Festival Information

The Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival is a collaboration between the Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences, Inc. (HIMELE) and various planners for Japan to present Japan-based Hawaiian steel guitar players and their groups to Hawai‘i in a public performance showcase. The festival brings together legendary steel guitarists from all parts of Japan for a celebration of the Hawaiian Steel Guitar. The Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival is an integral part of the annual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week that is presented on the Royal Grove Stage by the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikīiī.

The Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival is one of a series of Hawaiian Steel Guitar festivals produced and presented by the Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences, Inc. (HIMELE) and its partners.

• The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals are community-based festivals produced by HIMELE on O‘ahu.
  • The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i at Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center in February-March
  • The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Windward Mall at Windward Mall Shopping Center in June
  • The NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festivals
  • NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i at Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center in April
  • NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Ka Makana Ali‘i - Hana Hou! at Ka Makana Ali‘i Shopping Center in August

The Hilo Steel Guitar Festival at Prince Kuhio Plaza in March

The Kaua‘i Steel Guitar Festival at Kukui Grove Center in May

The J-FESTA - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center in July

The Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week (incorporating the Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival and the Waikīkī Steel Guitar Festival) at Royal Grove Stage, Royal Hawaiian Center in July

The Maui Steel Guitar Festival at The Shops at Wailea on Maui in October

The Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience at Mauna Lani (incorporating the Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Festival) at Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts Collection on Hawai‘i Island in November

The NextGEN Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival at Kahala Mall is also on hiatus until further notice.

The Kona Steel Guitar Festival is on hiatus until further notice due to the discontinuation of the Aloha Music Camp. Please check the website for updated information.

The Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase - livestreamed Hawaiian steel guitar presentations including selected festival ho‘olaule‘a concerts on the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Showcase Facebook Page and YouTube Channel

All festivals are presented to increase awareness and foster interest in the Hawaiian Steel Guitar, an instrument important to Hawaiian music and culture. All these festivals are free and open to the public and made possible through grant awards and donations from Hawai‘i State agencies, corporate sponsors and private individuals, supplemented by in-kind contributions and volunteer resources. Please visit HIMELE's website to see how you can help support our festivals.

J-FESTA 2026 - Japan-Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival

J-FESTA 2026 Festival will be held at the Royal Hawaiian Center's Royal Grove Stage on Friday, July 10, 2026 as a part of the annual Waikīkī Steel Guitar Week. Continuous performances will begin at 3:00 P.M. and run through 6:30 P.M. Featured steel guitarists and steel guitar ensembles will include Michiyo Fujita, moani ito, Yukio Katagiri, Kiyoshi "Lion" Kobayashi, Masami "Matt" Kobayashi, Paul Okubo, and Masami Sato and Makana. Lion will be celebrating his 93^rd birthday.

The event will be livestreamed

Festival Information From Previous Festivals

• The 2025 Festival - Festival Info
• The 2024 Festival - Festival Info
• The 2023 Festival - Festival Info
• The 2022 Festival - Festival Info