featured a band of all-star musicians playing favorite Hawaiian songs that could be played along with by livestream viewers at home. The Open Stage Showcase featured performance videos of Hawaiian steel guitar music submitted by steel guitarists of all ages from many US states and abroad.
Since live festivals have resumed post-pandemic, the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase now livestreams concert portions of selected live festivals
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase
HAWAIIAN STEEL GUITAR SYMPOSIUM
The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium is a series of intensive steel guitar workshops presented throughout the State of Hawai‘i. Each symposium provides intensive training on the Hawaiian lap steel guitar. Workshops span multiple days and provide an opportunity for festival guests to learn about and how to play the Hawaiian steel guitar. Symposiums are conducted by professional Hawaiian steel guitarists. Some workshops (*) may require a registration fee.
Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium
HO‘OKŪKŪ KĪKĀ KILA
Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila ("Steel Guitar Contest") is a Hawaiian steel guitar contest held annually as a part of Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week.
Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila
Copyright ©2026 by Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences, Inc., and Cyberventures Unlimited.Terms of Use