2023 Kona Steel Guitar Festival – March 23-25, 2023
The first annual Kona Steel Guitar Festival is coming to the Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa in March 2023 in Keauhou. Let us know what additional information you need and your thoughts on doing articles leading up to this new event. We are very excited about the first annual Kona Steel Guitar festival and look forward to having as many local residents as possible participate in the event.
The lineup includes Alan Akaka, Pomai Brown, Al Greene, Jr., Bobby Ingano, Kapono Lopes, Patti Maxine, Greg Sardinha, Dwight Tokumoto, and Geronimo “Geri” Valdriz. NextGen steel guitarists Enosa Lyman, Makamae Lyu-Napoleon, Isaballa Bertelmann, Joey Misailidis, and Pono Fernandez will also perform.
The event’s emcee will be Kimo Kahoano.
The festival will be presented free to the public by the Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE) in association with the Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i School of Hawaiian Music, and Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa with grants and support from corporate partners, and private donors. Support will be provided in part by the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts (SFCA), through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i or grants from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Support will also be provided by the Laurence H. Dorcy Hawaiian Foundation.
Information about all HIMELE-produced Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals and livestream events is available at http://steelguitarfestivals.com/.
EVENT NAME: 2023 Kona Steel Guitar Festival
EVENT DATE: March 23-25, 2023
EVENT TIME: See below
EVENT ADDRESS: Outrigger Kona Resort and Spa in Keauhou. Keauhou, Hawai‘i
FREE TO THE PUBLIC
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday Kanikapila
Thursday’s kanikapila will be entertainment by festival musicians. Friday and Saturday kanikapila will be open to the public. Bring your 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.
Workshop
A “Learn to Play” workshop and an open talk story will be conducted Friday evening.
Open Stage Entertainment
Friday Open stage sessions are scheduled to begin at 11:00 AM 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.
Saturday Ho‘olaule‘a
Saturday’s ho‘olaule‘a will be held in two segments. The first segment will begin at 11:00 AM and will feature four steel guitar masters in separate programs for your enjoyment. The second segment will begin at 3:00 PM and will feature three steel guitar masters in their own programs.
Please note that the festival website should be checked for updated festival information.
FESTIVAL WEBSITE https://www.konasteelguitarfestival.com/
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT ALAN AKAKA AT alan@himele.org 808-375-9379
With Aloha,
Daniel M. Tremblay
Public Relations
HIMELE – Hawaiian Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences https://www.himele.org/events
ALAN AKAKA
Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences, Inc. (HIMELE)
Ke Kula Mele Hawaii o Akaka
Alan Akaka & the Islanders