WAIMEA — Kahilu Theatre will present its 22nd Annual ‘Ukulele &Slack Key Guitar Festival on Friday and Saturday.
This year’s festival showcases celebrated Hawaiian music artists Jeff Peterson, Brittni Paiva, Sean Parks, Ho‘opono Wong and Kainani Kahaunaele.
The festival honors Waimea’s deep ki ho‘alu (slack key) and paniolo heritage, offering audiences a chance to experience authentic Hawaiian music as these artists perform, share stories and discuss their journeys as award-winning musicians.
The two-day festival includes two full-length concerts, educational workshops, and community outreach programs.
Festivities begin Friday, when festival musicians participate in Kahilu’s Education Outreach Program, performing at local schools across Hawaii Island to inspire young musicians and give back to the community.
On Saturday, the festival continues with a series of workshops led by Peterson, Paiva and Parks. Workshop topics and registration details are available at kahilu.org.
That afternoon, the 2 p.m. “Kanikapila” concert invites festival-goers to enjoy one of the most spirited performances of the season as artists take turns sharing songs and stories, leading to exciting improvisational moments between the artists.
During the second half of the concert, attendees with guitars or ‘ukuleles are invited to join the artists on stage for a lively jam session. Limited on-stage seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The festival concludes with the 7 p.m. “Ho‘olaulea” concert, the festival’s showcase event, where each artist will have their moment in the spotlight to display the skills that make them some of the world’s top Hawaiian music artists.
Tickets for the 7 p.m. “Ho‘olaulea” performance are $70/$40 per person. Tickets for the 2 p.m. “Kanikapila” performance are $35 (with instrument)/$25 (without). Workshop reservations are $25 and include a complimentary ticket to the “Kanikapila” concert. Additional service fees may apply.
Tickets are available online at kahilu.org, by calling the Kahilu Theatre Box Office at (808) 885-6868, or in person at 67-1186 Lindsey Road in Waimea. Box office hours are Wednesdays 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursdays 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and during events.
The “Ho‘olaulea” performance will be live-streamed and available on-demand through Kahilu.TV. On-demand tickets for this show, valid for an entire household, are $19.99 and can be purchased at Kahilu.TV.
