Maui Steel Guitar Festival to present “abbreviated version” of annual event Oct. 19 in Wailea
Trending
The Maui Steel Guitar Festival will present an abbreviated version of their annual event on Oct. 19 at The Shops at Wailea, with steel guitarists including Alan Akaka, Bobby Ingano, Mālie Lyman, Joel Katz, Konapiliahi Lau, and Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz. Next generation steel guitarists Makamae Lyu-Napoleon and Isabella Bertelmann from the Ke Kula Mele Hawai'i School of Hawaiian Music will also perform.
Inducted into the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame in 2012, Alana Akaka has played steel guitar for more than 50 years. This virtuoso has recorded with Genoa Keawe, Raiatea Helm, Kuana Torres Kahele and Na Palapalai. His solo album "Simply Steel--Songs of Old Hawa'i," included such favorites as "Waikiki," "Blue Hawai'i," "Beyond the Reef," and "Aloha 'Oe." In 2015, he was presented with an award at the India International Guitar Festival in Kolkata, India.
Renowned steel guitarist Bobby Ingano has performed and recorded with many of Hawaii's leading musicians, including the Brothers Cazimero, Amy Hanaiali'i, Willie K, Jake Shimabukuro and Raiatea Helm. He was featured on three Grammy-winning compilation albums--"Legends of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," "Treasures of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar," and "Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2, in 2010, playing the classic instrumental "Sleepwalk."
In conjunction with the Wailea performances festival guests will be offered hands-on opportunities to experience the steel guitar under the guidance of experts.
The Maui Steel Guitar Festival is presented free to the public by Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE) and The Shops at Wailea in association with the Ke Kula Mele Hawai'i School of Hawaiian Music.
A press release reported the Institute felt "a smaller event is appropriate as the wildfire rebuilding efforts continue on the island." They hope to present a multi-day festival in 2025, with the festival returning to its original venue, the Outrigger Ka'anapali Beach Resort and a Sunday concert at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center.
HIMELE is a non-profit corporation that supports music education and enrichment for people of all ages. Its purpose is to educate, promote and perpetuate Hawaiian music. The Ke Kula Mele Hawai'i School of Hawaiian Music is a music school headed by Akaka.
The Maui Steel Guitar Festival is presented on Oct. 19 from 3 to 6:30 p.m. at The Shops at Wailea. Admission is free.