SATURDAY
Festival draws state’s leading steel guitarists
One of Hawaii’s best-known musical instruments, the Hawaiian steel guitar, gets its day in the sun Saturday as the Royal Hawaiian Center hosts the seventh annual Waikiki Steel Guitar Festival, organized by Alan Akaka.
Akaka has been a tireless promoter of the steel guitar for several decades as a musician, recording artist, teacher and creator of the festival. He will be joined by Hawaii’s top steel guitarists, including Isaac Akuna, Jeff Au Hoy, Bobby Ingano, Paul Kim, Eddie Palama and Greg Sardinha.
At the center’s Royal Grove Stage, audiences will also hear three youngsters who could become the next generation of master steel guitarists: Alexis Tolentino, Malie Lyman and Pono Fernandez.
At the age of 12, Lyman is already a professional, having played steel guitar since she was “8, about to go to 9.” She often performs with her mother, Pomaika‘i Keawe Lyman, her grandfather Eric Keawe, her great-uncle Gary Aiko and Akaka.
“My mother has a hard time finding steel guitarists ’cause they all mostly busy, so I’m the only one she really knows is not busy. Sometimes last minute she jumps in the car and tells me to get some nice clothes on,” said the Kamehameha Schools seventh-grader.
Maile Lyman will be take the stage at around 11 a.m. to play two island standards, “Ka Loke” and “Henehene Kou Aka.”
The event takes place at the Royal Grove for the first time this year. “It seems fitting for this festival to take place at Helumoa on our Royal Grove Stage,” says Aaron Sala, director of cultural affairs at Royal Hawaiian Center. “Joseph Kekuku, who invented the Hawaiian steel guitar, was a student at Kamehameha Schools, the owner of this land.”
Where: Royal Grove, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center
When: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday
Admission: Free
Info: waikikisteelguitarfestival.com
Note: Two-hour validated parking requires merchant validation.
— John Berger
SATURDAY
Anuhea, Makaha Sons to perform under stars
Anuhea and the Makaha Sons combine their ample talents for a concert under the stars of Makapuu, as Sea Life Park holds its second Makapuu Twilight Concert of the season.
Anuhea, who grew up on Maui, has been riding the fast track to success since debuting her gentle Jawaiian tunes in 2009. The song “Right Love, Wrong Time” from her eponymous debut album was named an iTunes single of the week and earned her the label of a talent to watch on Google, and she won two Na Hoku Hanohano Awards for the album in 2010. Since then she’s performed with Bruno Mars, Jack Johnson, Ziggy Marley and Katchafire, among others. She’s been selling out shows across the mainland.
The Makaha Sons, originally from Niihau, have been pleasing crowds in Hawaii for decades. They’ve recorded 21 albums and performed at Carnegie Hall, too.
Sea Life Park’s concert series continues Aug. 13 with Willie K and Na Leo.
Where: Sea Life Park
When: 7 p.m. Saturday
Cost: $30-$49.50 (includes park admission)
Info: universe.com/sealifepark or 259-2500
SATURDAY — SUNDAY
The Haleiwa Arts Festival beckons families for 2 days of fun
Head on up to the North Shore for a weekend of art, music and other family-friendly activities at the 19th annual Haleiwa Arts Festival.
About 140 specially chosen artists from Hawaii and abroad will present work in a variety of media, including painting, photography, jewelry, sculpture, ceramics, glasswork and leather work, in a juried show intended to select highly talented and captivating contributors. “They want real artworks,” said festival spokeswoman Lynne Egenstein.
Among the artists featured will be famed surf artist Eduardo Bolioli.
You can enjoy music, as well. Saturday’s highlights include singer-songwriter Amanda Frazier at 3 p.m. and versatile roots-rocker Ron Artis II at 5 p.m.
Sunday’s programming includes the Air Force Band of the Pacific at 11 a.m. and Tavana at 3 p.m.
Food booths and plenty of activities for the kids will round out the event.
Where: Haleiwa Beach Park
When: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free
Info: haleiwaartsfestival.org
SUNDAY
An ukulele group of 700 highlights yearly ukefest
Ukulele Festival Hawaii strums into Waikiki on Sunday, bringing the happiest sound in music to Kapiolani Park for the 46th straight year.
Launched by Roy Sakuma in 1971, the festival has become one of the largest free music events in Hawaii, with an estimated 20,000 ukulele lovers coming by to enjoy the music, get free lessons and kanikapila with other uke players. A display of ukulele made by top-shelf luthiers will also be on hand, with drawings for some instruments.
An eclectic group of performers will appear onstage, including local stars Herb “Ohta-San” Ohta and his son Herb Ohta Jr., Willie K, Kalei Gamiao, Paula Fuga, one-handed virtuoso Nick Acosta and young prodigy Aidan James. Sakuma himself will present his 700-member ukulele orchestra, whose members range in age from 5 to 85.
The overseas reach of the ukulele will be represented by U-Rock, a Korean ensemble made up of players who will perform classical to popular music but in their other lives are also music teachers — and a heavy-metal vocalist. An Australian band called Ukestralia will be appearing at the festival for the first time. Performers from Japan and California will be there, as well.
Where: Kapiolani Park
When: 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday
Cost: Free
Info: ukulelefestivalhawaii.com
TICKER: Top Australian EDM duo Hermitude make Hawaii their “HyperParadise,” 10 p.m. Saturday, The Republik; $20-$25, flavorus.com or 855-235-2867.
