Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival Part 1

The 4^th Annual Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival was held on Friday, July 11, 2025, with seven steel guitarists and steel guitar ensembles from Japan performing. The festival was incorporated into the weeklong Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week. Co-emcees were Masami Sato and Alan Akaka with a surprise guest appearance by Kimo Kahoano. The event was livestreamed and featured Michiyo Fujita, Yukio Katagiri, Paul Okubo, Shinichi and Kumiko Kakiuchi, Masami "Matt" Kobayashi, Kiyoshi "Lion" Kobayashi and his Steel Guitar Ensemble, and Masami Sato & Makana.

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• Co-emcee Alan Akaka.
• Co-emcee Masami Sato with Ayumi Kato and Yoshiko Konno.
• Featured Japanese steel guitarist Michiyo Fujita.
• Yoshiko Yokoyama provided ʻukulele assistance for Michiyo Fujita.
• Michiyo Fujita with Yoshiko Yokohama.
• David Woodward and Kaipo Asing also assisted with backup.
• Helene Woodward, Yoshiko Yokohama. Michiyo Fujita, David Woodward, and Kaipo Asing.
• Co-emcee Masami Sato.
• Featured Japanese steel guitarist Yukio Katagiri.
• David Woodward and Kaipo Asing.
• Helene Woodward, Alan Akaka, Yujio Katagiri, Datid Woodward, and Kaipo Asing.
• Some of the festival guests.
• Featured Japanese steel guitarist Paul Okubo.
• Paul Okubo with Helene Woodward, Alan Akaka, David Woodward, and Kaipo Asing.
• Paul Okubo.
• A surprise visit to the festival by Kimo Kahoano.
• Featured Japanese steel guitarist Shinichi Kakiuchi and Kumiko Kakiuchi with David Woodard and Kaipo Asing.
• Shinichi and Kumiko Kakiuchi with David Woodward and Kaipo Asing.
• Alan Akaka and David Woodward provided backup assistance.
• Helene Woodward also helped with backup.
• Hula by Kumiko Kakiuchi.
• A wide-angle view of festival guests at Helumoa.
• Kumiko Kakiuchi and Kimo Kahoano are joined in hula by two other festival guests.
• Featured Japanese steel guitarist Masami ʻʻMattʻʻ Kobayashi.
• Hovey Lambert on bass backup for Matt.
• Leonard Jenkins, Ernie Morikubo, and Pokiʻi Vaughan also provided backup for Matt.
• Leonard Jenkins, Ernie Morikubo, and Pokiʻi Vaughan.
• Hula by Caroline Affonso with Ernie Morikubo and Pokiʻi Vaughan.
• Matt Kobayashi with Hovey Lambert, Leonard Jenkins, Ernie Morikubo, and Pokiʻi Vaughan.
• Ernie Morikubo.
• Pokiʻi Vaughan.
• Another view of festival guests.
• Hovey Lambert, Matt Kobayashi, Leonard Jenkins, Ernie Morikubo, and Pokiʻi Vaughan.

Back to Gallery: 2025 Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival

Photography by Don Rostow ©2025 by Don Rostow and HIMELE.