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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• Featured Japanese steel guitarist Kiyoshi ʻʻLionʻʻ Kobayashi and Steel Guitar Ensemble member Hajime Takahashi with David Woodward and Kaipo Asing.
• Lion Kobayash with Steel Guitar Ensemble members Hajime Takahashi, and Masako Wakamatsu. David Woodward and Kaipo Asing accompany the group.
• Steel Guitar Ensemble members Sakae Machida and Haruko Ozeki with Helene Woodward.
• Sakae Machida.
• Haruko Ozeko, Lion Kobayashi, and Hakjime Takahashi with David Woodward and Kaipo Asing.
• Lion Kobayashi with Steel Guitar Ensemble members Sakae Machida, Haruko Ozeki, Hajime Takahashi, and Masako Wakamatsu, accompanied by Helene Woodward, David Woodward, and Kaipo Asing.
• Sakae Machida, Haruko Ozeki, Helene Woodward, Lion Kobayashi, and Hajime Takahashi.
• Sakae Machida, Haruko Ozeki, Helene Woodward, Lion Kobayashi, Hajime Takahashi, David Woodward, Masako Wakamatsu, and Kaipo Asing.
• Haruko Ozeki, Lion Kobayashi, and Masako Wakamatsu.
• Sakae Machida, Haruko Ozeki, Lion Kobayashi, Hajime Takahashi, and Masako Wakamatsu, accompanied by Helene Woodward, David Woodward, and Kaipo Asing.
• Co-emcee Alan Akaka with Yoshiko Konno and Michiko Makiuchi.
• Masami Sato.
• Makana steel guitarist Kazuko Tanaka and Yoshiko Konno.
• Kazuko Tanaka, Yoshiko Konno, and Michiko Makiuchi.
• Yoshiko Konno, Michiko Makiuchi. and Masami Sato.
• Masami Sato.
• Ayumi Kato.
• Kazuko Ishii.
• Kazuko Tanaka, Yoshiko Konno, Michiko Makiuchi, Masami Sato, Ayumi Kato, and Kazuko Ishii.
• Kazuko Tanaka and Yoshiklo Konno.
• Kazuko Tanaka.
• Yoshiko Konno, Michiko Makiuchi, Kazuko Tanaka, Masami Sato, Ayumi Kato, and Kazuko Ishii.
• Michiko Makiuchi on piano.

Back to Gallery: 2025 Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival

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