Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival

06/18/2026

We're just 10 days away from the 35th annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival - Maui Style - scheduled for Sunday, June 28, 2026 from 2pm - 6pm. Free Admission! Want to encourage music lovers from San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego to consider making the trip to our beautiful Maui island and indulge in the sights and sounds of Hawaii. Maui is waiting for you all to return and join us for an unforgettable afternoon of our incredible music anchored to our more than 2,000 years of history. Share the news with your friends and family and make plans now to journey to our special island for a very special event. Mahalo. Mahalo. Mahalo.

06/15/2026

Making it to the festival lineup this year for the first time is budding young artist, Ryder Briley, who will be the youngest of all of the performing artists. Ryder, who lives on the North Shore of O'ahu is also an avid surfer and son of Big Wave rider Shawn Briley. Ryder draws his inspiration from the artist Makana as well as many of Hawaii's iconic Hawaiian musicians of the past and present. Come out and support this Keiki O Ka Aina and homegrown artist. Share the news with friends and family and continue to follow us for more updates on the festival. Mahalo Nui Loa.

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (ki-ho'alu) is a truly one of the greatest acoustic guitar traditions in t

06/07/2026

Making his debut at the festival this year is long time Maui musician, Pi'ilani Arias. Pi'ilani comes from a long line of island musicians and is the son of Joe Arias who has been doing productions and corporate events on Maui for decades. And, for those that go back a long way, he is also related to Rodney Arias who at one time was considered the Tom Jones of Hawaii. Come out and support this talented island musician. Share the news with friends and family and be sure to follow us as we update more information on the festival. Mahalo.

06/05/2026

Shem Kahawai, another Maui native and budding young musician, will be making his second appearance at the Maui festival on Sunday, June 28th at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center from 2pm - 6pm. Shem, deserves a big hand as he is definitely a rarity among his peers as most of them are into modern/contemporary music. Shem is helping to preserve and perpetuate a part of Hawaiian culture that goes back to 1832. Ki-ho'alu celebrates its 194th birthday this year. Please come out and support this young man and his journey to perpetuate the Hawaiian culture. Share the news with friends and family and follow us. Aloha.

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (ki-ho'alu) is a truly one of the greatest acoustic guitar traditions in t

06/04/2026

Young and talented Maui native, Anthony Pfluke, will be showcasing his dynamic musical skills at the 35th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival - Maui Style ! This talented young man has been nominated in 7 categories for the 2026 Na Hoku Hanohano Music Awards this year on July 11th at the Sheraton Waikiki Hotel. Come out strong and support Anthony and experience why he has been nominated in so many categories. Share the good news with your friends and family and follow us for more updates on this year's festival. Mahalo. Mahalo.

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (ki-ho'alu) is a truly one of the greatest acoustic guitar traditions in t

06/03/2026

Longtime Maui musician, Kevin Brown, will be joined this year by his son, Ikaika Brown, at this year's Maui festival. Ikaika who now resides in Las Vegas and continues the Brown music legacy there, will be welcomed with open arms to be with us at the festival this year. The one and only "Kaloman" is anxious to take the stage with his father, Kevin, and old maui friends. Please come and support the Browns and friends as they will be closing the show at the festival. Let you ohana know and continue to follow us with updates and news on the festival. Mahalo.

06/02/2026

The only female to perform at the festival this year is none other than Namaka Cosma (White) daughter of the late Pekelo Cosma. We're all looking forward to seeing her perform this year as she has been absent from the festival for a whole year. Please come out and support this wahine and Maui native. Share the good news with your friends and family and be sure to follow us for more information on this year's festival. Mahalo. Mahalo. Mahalo.

05/30/2026

Kamuela Kahoano returns to the festival this year and is looking forward to being on stage at the Maui festival and entertaining all of us who missed his special brand of original music and dynamic stage presence. Kamuela, like few of the other artists performing at this year's festival was also nominated for a Hoku Award this year. Come out and support Kamuela and his energetic stage antics. Share this with your friends and family and be sure to follow us. Mahalo Nui.

Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar (ki-ho'alu) is a truly one of the greatest acoustic guitar traditions in t

05/28/2026

After missing him last year Dwight Kanae returns to the Maui festival and bringing with him his 40 plus years of performing and entertaining audiences throughout Hawaii and the rest of the world. He is a real treat that you don't want to miss. Share the news with friends and family and follow us for more updates on other artists who will be performing as well. Mahalo Nui Loa.

05/25/2026

Jeff Peterson___ multi Hoku Award winner and master of the slack key guitar will be gracing the stage at the Maui festival along with some of his peers. Jeff, who is originally from the valley island is, again, nominated for Slack Key Guitar Album of the Year as well as Hawaiian composition of the year. Don't miss Jeff as he will leave you mesmerized with his skill on the guitar and his passion for the music. It's so infectious! Share the good news with your friends and family and follow us for more updates on the festival. Mahalo.