Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School

A school demonstration team visited the Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School to provide a presentation about the Hawaiian Steel Guitar showing students why the instrument is important to Hawaiian music and culture, providing musical selections that include the steel guitar, and giving students hands-on experiences with the instruments.

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• Chiefess Kamakahelei, the school's namesake, was the queen regent around 1770 - 1794
• Chiefess Kamakahele.
• Joey Misailidis, Jake Fernandez and Mālie Lyman of the presentation team had to check in with ID and take a photo before proceeding to the classroom.
• NextGen members Tai Misailidis, Pono Fernandez, Ethan Goore with members of the CKMS ʻUkulele band.
• Featured steel guitarist Bobby Ingano shows NectGen Joey Misailidis how to chime.
• Kumu Alan Akaka with Tai Misailidis, Pono Fernandez, and Ethan Goore.
• Alan Akaka and Tai Misailidis accompany steel guitarists Pono Fernandez and Ethan Goore.
• Class students and instrictor Elias Gonzales listen intently to the presentation.
• The classroom assembly.
• Mālie Lyman shows a student how to play the steel guitar as Joey looks on. Kumu Alan Akaka and Tai field audience questions.
• The hands-on demonstration is progressing.
• Joey shows another student how to play the steel guitar.
• Steel guitar master Bobby Ingano also gets into the demonstration mode.
• Mālie oversees yet another student interested in trying out the steel guitar. Hint: Rest your left hand fourth and fifth fingers on the string to prevent unwanted sympathetic vibrations.
• Students practing with instructor Gonzales for their festival performance.
• The school's marquee invites the public to follow school activities on social media.
• The marquee also presented public service announcements.
• NextGen steel guitarists Mālie Lyman, Ethan Goore, Joey Misailidis, Tai Misailidis, and Pono Fernandez. Although Tai plays the U-bass, she is also a steel guitarist.

Back to Gallery: 2019 Festival

Photography by Don Touchi ©2019 by Don Touchi Photos and HIMELE.