Acclaimed aerialist Andrea Torres will perform with Makana at the Maui Calls Benefit Gala. Courtesy photo

Steel guitarist Joel Katz was among the musicians contributing to the unique recording, “Ha’ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele,” which won the 2025 Nā Hōkū Hanohano award for Compilation Album of the Year.

The album featured students from the Institute of Hawaiian Music at the University of Hawai’i Maui College, with songs about Lahaina, its history and their hopes for its post-fire future.

Playing on some of the tracks, Katz is among the artists performing at the 27th annual Maui Calls Benefit Gala on Aug. 16 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

“I’ve played the gala for at least 12 years,” Katz said. “I will play what I call classical Hawaiian repertoire, some of the jazzier Waikiki style, and then some pop songs and smooth jazz.”

A producer on “Ha’ina Ko Wehi: Celebrating West Maui in Mele,” Katz said he mixed and mastered and edited every song except one, and on two songs, he developed layers of sound with steel guitar, percussion, ipu and shakers.

An instructor in the guitar, ukulele and audio technology programs at the college, he has released several solo albums and collaborations with guitarist Greg diPiazza, which have all received Hōkū nominations.

One of his nominated albums, “A Beautiful Sound of Hawaiian Steel Guitar,” ranged from Hawaiian standards like “Sweet Leilani” and “Lovely Hula Girl,” to interpretations of popular tunes such as “Killing Me Softly” and “Desperado.”

The steel guitarist at the Old Lahaina Luau for 11 years, he has played Sunday mornings at the Kula Lodge & Restaurant, which was damaged by a fire on Monday.

Joel Katz is helping preserve the art of Hawaiian steel guitar. Katz will be among the performers at the 27th annual Maui Calls Benefit Gala on Aug. 16 at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center. Photo courtesy Bruce Forrester

Helping preserve the art of Hawaiian steel guitar, he said, “It’s just such an incredibly expressive instrument. There’s just so much that can go into playing one note or several notes in intonation and sliding tone. It’s a unique sound. There’s just nothing like it.”

The Maui Calls Benefit Gala features an array of artists around the MACC’s A&B Amphitheater and Yokouchi Pavilion from 6 to 10 p.m.

Other performers include Benny Uyetake, Kumu Hula Uluwehi Guerrero and Hālau Hula Kauluokalā, The Hula Honeys, JD & the On The Rocks Band, and Makana joined by aerialist Andrea Torres.

Makana and Torres will pay tribute to Lahaina in a special performance of his song “Lahainalalo.”

“He wrote the song after the Lahaina fires,” Torres explained. “The song is special. I used to live in Lahaina in three different places, and all my houses burned.”

While living in the town, Torres played Hina the moon goddess, in the acclaimed “‘Ulalena” production at the Maui Myth & Magic Theatre. “I was in the original cast and trained in Montreal for the show,” she said. “It was my favorite memory that I have of creating a show in Hawaii. That was the first time I had to learn aerials to be in the show, because I was a ballerina, a dancer.”

A leading figure in aerial dance, pioneering the art form in Hawaii, Torres is the co-founder and director of Samadhi Hawai’i School of Aerial Arts. She was a choreographer and aerialist at the Honua’ula Luau at the Maui Marriott Wailea, and danced with the Tau Dance Theatre for nine years. In 2023, she was the featured aerialist at Taimane’s “Hawaiki” show at the Hawaii Theatre. “Taimani and I have been playing together for the past 18 years,” Torres said. “She plays for my shows, and I perform for her shows.”

Looking forward to returning to Maui for the gala show, she has a long connection with Makana. “He’s like my brother,” she said. “We have done a lot of First Fridays in Honolulu back in the early 2000s. So it’s special because we are coming back together after we haven’t done anything in at least 10 years.”

Emceed by Deidre Tegarden and Tony Takatani, the MACC’s food and wine celebration includes gourmet pupu created by Maui’s award-winning chefs, fine wines from around the world, and the signature silent and live auctions.

The 27th Annual Maui Calls Benefit Gala will be presented Aug. 16 at the MACC. Table and individual ticket pricing is available at MauiArts.ejoinme.org/AttendMauiCalls2025.