Konnichi-wa and Aloha!

The 2^nd Annual Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival will be held on Friday, July 14, 2023 at the Royal Grove Stage in Waikīkī's Royal Hawaiian Center.

The Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival is a collaborative project between HIMELE and Japanese steel guitar planners to bring Japanese steel guitar players to Honolulu to showcase their talents. The Royal Hawaiian Center is providing the Royal Grove Stage and other support for this project.

The festival is a culmination of years of planning with Hawai‘i and Japanese planners, including Japanese steel guitarist Tadashi Arakawa who passed away in early 2022. The 1^st annual festival was dedicated to him in his honor.

The 2023 festival will be a part of the weeklong 2023 Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week, a celebration of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar that will be held during the week of July 10-15, 2023.

Call for Participation

Hawaiian steel guitarists from Japan (only) are invited to participate in this event. If you are interested in participating, please send your request to contact@himele.org. Participants must be a Hawaiian steel guitar player or a group with a Hawaiian steel guitar. Participants are responsible for their own travel accommodations but will receive omiyage in appreciation for their participation.