Celebrate Hawai‘i’s 189-Year-Old Slack Key Guitar Tradition

When the first Portuguese and Spanish cowboys arrived in the Hawaiian Islands almost two centuries ago, they brought much more than their roping and riding skills. They brought steel-string guitars. Over time, Hawaiians developed the ki-ho‘alu, or slack key guitar, creating a melodious style of guitar-playing unique to Hawai‘i.

On Nov. 24, the public is invited to attend and enjoy the 27^th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival “Kaua‘i Style” in the ballroom of the Kaua‘i Marriott Resort & Spa from noon to 6 p.m.

An extensive lineup of artists from O‘ahu and Kaua‘i will make the gathering a thrilling place to be. This year’s artists include:

1. Brother Noland
2. Tavana
3. LT Smooth
4. Blayne Asing
5. Stephen Inglis
6. Kamuela Kahoano
7. Ian OSullivan
8. Dwight Kanae
9. Danny Carvalho with Nani Edgar
10. Jonah Domingo
11. Lance Takamiya

Kaua‘i Artists

12. Michael Keale
13. Paul Togioka
14. Cindy Combs
15. Surpise Guest

There will be a $10.00 Admission charge at the door only (no presales) that goes to benefit the Ki-ho‘alu Foundation nonprofit organization, whose only mission is to promote, preserve and perpetuate Hawai‘i’s 189-year-old guitar tradition that began in 1830 on the Big Island.

Food, refreshments, artists’ CDs and festival merchandise will be available for purchase.