E Komo Mai West O‘ahu!

The first 2026 Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine was held on April 4, 2026, at Ka Makana Ali‘i in West O‘ahu. The festival featured Keiki NextGEN steel guitar players and musicians from Alan Akaka's Ke Kula Mele Hawai‘i School of Hawaiian Music, singing and playing Hawai‘i's favorite Hawaiian music. Backup musicians included students and/or parents of Ke Kula Mele.

Currently, Keiki Kine festivals featuring NextGEN steel guitar players include the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Ka Makana Ali‘i and the Hawaiian Steel Guitar Festival - Keiki Kine at Kahala Mall.

This festival was presented free to the public by Hawaii Institute for Music Enrichment and Learning Experiences (HIMELE) and the Ka Makana Ali‘i. NextGEN steel guitarists received support from Breezy Ridge® Instruments, Ltd., the home of John Pearse® Strings.