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Music Festivals

The soul of Hawaiian music from the traditional to the contemporary, from Hawaiian mele (music) to Asian melodies to Western tunes resonates throughout the Hawaiian culture of the islands. You hear the sounds of the ukulele and visions of Hawaii instantly immerge. However, Hawaii is also the birthplace of the steel guitar and the slack key. Hawaii has a strong musical heritage dating from Ancient Hawaii and the chants tied to the hula, the influence of the multicultural mix of the sugar plantation days, the Hapa Haole music of the roaring twenties and even a hint of reggae in some of today's contemporary Hawaiian music. Feel the rhythm of the islands and celebrate the unique melodies of Hawaii.

MAJOR MUSIC FESTIVALS ON OAHU

APRIL
KOKUA FESTIVAL – Local music sensation Jack Johnson hosts his annual Kokua Festival on Earth Day weekend. The popular event benefits the Kokua Hawaii Foundation and promotes eco-friendly living. Food booths, products and services from green companies, alternative energy demonstrations, interactive games and crafts for kids, and information from environmentally active groups from around the islands are also featured. For more information, please visit - www.kokuafestival.org.

MAY
RETURN TO ROMANCE FESTIVAL – Romance seekers from near and far are invited to enjoy the sounds of love as Broadway stars, chart-topping recording artists and talented Hawaii musicians join the Matt Catingub Orchestra of Hawaii for live performances, romantic dinners, a movie screening, and other incredible events. The 10-day Hawaii Romance Festival highlights various forms of music inspired by romance, including rhythm & blues, pop, jazz, and Hawaiian, and has featured famous musicians such as Natalie Cole, Kenny Loggins, Smokey Robinson, Gladys Knight, Aaron Neville, and more. For more information please visit www.mcooh.com.

JULY
UKULELE FESTIVAL - Local ukulele legend Roy Sakuma and his sponsors help to keep the ukulele alive with the largest festival of its kind in the world, attracting audiences of thousands. The free two-hour concert showcases the finest ukulele players, along with national celebrities, Hawaii's top entertainers, and an ukulele orchestra of more than 800 students, mostly children. The festival benefits Ukulele Festival Hawaii, a charitable non-profit organization. For more information please visit www.roysakuma.net/ukulelefestival/index.htm

AUGUST
HAWAIIAN SLACK KEY GUITAR FESTIVAL - Slack key guitar originated in Hawaii in the 19th century with Hawaiian paniolo (cowboys), and is continuing to gain popularity today, with slack key collection albums having won Grammy awards in the Best Hawaiian Music category for the last three years. The Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival, founded in 1982, celebrates the cultural importance, perpetuates, and preserves the unique acoustic guitar art form, "Kī hōalu," which means "loosen the key." The festival has featured performances by well-known slack key musicians and Grammy winners including Ledward Kaapana, Cyril Pahinui and Keoki Kahumoku. For more information please visit www.slackkeyfestival.com

OCTOBER
HAWAII INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (HIFF) - Established as the premier international film event in the Pacific, HIFF showcases features and documentaries from Asia, the Pacific Islands and Hawai'i, and all films depict their region/culture in a culturally accurate way. HIFF is a statewide event and the only one of its kind in the U.S. It has more than one dozen screening sites on six Hawaiian Islands and draws an audience of 65,000 or more from around the state, the nation and the world. For more information please visit www.hiff.org or call (808) 528-3456

LEARN MORE ABOUT HAWAIIAN MUSIC HISTORY

LEARN TO PLAY THE UKULELE:
UKULELE HOUSE at the ROYAL HAWAIIAN SHOPPING CENTER
Free private lessons daily, every 30 minutes 4:00pm – 10:30pm.

ROYAL HAWAIIAN SHOPPING CENTER
HIBISCUS COURT, 1ST FLOOR
MONDAY & WEDNESDAY 11:30AM – 12:30PM
TUESDAY & THURSDAY 10:00AM – 11:00AM