If you have plans to be on Oahu this July, check out the 2nd Annual Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Waikiki Beach Walk. The festival kicks off on Sunday, July 3rd with an expanded program from 5 to 8 p.m. This festival is free and open to the public.
The festival only lasted one day in 2010. In its second year, the festival has grown to last throughout July with celebrations planned each Sunday through July.
Here’s the line up for the 2011 festival:
July 3 – Stars of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar – featuring Alan Akaka & the Islanders with Na Keiki a Ke Kula Mele; Bobby Ingano; Casey Olsen & the Hiram Olsen Trio; Greg Sardinha; and special guest Kiyoshi “Lion” Kobayashi from Japan. 5 to 8 p.m.
July 10- Henry Kaleialoha Allen 5 to 6 p.m.
July 17– Eddie Palama 5 to 6 p.m.
July 24– Greg Sardinha 5 to 6 p.m.
July 31- Na Keiki Kika Kila – The combined schools of steel guitar masters Alan Akaka and Greg Sardinha. 5 to 6 p.m.
The 2nd Annual Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival is being held in partnership with Embassy Suites®-Waikiki Beach Walk®, Hawaii Tourism Authority, Hawaiian Steel Guitar Association, and Territorial Airwaves, with support from Ke Kula Mele Hawaii.
Concert-goers can park at Waikiki Beach Walk with up to four hours of valet parking available for $6 at the Embassy Suites-Waikiki Beach Walk (201 Beachwalk) and the Wyndham Vacation Ownership-Waikiki Beach Walk (227 Lewers Street) with any same-day purchase from any Waikiki Beach Walk merchant. For more information, contact the Waikiki Beach Walk’s management office at (808) 931-3591.
I found this video of the inaugural Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival from 2010.
Sheila Beal
