Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival

The 2^nd Annual Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival was held on Friday, July 14, 2023, with five steel guitarists and steel guitar ensembles from Japan performing. The festival was incorporated into the weeklong Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week. Emcee was Hawai‘i Japanese media personality Reiko Tokushige Rogers who provided announcements in both English and Japanese. The event was livestreamed and featured Noriko and Shuji Tomita, Paul Okubo, Shinichi and Kumiko Kakiuchi, Masami "Matt" Kobayashi, and Kiyoshi "Lion" Kobayashi.

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• Shuji Tomita, Paul Okubo, Masami ''Matt'' Kobayashi, and Kiyoshi ''Lion'' Kobayashi
• Kumiko Kakiuchi with emcee Reiko Tokushige Rogers.
• Shinichi Kakiuchi, Shuji Tomita, Kumiko Kakiuchi, Reiko Tokushige Rogers, Alan Akaka, Noriko Tomita, Paul Okubo, Masami ''Matt'' Kobayashi, and Kiyoshi ''Lion'' Kobayashi.
• Alan Akaka and emcee Reiko Tokushige Rogers.
• Reiko Tokushige Rogers and hula dancer Kapuanani Yumiko Greene.
• Reiko Tokushige Rogers and Kiyoshi ''Lion'' Kobayashi.
• Reiko Tokushige Rogers, Masami ''Matt'' Kobayashi, Kapuanani, and Kiyoshi ''Lion'' Kobayashi.
• Joseph Zayac and Bobby Ingano.
• Kaipo Asing and Joseph Zayac.
• Alan Akaka and Reiko Tokushige Rogers.
• Shuji Tomita and featured steel guitarist Noriko Tomita.
• Hula by Kapuanani.
• Kapuanani.
• Reiko Tokushige Rogers.
• Shuji Tomita, Kapuanani, and Noriko Tomita.
• Featured steel guitarist Paul Okubo.
• Alan and Kapuanani.
• Featured steel guitarist Shinichi Kakiuchi.
• Kumiko Kakiuchi.
• Featured steel guitarist Masami ''Matt'' Kobayashi with Leonard Jenkins.
• Leonard Jenkins on ʻukulele.
• Pokiʻi Vaughn on guitar.
• Ernie Morikubo on guitar.
• Hovey Lambert on bass.
• Matt Kobayashi.
• Hovey Lambert.
• Hula by Caroline Affonso.
• Caroline Affonso.
• Hula by Kela Cuban.
• Kela Cuban.
• The event was livestreamed on Facebook and YouTube by Hawaii Tech Services LLC.
• Featured steel guitarist Kiyoshi ''Lion'' Kobayashi.

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Photography by Don Touchi ©2023 by Don Touchi Photos and HIMELE.