ROYAL HAWAIIAN CENTER HOSTS 3RD ANNUAL STEEL GUITAR WEEK
Event celebrates unique Hawaiian musical instrument and style
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 3, 2019
Waikīkī – Royal Hawaiian Center will celebrate the unique sounds of Hawaiian music when it hosts the 3rd Annual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week from July 15 through 20, 2019. Presented in collaboration with the Hawaiʻi Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE), the week-long celebration of the Hawaiian steel guitar brings together legendary steel guitarists and keiki steel guitar students in nightly presentations at The Royal Grove Stage and culminates in a two-day Hoʻolauleʻa. The free annual event aims to raise awareness of the Hawaiian steel guitar and its importance in Hawaiian music and culture.
“Hawaiian steel guitar music really has a distinctive style, one that reflects the specialness of our islands, and the Steel Guitar Week allows us to showcase that through performances by talented musicians,” said Alan Akaka, Chairman of the Board of HIMELE, who is also a renowned Hawaiian steel guitarist and music teacher. “We invite both visitors and kamaʻāina to join us during the week to participate in the Festival as well as learn more about this special instrument.”
Nightly hour-long programs on Monday through Thursday evenings from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. will feature performances by steel guitar masters and ensembles.
The Festival culminates with a two-day Hoʻolauleʻa on Friday and Saturday evenings with more than three-and-a-half hours of music from a multitude of steel guitar masters and artists each night. Performances will feature traditional and contemporary Hawaiian music and dance.
Additionally, on Saturday afternoon, open stage performances featuring local and visiting steel guitarists and steel guitar bands will be presented from 12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
The Friday and Saturday Hoʻolauleʻa will include a pop-up market from 3:00 to 8:00 p.m., featuring local vendors selling products including art, beauty & body products, apparel, jewelry & accessories. Vintage steel guitars will also be on exhibit in Helumoa Hale with steel guitar experts on hand to answer questions from visitors on Friday and Saturday. A hands-on demonstration of the steel guitar will be available to festival guests. CDs of performing artists will be available for purchase, as well.
All events will be held at The Royal Grove and are free and open to the public. The 3rd Annual Steel Guitar Week schedule is as follows:
July 15-18, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Monday, July 15 NextGen Steel Guitarists
Tuesday, July 16 Greg Sardinha & Poʻokela
Wednesday, July 17 Lion Lady Steel Guitar Ensemble
Thursday, July 18 Alan Akaka & the Islanders
Friday Hoʻolauleʻa, July 19
5:00 – 5:45 p.m. Greg Sardinha & Poʻokela
5:45 – 6:30 pm. Kapono Lopes
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Scott Furushima
7:15 – 8:00 p.m. Paul Kim and the Waimānalo Sunset Band
Saturday Open Stage Performances, July 20
12:00 – 12:30 p.m. Kris Oka
12:30 – 1:00 p.m. Shinichi Kakiuchi
1:00 – 1:30 p.m. “Kamaka” Tom
1:30 – 2:00 p.m. Noriko and Shuji Tomita
2:00 – 2:30 p.m. Ke Kula Mele Mākua
2:30 – 3:00 p.m. Ke Kula Mele NextGen
3:00 – 3:30 p.m Lion Lady Steel Guitar Ensemble
3:30 – 4:00 p.m. Haopinaka
Saturday Hoʻolauleʻa, July 20
4:15 – 5:00 p.m. Paul Agar and Aloha Baby
5:00 – 5:45 p.m. Tetsuya Ishiyama
5:45 – 6:30 pm. Steve Cheney
6:30 – 7:15 p.m. Alan Akaka and the Islanders
7:15 – 8:00 p.m. Kiyoshi “Lion” Kobayashi
For more information, visit www.waikikisteelguitarweek.com.
About Royal Hawaiian Center
Royal Hawaiian Center is the premier shopping, dining, entertainment, and cultural destination in Waikīkī, comprised of 90 shops and restaurants over three city-blocks of world-renowned Kalākaua Avenue. The Center stands proudly upon historic land known as Helumoa, once home to Hawaiian royalty.
OWNERSHIP: Royal Hawaiian Center is owned by RHC Property Holdings LLC and managed by The Festival Companies.
For more information, visit www.RoyalHawaiianCenter.com or call Helumoa Hale Guest Services at 808-922-2299.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Jocelyn Collado
Becker Communications, Inc.
(808) 392-5737
jocelyn@beckercommunications.com
Sam Shenkus
Royal Hawaiian Center
(808) 931-3110
s.shenkus@festivalcos.com
