Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival

Festival Information

The Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival is presented by the Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE) and the Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i School of Hawaiian Music. The festival brings together legendary steel guitarists for a celebration of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar and provides opportunites for Kaua‘ steel guitarists to join steel guitarists from other parts of Hawai‘i and the US to share their talents. Some festivals have been scheduled to precede the Aloha Music Camp to offer camp attendees an extra opportunity to rediscover the Hawaiian steel guitar and enjoy the nahenahe sounds of master steel guitarists from Hawai‘i.

The Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival is one of a series of Hawaiian Steel Guitar festivals and other events produced and presented by the Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE) and its partners.

  • The Hilo Steel Guitar Festival at Prince Kuhio Plaza in March
  • The Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival at Kukui Grove Center in May
  • The J-FESTA - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center in July
  • The Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week (incorporating the Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival and the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival) at Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center in July
  • The Maui Steel Guitar Festival at The Shops at Wailea on Maui in October
  • The Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani (incorporating the Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival) at Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts Collection on Hawai‘i Island in November
  • The Kona Steel Guitar Festival is on hiatus until further notice due to the discontinuation of the Aloha Music Camp. Please check the website for updated information.
  • The NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Kahala Mall is also on hiatus until further notice.
  • The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase - livestreamed Hawaiian steel guitar presentations including selected festival ho‘olaule‘a concerts on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel

    • All festivals are free and open to the public and are presented to increase awareness and foster interest in the Hawaiian Steel Guitar, an instrument important to Hawaiian music and culture.

    These festivals are made possible through grants and contributions from corporate sponsors and private individuals, supplemented by in-kind contributions and volunteer resources. Please visit our Support Us page to see how you can help support the festival.

    The 2026 Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival

    A one-day festival featuring steel guitar performances will be held at the Kukui Grove Center. The festival will include a concert and hands-on opportunities for festival guests to learn more about the steel guitar. Steel Guitarists include Alan Akaka, Ken Emerson, Bobby Ingano, Kaimana Ka‘auwai, Mālie Lyman, Jess Montgomery, and Ed Punua. NextGEN steel guitarists Kui Joy, Isaac Woodward and Hi‘ipoi Lindsey will also perform.

    Festival Information From Previous Festivals

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    Resources
    HIMELE
    Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i
    Hawaiian Steel Guitar Symposium
    Steel Trappings

    Statewide Festivals
    Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival
    Maui Steel Guitar Festival
    Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival
    Kona Steel Guitar Festival
    Hilo Steel Guitar Festival
    Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival
    Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week

    Community Festivals
    Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i
    Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall
    NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals

    Livestream
    Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase