Festival musicians will provide steel guitar entertainment at the resort's HāLani Restaurant from 5:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M.

A kanikapila will be held at the Queens' Marketplace Coronation Pavilion, from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday evening.

The kanikapila is open to the public. Bring your favorite instrument to play along or come to enjoy the music by festival musicians. The Marketplace will provide extension cords and seating.

The Marketplace, at 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Drive, Waikoloa, is located about 10 minutes away (by automobile) from the Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts Collection venue. Driving directions by car from Mauna Lani Resort:

• Travel south approximately 2.5 miles on HI-19
• Turn right at Waikoloa Beach Drive
• Travel approximately 0.5 miles to Queens' Marketplace, on your left

A "Learn to Play" workshop and an open talk story will be conducted on Saturday morning beginning at 10:00 A.M. in the Hale I‘ike area.

Saturday Open stage performances are scheduled to begin at 11:15 A.M. and will feature guest artists and performers. These performances will showcase steel guitarists and Hawaiian music groups from all over the world. The event will be livestreamed.

Each month during the full moon, music lovers bring blankets and folding chairs to the oceanfront lawn at the Eva Parker Woods Cottage. Musicians gather on the lanai (porch) to talk story and play their favorite tunes. The stage is humble but the talent is world-class. For over two decades, the Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a concert series has served as a Who's Who of Hawaiian music.

The festival's Twilight at Kalāhuipua‘a program will include steel guitar talk story and performances by festival and NextGEN steel guitar artists.

Guests of the Mauna Lani's Sunday brfeakfast at the HāLani Restaurant will enjoy music from a kanikapila-stype jam session by participating steel guitar masters and other musicians.

An exhibit featuring vintage and contemporary lap steel guitars will be presented at the North Lanai/Hale I‘ike. The instruments are from the instrument collections of Hawai‘i-based steel guitarists appearing at the festival. Come and see this wide assortment of steel guitars on Saturday beginning at 10:00 AM.

Festival guests will be offered hands-on opportunities to experience the steel guitar under the guidance of steel guitar expert Daniel Tremblay.

Sales and information tables wil be set up in the Ballroom Foyer on Friday and in the North Lanai/Hale I‘ike area on Saturday. Festival merchandise including publications, Hawaiian music CDs, and steel guitar accessories will be available for purchase. Stop by and say "Hello" to Linda Mentzer.

The 2025 Hawai‘i Island Steel Guitar Experience poster features pictures of the master performers superimposed on a silhouette of a Gibson EH-150 steel guitar. Click on the thumbnail for a larger view.