2025 Kona Steel Guitar Featival Concert Showcase Part 1

The Saturday Ho‘olaule‘a was presented in two segments. The first segment began at noon and ran to 3:00 PM. This segment featured Dwight Tokumoto, Pōmai Brown, NextGen steel guitarists Hi‘ipoi Lindsey and Enosa Lyman, and Alan Akaka. The second segment began at 5:00 PM, ran to 8:00 PM, and featured Greg Sardinha, Geronimo "Geri" Valdriz, Mālie Lyman, Billy Cardine, and Bobby Ingano.

Al Greene, Jr. was not able to participate due to illness.

A guitar Daniel Tremblay converted a regular guitar to a replica acoustic steel guitar similar to that played by Joseph Kekuku. This guitar was used by Greg Sardinha for his entire performance. The guitar, signed by all festival musicians, was put up for auction with proceeds going to HIMELE to support its activities.

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• Featured steel guitarist Dwight Tokumoto and Devin Nakahara.
• Alan Akaka provided backup for Dwight.
• Backup guitarist Kaipo Asing.
• Dwight Tokumoto with Devin Nakahara and Dylan Nakahara on upright bass.
• Dwight Tokumoto with Kaipo Asing and Alan Akaka.
• Dylan Nakahara.
• Standing room only at the concert venue.
• Pua Tokumoto danced the hula while Dwight played.
• Kaipo Asing, Alan Akaka, Dwight Tokumoto, Devin Nakahara, and Dylan Nakahara.
• Emcee Jake Kūliaikanu‘u Fernandez and Kaipo Asing.
• Danny K. Kila AKA Daniel Tremblay describing the standard guitar he converted to become an acoustic steel guitar that was signed by all musicians and up for auction.
• Featured steel guitarist Colin John with Dagan Bernstein. The last time Colin John participated in a festival was in 2011 in Maui.
• Dagan Bernstein and Colin John.
• NextGen steel guitarist Makamae Lyu-Napoleon with Kaipo Asing and Alan Akaka.
• Makamae with Kaipo and Alan.
• Makamae with Kaipo Asing, Alan Akaka, Devin Nakahara, and Dylan Nakahara.
• Featured steel guitarist Devin Nakahara with Kaipo Asing and Alan Akaka.
• Devin Nakahara with Kaipo Asing, Alan Akaka, and Dylan Nakahara.
• Kaipo Asing, Alan Akaka, and Devin Nakahara.
• Dylan Nakahara.
• Emcee Kūliaikanu‘u with Kaipo Asing.
• Jeanne Skybrook displays festival store merchandise available for purchase while Jake is getting ready to charge the towel.
• Jeanne shows off a logo tote bag while Alan describes the bag and Kūliaikanu‘u looks on in amazement.
• NextGen steel guitarist Isabella Bertelmann with Alan Akaka.
• Isabella with Alan and Devin Nakahara.
• Kaipo Asing, Alan Akaka, Isabella Bertelmann, Devin Nakahara, and Dylan Nakahara.
• Isabella Bertelmann.
• Featured steel guitarist Alan Akaka with Devin Nakahara.
• Alan Akaka with Kaipo Asing, Joseph Zayac, Devin Nakahara, and Dylan Nakahara.
• Kaipo Asing and Joseph Zayac.
• Joseph Zayac, Alan Akaka, Devin Nakahara, and Dylan Nakahara.
• Kaipo Asing, Joseph Zayac, Alah Akaka, Devin Nakahara, and Dylan Nakahara.
• Alan Akaka with Joseph Zayac and Devin Nakahara.

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Photography by Don Rostow ©2025 by Don Rostow and HIMELE.