Ho‘okūkū Kīkā Kila
The first annual Hawaiian Steel Guitar Contest will be held on July 8, 2026, during the annual Waikiki Steel Guitar Week. The contest will begin at 4:30 PM and runs through 7:30 PM, with a detailed schedule published after it has been developed. Winners in the Keiki, Open Amateur, and Kūpuna divisions will receive cash prizes. Online registration closes on June 1, 2026.
The event will be co-produced by HIMELE and the Royal Hawaiian Center. The Center will provide major support and underwriting for the event. The contest is open to players who do not currently earn more than 50% of their annual income from professional musical performances or teaching. There is no entry fee.
There will be four divisions:
- Keiki (17 years and younger)
- Open Amateur (ages 18-59)
- Kūpuna (ages 60 and older)
- TRY – non-competitive category for those who want to experience the joy of being on stage without any pressure withbout scoring or song requirements
Each participant will have the opportunity to perform two songs: one of their choice and a second randomly selected from a hat prior to the competition. The contest selections will be announced in advance.
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